World
 
64 years of little gains and big losses
Visits 159
Visits 159
August 19, 2011
Back in 1947 we were a united nation under one leader. The leadership of the time was sincere, loyal not only to the people, but also to the newly independent state. The committed leaders were able to harness Muslim energies, give them direction, and transform cultural nationalism into political organisation. The people were also sincere and loyal to their causes. Under dynamic leaders the Muslims of India found new faith; faith in their own capabilities, faith in their ideology. They were hardly a monolithic entity but all of them pulled in the same direction for the establishment of Pakistan. They translated a dream into reality even in the face of insurmountable odds. The Muslims achieved more than just a strip of land. They regained their identity, which had been trampled for decades under colonialism. They rejoiced in the attainment of their independence with mixed feelings: pain and joy, anguish and jubilation.
August 14, 1947 is memorable for every Pakistani. It was the time when Pakistan became independent from the British Raj. The green and white flag of Pakistan, designed by Syed Ameer-ud-Din Kidwai, was given its due respect when it was hoisted for the first time.
August 14, 1947 also marked the day when Pakistan entered the comity of free nations, an equal among equals. It was an occasion for rejoicing not only for the Muslims of the subcontinent, but also for all who value human freedom as an end in itself.
Since then the red-letter day is celebrated with pomp and gaiety across the length and breadth of Pakistan. Cultural programmes and flag-hoisting ceremonies are the predominant affair of the day, along with paying homage to the heroes of the freedom struggle, and holding special prayers in mosques for the unity, solidarity and prosperity of the country.
This year also the 64th Independence Day was celebrated with the usual pomp and fanfare by the youth. Rooftops were adorned with the national flags and buntings. On the eve of Independence Day there was midnight aerial firing and cracking of firecrackers, disturbing the peace and tranquillity of the blessed night of the holy month of Ramadan. Even the sudden heavy downpour around midnight could not dampen the spirits of the Karachiites, as they gathered at a Defence Stadium to set a world record for the most number of people singing the national anthem simultaneously. Five thousand eight hundred and eighty five people, including boys and girls of all ages, beat the record of 5, 248 held by Philippines since September 1, 2009.
Interestingly, back in 1947 when we attained Independence, it was also Ramadan. Today, 64 years later we are again celebrating our Independence Day in Ramadan. But there is a lot of difference in the celebrations of 1947 and 2011. Back in 1947 we were a united nation under one leader. The leadership of the time was sincere, loyal not only to the people, but also to the newly independent state. The committed leaders were able to harness Muslim energies, give them direction, and transform cultural nationalism into political organisation.
The people were also sincere and loyal to their causes. Under dynamic leaders the Muslims of India found new faith; faith in their own capabilities, faith in their ideology. They were hardly a monolithic entity but all of them pulled in the same direction for the establishment of Pakistan. They translated a dream into reality even in the face of insurmountable odds. The Muslims achieved more than just a strip of land. They regained their identity, which had been trampled for decades under colonialism. They rejoiced in the attainment of their independence with mixed feelings: pain and joy, anguish and jubilation.
It is really amazing how a country with shaky foundations was able to meet the challenges with zest. After independence, in the newly constituted cabinet not a single person had political foresight or economic vision. Yet hundreds of thousands of refugees were miraculously accommodated, without the begging bowl, as India had refused to release any funds which were allocated to Pakistan as a consequence of the Partition.
In our 64 years of chequered history we did make important strides. Dr Abdus Salam is the only Pakistani to have won the Nobel Prize in Physics (1979). Pakistanis perform outstandingly well in the realm of culture: in the arts, television, fashion design, and pop music. At one time Pakistan was a force to be reckoned with in the sporting fields of squash, cricket, hockey, and bridge. Now our international rankings have dropped dramatically.
Edhi Ambulance of Abdul Sattar Edhi is the world's largest privately owned ambulance charity service. The first computer virus was made back in 1986 by two Pakistani brothers, Amjad Farooq Alvi and Basit Farooq Alvi, and they named the virus after their company Brain Telecommunications as “Brain”. The virus was non-destructive and was made just to see the security vulnerability of a computer.
In 1990, Pakistan became first Muslim majority country to successfully develop artificial robot satellite which was launched by China. In 1998 Pakistan tested its six successfully and indigenously developed atomic devices, becoming the 7th nuclear power country in the world.

The judiciary has also come a long way in these 64 years. For the first time, the popular public verdict was announced in the case of Sarfarz Shah, the youth shot dead by a Ranger. Awarding of death sentence to the main shooter, Shahid Zafar, and life imprisonment to the other six accomplices, was a gift to the nation by the special Anti-Terrorism Court Session Judge Bashir Ahmad Khosa. For the first time the court did not drag its feet over adjournments and completed the trial within the stipulated timeframe set by the Supreme Court. It is hoped that the verdict in the lynching case of Mughees and Muneeb will not be delayed and justice will be given to the victim’s family.

Today we are like a like a ship without a captain. There is mayhem everywhere. We are holding out the begging bowl in front of the same people our ancestors wanted freedom from. We want international donors to give us aid so that we can rehabilitate our won people displaced by devastating floods and military operations launched to purge areas of so-called “extremists” and “Islamic fundamentalists”. We are a nation of people divided along ethnic and religion lines without a leader. Today in Pakistan we can find Pathans, Sindhis, Punjabis, Baloch, Kashmiris, even Sunnis, Shias and Mohajirs but not a single Pakistani! Since the demise of pre-partition and post-partition leadership not a single leader in Pakistan was able to forge unity along ethnic and religious lines.

In the pre-partition days the independent princely states voted in favour of Pakistan and even acceded to Pakistan. Independent states and administrative units came together to form one Pakistan. Today we are talking of the need to divide the provinces into smaller federating units. The talk of new provinces is not on the basis of improving and simplifying public management and governance. Neither are new provinces going to be carved out of existing provinces to reduce ethnic tensions between communities. New provinces will be craved on linguistic basis, adding one more “nationalism” to the already endless list of nationalisms, which is destructive for our unity and development. New provinces will not only further divide us as a nation, but will also give rise to more Big Brother, Small Brother politics, corruption, nepotism and hamper the economic growth, as many of the linguistic based provinces will not be economically viable.

Pakistan has truly suffered from lack of a true leader and competent leadership. Our leaders, past, present and even future, are just new wine in old bottles. The criterion is that of having a feudal background and family politics to qualify as a leader, so that we can behave in the most dictatorial manner. Pakistan truly faces a gigantic crisis due to lack of true, honest and competent leadership.

Fake degree holder parliamentarians have no interest and have no positive vision. They just join the government to work for their own interest, building their properties, getting their sons and daughters, all distant and close relatives off the hooks of corruption, loan scams, murder, extortion and what not. The disloyalty and corruption of these leaders has besmirched the country’s name. Their callous rape and plunder of the resources has put the country in red. Yet we, the gullible masses, keep on idolising, patronising and playing musical chairs with these pseudo leaders so that they can lead us. We are truly a blind nation!

There is political vacuum at the helm. Since coming into power the government has failed to resolve even a single issue. Despite being faced with major challenges like unemployment, load-shedding, IDPs, and price hike which have broken all previous records, the government appears least bothered about taking stock and controlling the situation. Instead, it is busy locking horns with the Supreme Court on major issues.

Pakistan today is in a state of chaos and meltdown. The recent mayhem in the country has been the most disturbing since 1947, because it totally repudiates the founding principles. Street agitation and public anger have escalated, as the political parties and their allies keep on playing cat and mouse games. As a result, the country bleeds every day. The streets of Karachi are awash with the blood of those killed under the guise of target killing. The streets of North Waziristan are littered with the bodies of innocent children killed by the Americans in drone attacks. There is despair everywhere.

Lahu mai doob rhi hai fiza-e-arz-e-watan

Main kis zuban se kahon

Jazhan-e-Azadi mubarak!

  • Khyber-PakhtunKhawa
  • Balochistan
  • Punjab
  • Sindh
NA-121 Lahore: stage set for close contest
NA-121 Lahore has been in the grip of the PML-N since 1985, but evolving ground realties in the constituency, including the surfacing of the PTI as a new political force and the re-entry of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) into electoral politics, ensures a tough electoral contest on May 11. In the past three elections, the PML-N and the JI coalition has won this seat. But in the upcoming polls, the ri
Bloody election fear shaping up into reality
As the election campaign progresses, incidents of violence and lawlessness have increased. The law enforcement agencies have become silent spectators strengthening fears that blood will spill during elections this year. Attacks on the offices of political parties have gained momentum as May 11 — the day of elections — draws near. Since the announcement of election date, nine blasts have occurred i
Who will form government in Balochistan?
The Pakistan Muslim League is likely to play a leading role in the formation of a coalition government in Balochistan, according to independent analysts who are closely monitoring the post-poll scenario. However, the key to this coalition is in the hands of the Pushtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), which has emerged as a top winner with 9 seats in the 51- member provincial assembly, according
Polls in Swat: People
District Swat gives a new look with regard to 2013 elections as unlike 2008 elections when the law and order situation was very serious due to Maulana Fazlullah factor and only small portion of voters participated in them. However as it is evident from the enthusiastic electioneering campaign in the recent days a proportionate big turnout is expected on May 11. Unexpectedly in 2008 elections ANP h
  • Cartoon
  • Horoscope
Generic Cytotec. Order misprostol online. Cheap, without prescription. Purchase Cytotec Online. USA, Canada. Cytotec 100mcg pills delivery.
Buy Cytotec
The toughest part of "having it made" is being able to step back and allow things to happen naturally without feeling like you have to get involved in each little detail... And allowing others to shine brightly in their own right.. This week, it's all about giving others the space they need to prosper & grow on their own... Your main goal is to make it clear to others that you want them to succeed just as much as you want to yourself... This ener