Senior actor and singer Khaled Anam has sparked a strong debate by linking corruption in Pakistan to the symbolic use of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s picture. Speaking in a podcast, he remarked that the larger the portrait of Jinnah displayed, the more bribes are taken, stressing that the country needs a moral reset.
Anam compared moral strength to vaccination, explaining that just as children are immunized against diseases, society must build resilience to resist corruption and moral decline. He regretted that Pakistan had never set a strong example by giving severe punishment to criminals, which has allowed corruption to flourish. “We all believe in Quaid-e-Azam (money) and respect him more than laws,” he said.
Referring to a book written by Jinnah’s close friend Kausji, the actor recalled that the author once wrote Muhammad Ali Jinnah would never have created Pakistan had he known the character of its people. Anam clarified that these were not his own words but an account he read, highlighting the gap between Jinnah’s vision and the current reality.
He also reminded listeners of how Pakistanis failed to honor Jinnah during his lifetime, noting that even Quaid-e-Azam’s ambulance was damaged. Decades later, he added, ambulances in the country remain neglected, and citizens continue to suffer daily tragedies.
According to Khaled Anam, today’s Pakistan values money over justice and law. He emphasized that Jinnah’s picture, printed on currency notes, has become a symbol of corruption, saying, “Where the bigger Quaid-e-Azam’s picture is displayed, the more bribes are taken.”
