LAHORE - Former federal minister Sartaj Aziz has said that the only way to overcome the present day challenges is to follow the principles and thoughts of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The new generation should come forward to solve the problems and follow the Quaids saying of unity, faith and discipline. Sartaj also remarked that because of its geographical location, Pakistan was a centre of world powers interests. He was speaking at Aiwan-e-Karkunan Tehrik-e-Pakistan on Wednesday in connection with a series of lectures organised by Nazria Pakistan Trust, with retired chief justice Federal Shariat Court Justice Mian Mehboob Ahmad in chair. Sartaj Aziz said unfortunately, Quaid-e-Azam died soon after the creation of Pakistan while Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated in 1951. It caused delay in constitution making in comparison with India, which succeeded in drafting its constitution in 1950, he added. Pointing to the role played by the bureaucracy and no-political forces, Sartaj said at a time when the matters were being sorted out, Ghulam Muhammad dissolved the Assembly in 1954. Again in 1956, the first constitution was approved to be followed by elections in 1959, but it was now Ayub Khans turn to intervene who imposed first martial law in the country. He further elaborated his point by saying that it took 23 years to hold first general elections in the country in 1970 damaging the democratic process with irreversible effects. It weakened the state and resulted in generating separatist tendencies in East Pakistan that resulted in the tragic events of 1971, Sartaj said, adding that it was the clear proof of the undemocratic practices that no party from West Pakistan could gain even a single seat East Pakistan. The military take after just five-year-rule by the Bhutto Government increased the sense of deprivation among the masses. He was of the view that the country could not progress unless the Parliament, judiciary, and executive were not given authority to work within their respective spheres. He claimed that the grace of All Mighty Allah, the judiciary was now independent but the powers enjoyed by Pervez Musharraf were still with President Asif Ali Zardari. Terming India as a problem, Sartaj said India was another problem, which had illegally occupied Kashmir. We consider Kashmir as unfinished agenda of partition. As such we have to keep larger Army and spend major portion of our income on it. Justice Mian Mehboob Ahmad said the nation had suffered a lot because of forgetting Quaids thoughts and by not taking guidance from his life. He was of the view that Quaid had dissociated from the Hindus but the people were trying to promote friendship with them, adding there was no contradiction in Quaids words and action. Justice Mehboob said he also wanted the Islamic teachings and rules to be the dominant part of the constitution and other matters.