14th August 2008, Just another Day?
By Ghazala Khan • Aug 14th, 2008 • Category: Politics, Worth A Second Look • 16 Comments •August 14 2008, Pakistan is celebrating its 62nd Independence Day. Pakistan was born with great hopes and promises; aspirations and sacrifices. The idea behind Pakistan was to provide a homeland to Muslims free from cultural and political influence of Hindus. But nevertheless equal rights for minorities were in the idea of Pakistan, a state where the principles of Islam, equality, fraternity, brotherhood, freedom, and democracy would reign supreme. The Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s most important speech laying out his vision for Pakistan:
“You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State.” Quaid-e-Azam M.A. Jinnah in address to first constituent assembly, Aug 11, 1947Pakistan’s Independence Day starts with flag raising ceremonies, 21-gun salutes takes place in the country’s four provincial capitals, speeches and public messages from the President and Prime Minister with hopes and promises for better future. But practically it is struggling on each and every objective that was advanced by its founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
We must not forget that, “Freedom is a fragile thing & is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for & defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again” – (Ronald Reagan)
If I go back in my early age, the celebration practically starts with the dawn of 1st August. People used to whitewash their homes, decorating courtyards and streets with flags, lighting their homes and streets, cooking special kind of dishes, visiting relatives and public places for amusement, decorating bikes and cars with Independence Day posters, and many more. In short, every Pakistani felt overjoyed on this occasion, a smile on every face and no worries. Today I hardly find that enthusiasm to celebrate 14 August, regardless of the fact that Pakistan has never came out of political instability and socio-economic crisis since first day.
Where have those smiles, laughter and enjoyment gone? Why we are unable to see the same spirit? Where are those chanting slogans of Pakistan? Why fear and insecurity is prominent on every face? Where is that overwhelming gratitude to welcome this special day? Where are my country’s lovely songs for this special day? Who has weakened our passions, patriotism, and tolerance? Where are we standing and where are we going? Is this only economic compulsion that has reduced the purchasing power to celebrate this occasion?
Apart from my worries and concerns related to the prevailing situation in the country, I am hopeful for a very bright future of Pakistan. It is never too late. Pakistan’s security threats are more internal than external and its economic and social challenges are not insurmountable. What exactly we need to do is work continuously for prosperity and strengthen our belief in what Pakistan was created upon i.e. Jinnah’s vision of an ideal democratic state based on social justice, as an upholder of human freedom and world peace, in which all citizens will enjoy equal rights and the society free from any sort of fear and prejudices, want and ignorance.
We needed to unite firmly as a nation and work collectively to shuffle off menaces like religious extremism, honour killing and terrorism in our society and work towards a Pakistan close to the vision of Jinnah’s Pakistan. Let’s revive the spirit of freedom.
mauj barhay kay aandhi aaye, diya jalaye rakhna hai
ghar ki khatir sao dukh jhailain, ghar tou aakhir appna hai
Pakistan Zindabaad, Pakistan Paindabaad…!
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14th August 2008, Just another Day, that’s correct Ghazala but for the people like you who could not even show the complete map of Pakistan. Or you guys accepted that Indian Held Kashmir is part of India.
Indians are boldly showing Pakistani Kashmir in her map but we stupids (Pakistanis) could not show Indian Held Kashmir in Pakistan’s MAP.
This is a shameless act on part of Pakistan and Pakistanis and disloyalty with the blood of thousands of Kashmiris who were martyred in freedom struggle.
You brought back independence day memories from my childhood days. The men in our neighborhood, as well us young boys, would put up lights starting August 1, and decorate the entire street. There would be flags everywhere. Everyone would play patriotic songs and watch documentary shows on TV. Women made sweet dishes. Everyone felt so good and proud and united.
During my last visit, however, I’ve noticed that with the arrival of new neighbors, the old way of celebrating our independence day has disappeared. Nevertheless, I am optimistic that the old “jazba” will return soon.
Happy Independence Day to you!
Ms. Ghzala Khan, it is true the hope must be there for without hope all is lost. You are right, we still have all the possibilities to march forward on the road to the glory our founding fathers defined and aspired. You did a good thing to remind us what Mr Mohammad Ali Jinnah declared Pakistan to be, I put it here again:
“You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State.” Quaid-e-Azam M.A. Jinnah in address to first constituent assembly, Aug 11, 1947
This was what he prescribed and following is what we did to ourselves or (allowed to be done):
Section 295-C of the Blasphemy Law provides that whoever by words or visual representation or by any imputation, innuendo or insinuation, directly or indirectly defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.
Chief Justice Retired) of Sindh Mamoon Kazi, had writen in a column in DAWN (July 18, 2000) - ‘Where procedure could have made a difference’. He explained that no special procedure is provided by the Criminal Procedure Code for the prosecution of the offender and that on the receipt of information relating to the commission of an alleged offence of blasphemy, the officer in charge of a police station may arrest an alleged offender without a warrant. This provision is in no way Islamic but is incorporated in the chapter relating to offences against religion and applies equally to Muslims and non-Muslims.
The nation must be guided by the Quaid’s vision and we must work together to free ourselves from all bigotry.
Blessed be the sacred land,
Happy be the bounteous realm,
Symbol of high resolve, Land of Pakistan.
Blessed be thou citadel of faith.
The Order of this Sacred Land
Is the might of the brotherhood of the people.
May the nation, the country, and the State
Shine in glory everlasting.
Blessed be the goal of our ambition.
This flag of the Crescent and the Star
Leads the way to progress and perfection,
Interpreter of our past, glory of our present,
Inspiration of our future,
Pak sarzamin shad bad
Kishware haseen shad bad
Tunishane azmealishan arze Pakistan
Markazeyaqin shadbad.
Pak sarzamin ka nizam quwate akhuwati awam
Qaum, mulk, Sultanat
Painda ta binda bad shad, bad man zele murad.
Parchame sitarao hilat
Rahbare tarraqio ka mal
Tarjumane mazishane hal jane istaqbal
Sayyai, khudae zul jalal.
Blessed be the sacred Land
Happy be the bounteous realm
Symbol of high resolve
Land of Pakistan
Blessed be thou citadel of faith
The order of this sacred land
Is the might of the brotherhood of the People
May the nation, the country, and the state
Shine in glory everlasting
Blessed be the goal of our ambition
This Flag of the Crescent and Star
Leads the way to progress and perfection
Interpreter of our past, glory of our present
Inspiration of our future
Symbol of Almighty’s protection
Dear All,
Please accept my warm wishes on this very special occassion of our life… Happy Independence Day. May Allah bless Pakistan with continuous growth and fool proof security for every citizen.
I started my this special day with lot of prayers. May Allah hear my prayers for Pakistan and its people.
I will repeat nice words of Ghazala again that,
mauj barhay kay aandhi aaye, diya jalaye rakhna hai
ghar ki khatir sao dukh jhailain, ghar tou aakhir appna hai
Saleem Bhai, yes, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY to you and every Pakistani.
Allow me to present here a reminder for us all what price our elders paid so that we are a free people. My hope is that, perhaps, this should help us to understand the value of libery, and independence.
This is an article from Haroldtribune columnist Retired Col. Riaz Jafri.
Has Pakistan Come?
Monday August 11, 2008
Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
jafri(at)rifiela.com
I don’t think I will ever forget what I witnessed as a young man of 17 on an early night of late August 1947 at Bahawal Nagar railway station in the then Bahawalpur state. I do not remember the exact date but it certainly fell in the later part of the month – around 27th or so. The subcontinent had been partitioned into Pakistan and Bharat, resulting in the largest exodus of refugees in the history of the mankind. Over fifteen million people were displaced on both sides of the divide. Thousands of families had been torn apart from their dear and near ones in the wake of the bloodiest communal riots that had not seen its parallel before. To the horror of all and unexplainably, the religious frenzy turned the erstwhile good neighbours mad and hostile towards each other for no other apparent reason. Though there were a few instances of human compassion between the neighbours on both sides – some even at the risk of their lives – but these were far and few in between. Mostly, while the men folk were mowed down the women were taken alive. Many a wife, daughter, sister or a young mother had been left behind by the fleeing refugees who out of sheer desperation, honour and shame preferred them to be believed dead than alive and kidnapped.
East Punjab Muslims had been the worst hit victims of the communal carnage. They were not only mowed and mauled, cut to pieces by the kirpans and daggers, lances and axes, tokas and gandasas but the beast in the man had ebbed to such abysmal low that the innocent infants were tossed up in the air and their small falling bodies with fluttering arms and legs were plucked and pricked by the sharp shiny lances underneath. Many a young flowering toddler was fried in the boiling oil of the most heinous cauldron of madness in front of the eyes of their helpless mothers and parents. It was also not an uncommon practice to cut open the womb of the pregnant mother to put the unborn to the sword with a most pagan like ritual of shouting and dancing to have eliminated yet another Muslim in the making. Severing of the breasts of the women so that they would not nurse their lactating babies and shearing of the genitals, with at times Kirpans left inside them, rendering them unable to procreate further was considered a methodology of finishing a race. It is not that I recount such atrocities with a view to fanning and fuelling the hatred but to apprise the younger generation of today of the extreme sacrifices made by their elders and the creators of Pakistan.
Bahawal Nagar was the nearest sizeable town with a district headquarters after Mcleod Ganj Road – a small border town with India. Delhi – Bhatinda – Bahawal Nagar – Multan was the shortest route to Lahore and Karachi for the trains to carry the ill-fated refugees and the beleaguered staff escorting and entrusted with the official records of the newly born state from India (Delhi) to Pakistan (Karachi). Bahawal Nagar, as such, was the first place where they could find some solace and succour in their arduous journey to freedom.
I had just passed my matriculation examination from Bahawal Inter College, Bahawal Nagar and in the hindsight I can only pay a rich tribute to the otherwise oft-condemned British Raj, for not only holding the exams in time but also announcing the results on the dot when everything in the subcontinent was in the biggest turmoil that one could imagine. Quite a few of us students had formed impromptu social work groups, with make shift equipment and apparatuses to render whatever help we could to the refugees and immigrants and whenever a train was to arrive we used to gather at the railway station. On the fateful evening the word went round that a train was arriving around 9 p.m. What we didn’t know was that it had been attacked near Fazilka (India) by the miscreants and most of the refugees on it were in a very bad shape. Blood was all over the compartments, many lay dead, most unconscious breathing heavily and a few were half conscious. We were frantically trying to save as many lives as possible. All we could do was to carry the unconscious and the semi conscious on our makeshift stretchers to the waiting tongas and a very few vehicles (no ambulances) to be transported to the district hospital.
It was here that when we were carrying an old man - badly battered bruised and injured and barely conscious, that he opened his half closed hazy eyes and asked me in a barely audible low voice but with an expectant look, ”Putr, Pakistan — aa gia hai?” (Son, has Pakistan come?). I replied enthusiastically, “Yes Baba, yes you are in Pakistan and every thing will be alright now”. Hearing it his head slid to the side and the Baba had gone. To me it appeared as if he was just waiting and trying to keep himself alive to reach Pakistan – reach Pakistan to take a breath or two of the free air of the free state of Pakistan. And having fulfilled his desire he contentedly left for his heavenly abode.
It was some 61 years ago, but Baba’s last words still haunt me. Yes Baba, Pakistan has come. Yes Baba, we lost half of it too in 1971. Yes Baba, we are hollowing the foundations of the remaining Pakistan too by looting and plundering it every day. We are doing all that what our Quaid asked us not to. We have thrown to the winds his Unity, Faith and Discipline. Yes Baba, Pakistan had come. Pray Baba, it doesn’t go.
www(dot)paktribune(dot)com/news/index.shtml?204363
No comments except the pain in feeling after reading it. Thanks for reminding me again. I sat with many migrants and heard their stories. Your post reminded me all those stories again.
I won’t say that it was happened with Muslims only. My grand father told me what Muslims did with their Hindu Neighbours in West Punjab. In our village there were many Hindu families but my grand father told that Muslims filled their wells with Hindu dead bodies in just one night. He told that I not participated in that so villagers gave me a tag of Coward. Still there are couple of old homes of Hindus in our village. One place still exists where they were used to burn dead bodies. Lot of things to share but time constraints… Sorry.
Keep sending such nice comments for our information.
No, there is no denial that Hindus and the Sikhs also suffered. Saleem Bhai, I do not think, at least, never heard from anyone that they don’t value their country or their freedom and liberty, they are one people and proud to be Indians. It pains me to see that, unfortunately, it is us who just take everything for granted; the greatest the beneficiary the most unfaithful. I cry to notice the indifference, the absence of love of these ungrateful children of this great motherland, our Pakistan!
Aftab Bhai, at least people like me are with you. I never takes their migration from one land to totally new area as taken for granted. You are right, our nation has lost ethics and moral values. Sir, you said that you cries but just come and see my heart. Full of pains and tears. But I’m hopeful that one day Allah will listen to me and we will welcome a new Pakistan. I’m not an old man, who starts regretting after spending his life is enjoyment and later on thinks that what I did for my own country. Thanks Allah that this instinct is in me from the day first. I love my country and its people. I never feel shame to sit with the lowest class of Pakistan. I have no shame to eat and share with them. Listen their problems. Sir, this life is very fast and people pretends that they don’t have time. For me, if you even sits and listen the pains of any human being… it is Saqda Jariha in present days. These people are very loving and feels very great even if some one listen them seriously.
Sir, I often visit village and sits with my poor villagers. You know, they gives me such a warm welcome that I can hardly receive from any other class. They immediately cleans their beds, chairs etc to offer me. runs here and there to arrange a drink etc even if I asks them to not do it. They sits near me and shares their worries and sorrows. Can we not support them morally atleast?
Hi Ghazala,
A very beautiful post and also equally poignant comments from Aftab alam and mr.Saleem Khan.Today we in India get plenty of emails and blogs are created about how Muslims have taken away 25% of Bharath land but took only 18% of population.They also ethinic cleansed almost all Hindus from their land and also destroyed all the temples and gurudwarahs etc But India due to cowardly leadership of Gandhiji and Nehru allowed Muslims to stay in secular India who now constitute nearly 15% of population and has more Muslims than even Paksitan and bangladesh.Muslims were butchered only in Punjab and rest of India listened to secular voice of the congress leadership.so let us finish the unfinished job of partition. It echoes very strongly in Indian middleclass due tothe activities of Fundementalist Muslims in India who look upon SaudiArabia as their spiritual guru. Ofcourse Kashmiri Muslims who were secular till 1980 ethnic cleansed the Hindu pandits from the Srinagar Valley and who are now leading the present blcokade in jammu part of kashmir as the Muslims in valley who take orders from ISI agitated against allotment of land (38 acres to amarnath pilgrims.The pilgrimage which used to be in thousands during 1930 is now burgeoned to lakhs thereby needing health,food,sanitation fascilities.But Srinagar Muslims will not oblige and Hindus in India have joined jammu Hindus and asking when pakistan gifted 5l akh acres to china, what you were doing and you donot gift even 38 acres for pilgrimage.This is having very good resonance amongst middleclass indians.
As Musharaff who usurped the power from nawaz and plotted kargil and then refused to own up is not again talking about kashmir runs in every pakistani blood as if it is running water in Indian blood.The americans have very cleverly used this devide from 1947 and before that the britishers.
I agree a pakistan which is smaller in size to India require SECURITY . You very correctly accesssed Geography and became china’s friend and also have got nukes for ultimate secuirty.But a Army chief like Musharaff immediately plotted kargil thinking Indians wear bangles.He got his lesson but usurped power from elected Nawaz for kargil failure and exiled him as if it is favour of not killing him.From Liaquat ali khan most of pakistani leaders to present day Benazir were assaisinated as in india we lost Indira and Rajiv.
Today the think tanks in USA are telling Pakistani think tanks that how come India is having consulates in Afghanistan,building roads and girls schools there and it must be stopped because pakistani depth in security has come down due to taliban regime which it created in Afghanistan has vanished. But who created Taliban, it is the same CIA through ISI. Now they are in FATA/NWFP etc tormenting pakistan army.Who instigated Saddam to invade Iran and Kuwait and finally killed him?
Who encouraged Georgia to invade Ossettia? but the encouragers do NOT get killed but the georgians and ossetians.Ditto serbs and bosnians.So also kashmiries.
Pakistanies and Indians must think and find TRUTH in their hearts.
Wishing you all Patriotic Pakistanies A very Bright and joyful Independence day.
Dear madam Ghazala:
being a weakest link in mathematics, I thought its 61st Birthday of Pakistan, but both of us do agree its a birthday without argument, nevertheless.
You’ve talked abt the spirit of olden days thats is fading now in dotcom generation. But why dont u really write abt the REMEDIAL process and why we ppl don’t want to go in depth WHY IS IT HAPPENING? is the real thing to talk abt? not losing or weakening our patriotism but it is happeneing in every field.
We all know theft is a crime and we abhor the person who does it, but WHY he did it? this is to explore. and this exploration surely made us aware whats wrong with us, and whose reponsible.
HAPPY 61st I-DAY
keep smiling.
Ajab bahaar may khila
wo phool MAHTAB ka
Pakistan Zindabad! May God bestow all His blessings upon the country and people!
All of you are in my prayers.
Warm regards
Dear Mahtab,
It was 62nd Independence day and 61 years of Independence. Please add a day of 14-08-1947 in your calculations. So she is correct.
Regards,