The Muslim League’s rise was not solely due to widespread support for Pakistan; rather, it owed much to local discontents and loyalties. Jinnah purposely kept the concept of Pakistan vague to appeal to all sections of the Muslim community. His relentless political maneuvering led to significant victories for the Muslim League in the 1946 elections, especially in the Punjab. Although the support for Pakistan was affirmed, many votes for the Muslim League were driven by personal loyalty to its candidates rather than an unwavering commitment to Pakistan. In this context, the idea and boundaries of Pakistan were far from clear.
The final year of British rule presented immense challenges for Jinnah, exacerbated by his perception of British favoritism towards the Congress Party. Disillusioned, he veered from his strictly constitutional approach, calling for direct action by the Muslim League, resulting in the violent Calcutta riots in August 1946. As tensions escalated, India teetered on the brink of civil war. The subsequent negotiations, though tense, eventually led to the partition of India, and Pakistan emerged as an independent state on August 14th, 1947. Unfortunately, this newfound freedom was marred by violent communal clashes, displacing millions of people.
