By: Wajeeha Bilal
Independence is the slogan that was raised as a founding factor for the establishment of our country. The struggle was sustained by those who sacrificed to lay the foundations of our independence. The desire for peace and prosperity is an integral part of a struggle. “You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom,” says Malcolm X.
The struggle for Pakistan is inherited deeply in its existence. Its independent and democratic platform has been used or misused to achieve or sustain power. The corrupted negativity could have destroyed our individual and collective freedom had we not stood against it. We live in a pessimistic world looking for opportunities to divide and take away what truly was hard earned by our ancestors. But cynicism and negativity never helped to bring freedom or peace and certainly through an analysis of our history, we have the cure for this virus in the form of hope and elation.
The dream of our great nation was built on morality and optimism. Our founding fathers believed that an independent state was a true hope of opportunity for the struggling Muslims of the subcontinent. A dream of a separate homeland brought hope that we shall rise despite our difficulties. Political struggles in Pakistan continue to be scarred by world politics and regional instability. Mohammad Ali Jinnah had envisioned a democratic Pakistan but Pakistan faces the inevitable task of setting up government priorities alongside sustaining its regional demographics.
Since its birth on 14 August 1947, Pakistan’s journey for survival has been as coercive as it has been challenging. In spite of being one of the largest Muslim states in the world, Pakistan struggled to keep its eastern wing in 1971. Pakistan’s rise in world politics pricked its neighbor who conspired their support for separating its eastern wing. The conspiracy was driven by a neighbor’s dismay and Indira Gandhi’s support to counter the existence of Pakistan. Despite its strong struggle to exist, Pakistan has always been engaged in a continuous struggle to sustain demographical stability. We are free Pakistanis who are known for their struggle and sacrifice and proudly identify with our homeland that still faces difficulty in its existence. We do not allow neighborly politics to deviate us from our struggle to exist.
The struggle for Pakistan through history is still connected to its current political status. Our Prime Minister Imran Khan sees the US viewing Pakistan as useful only in the context of the “mess” it left behind in Afghanistan after 20 years of fighting. Pakistan’s regional borders have been affected by wars on terror and the ongoing global cold wars. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan and its regional brunt are oriented toward Pakistan’s struggle and strategic survival in that area. Our Foreign Minister Qureshi, in a recent press conference, stated that Pakistan was consistently advocating a reduction in violence and supporting the peace process. He said Pakistan sympathized with Afghanistan and would support it, but it would not shy from saying “What we believe in because of our clear approach…We have never advocated the use of force and we have never shown inclination towards a particular group. We have no favorites,” he stressed.
Our collective optimism has been a powerful force for our achievements. We have struggled through our turbulent history but the main obstacles in our survival lie ahead of us. Our country is a developing one that requires proper plans and implementation not only in politics but in other organizations as well. It survives daily struggles against corruption in different fields. Regardless of the regional turbulence, political turmoil and instability, Pakistanis are a hardworking nation that sustain a great culture and optimism for their independent land. Our hope and courage shield us from the international conflicts and regional instability. Whether it’s our daily endeavors to excel in different fields or our prayers to elevate our artists and athletes during competitions, all the efforts lead the way to move on and celebrate every Independence Day with an enthusiasm that defies all the negativity.
“Throughout history many nations have suffered a physical defeat, but that has never marked the end of a nation. But when a nation has become the victim of a psychological defeat, then that marks the end of a nation.” ~ Ibn Khaldun.
Our founders risked their lives to establish a new homeland where people could fulfill their dreams with freedom and peace. The biggest threat to that dream arises when the willpower to struggle or live with hope dies with fear from daily struggles. As long as people have faith and hope to survive any obstacle that comes their way, the idea of a free dreamland will flourish. There is no better way to celebrate our independence day than by doing what we can with optimism, in our own fields for the existence and prosperity of our country. Pakistan’s existence and survival rest above all conspiracies and conflicts, for to lose hope in any way about our homeland would mean a war against all those who dreamed and sacrificed for Pakistan.
“There is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan.” ~Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
The writer is the author of “The Conscious Ego”, “The Beautiful Present”. She can be reached at [email protected]