79 Years of Freedom: What Happened to the Pakistan We Dreamed Of?
Pakistan is celebrating 79 years of Independence on 14 August. The day commences with the raising of the flag, gun salutes and prayers of peace and prosperity. Streets, buildings and homes are marked with green and white flags. For many, it's a day that's filled with pride and celebration. But this year, it is difficult not to look beyond the celebrations.
What does independence mean when people are still not safe from one another?
Pakistan came into being in 1947 after the partition of British India. It was an era of great expectation, but also of exile, brutality and tragedy. Independence for some who had struggled for a separate homeland, was a place where people could live with dignity, security and a sense of belonging. Today, in the midst of our cities, we still ask ourselves, "What has changed in the last 79 years to move closer to that promise?
An 18-month-old girl in Karachi reportedly died after being sexually assaulted. In Quetta, Dr Mahnoor Nasir, a postgraduate surgical resident at Sandeman Provincial Hospital, was attacked with acid, raising serious concerns about the safety of healthcare workers. The death of businessman Mir Raza Ali has added new doubts in Karachi after a second post-mortem reportedly revealed signs of severe torture. His case is still being investigated.
The question becomes even more painful when the place meant to provide protection becomes the setting of alleged abuse. In Lahore, a 20-year-old woman with a learning disability was allegedly sexually assaulted inside a police station by an assistant sub-inspector. The officer was arrested, and all 78 personnel posted at the Ghaziabad police station were suspended over allegations that they failed to prevent or report the misconduct. If a woman cannot feel safe even inside a police station, where is she supposed to go for protection?These are very different cases. The case of Siddique Masih, a Christian father of four who was allegedly killed at a brick kiln in Punjab after a dispute with local residents over access to drinking water, has also sparked worries over religious discrimination and the plight of religious minorities. There are differing accounts of what might have happened in the confrontation, so the incident must be handled with care while the investigation continues.
These are not just crime stories. They make us face a more fundamental question: What kind of society have we created? What kind of freedom is it if a child can not be protected? What independence is it if a woman can't feel safe in her workplace? What kind of citizenship is it when violence, intolerance and injustice can become part of everyday life?
If such tales continue to be told, it's hard to dismiss them as accidental. They raise an uncomfortable question about the society we have become. Muhammad Ali Jinnah spoke to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan three days before Independence on 11 August 1947. His words laid out an important idea about the kind of state he wanted Pakistan to become:
O ye people, you are free; you are free to go to your Temples; you are free to go to your Mosques; you are free to go to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan.O people you are free; you are free to go to your Temples; you are free to go to your Mosques; you are free to go to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan.
These were the words uttered mere days before the Independence of Pakistan. Jinnah was not just saying goodbye to British rule. He was also addressing the question of how the citizens of the new nation should be treated. This is the reason why the violence and intolerance we see today is hard to ignore. We became independent of colonial rule. However, government is not the only aspect of independence. It is also about whether the people of that country can live in security, dignity and equality of citizenship.