Jinnah, Muhammad Ali (1876-1948), Quaid-e-Azam, leader of the Indian Muslim League, who became the founding father of Pakistan and its first governor-general (1947-1948). Jinnah was born in Karachi. He joined the Indian National Congress in 1906 and then joined the Muslim League in 1913 because of Congress' attitude towards Muslims and became president of the league in 1916.

Jinnah broke with the Congress in 1920 over the policy of noncooperation with the British. Jinnah was committed to settling Hindu-Muslim differences but was frustrated in his efforts. In the general elections of 1937 the victorious Congress refused to form coalition governments with the Muslim League. This proved to be the final Hindu-Muslim break. In 1940 the league passed the Pakistan resolution, demanding a separate state for Indian Muslims. British created a separate Muslim state Pakistan on August 14, 1947 and Hindu India on August 15, 1947. Jinnah became the first Governer General of Pakistan. He later died due to illness on September 11, 1948. The Pakistani nation has given him the credit for their independence and called him QUAID-E-AZAM- the Great Leader.

His mausoleum is in Karachi, a very beautiful white marble architecture. Please visit Postcards from Pakistan/Cities for a view of that building.