Muhammad Ali Jinnah assumed the role of Governor-General on 14th August.

The role was coveted by Mountbatten who wanted to be both Governor-General of India and Pakistan. The position was vested with a great degree of executive power. Due to perceived signs of favouritism towards India on the part of Mountbatten, Jinnah was clear on withholding the position from him much to his annoyance.

Jinnah’s swearing in as first Governor-General of Pakistan was met with cheer and letters of congratulations from around the world. One such letter was received from Henry Holland of the Church Mission Society Hospital in Quetta:

“Dear Mr. Jinnah,

I write to offer Your Excellency my warmest congratulations on your becoming Governor-General of Pakistan. Ever since I heard you speak when you first came to Quetta, I was quite certain that you and the Muslim League would realize your ambition and that Pakistan would become not an ideal but a reality and now it is a fait accompli and no one can doubt for a moment that you are the obvious choice for Pakistan’s first Governor-General. I am looking forward to going to Karachi and there calling on you and Miss Jinnah. You are indeed fortunate in having one as your hostess, who combines grace, dignity, and charm in her delightful and outstanding personality. Please convey to her as well my hearty congratulations.

Yours sincerely, HENRY HOLLAND

[PS.] Lady Holland joins me in congratulating you and Miss Jinnah.”

Source: ‘Henry Holland to M. A. Jinnah’, 14 August 1947, cited in Z. H. Zaidi (ed.), Quaid-I-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah Papers, Pakistan at Last (Government of Pakistan: 1999), p. 359-60

See below, a Movietone report on the creation of Pakistan and the events of 14th of August: