Are We Really Celebrating Independence Day?

 

Despite 75 years of its independence, is Pakistan an independent state for women, trans, and the white portion of the flag?

Independent (Adj.): Freedom from outside control and authority.

The word “independent” signifies the presence of freedom; freedom to live, freedom to speak, and freedom to act. The word “freedom” signifies the presence of power, liberty, and permanent well-being. These terms usually generate positive feelings and reactions in the minds of the majority. Any state or land which is declared independent and practices self-government is often looked upon as a free nation where people have rights over the government. They exercise their freedom and liberty and this, in turn, gives them power or the upper hand.

Sounds good to read, right? But have you wondered about the fact that some countries despite being labeled “independent” do not enjoy the benefits of being “independent”?

Unfortunately, Pakistan is the very same country whose “independence” is celebrated with sheer excitement every year, with still many of its citizens DEPENDENT on other citizens for just being alive in a country they call theirs. 

Pakistan was awarded separate statehood on 14^th August 1947 after the partition of the British Indian Empire. It came into being with the objective of complete independence for all citizens, despite their color, race, or religion. Pakistan was declared a land of freedom.

Over the years, the idea and perspective of “independence” for the citizens of Pakistan have changed drastically. Despite being a land of complete freedom, Pakistan is, unfortunately, an independent state for only a few.

The independence and freedom in the state of Pakistan are only in the hands of a few privileged people. While the privileged group enjoys liberties and exercises their rights to live, speak and act, the other sectors or groups in Pakistan have to struggle even to survive or live in their “homeland”. Unfortunately, this does not add up to label Pakistan as a safe land for all.

Referring to the gender inequality index, one of the main factors which contribute to “inequality” in this independent land includes the enforced patriarchy in our society, relationships, conversations, values, beliefs, and most importantly in our minds. Ignorant behavior or blind eye by the majority, towards this male-dominant society, keeps on adding to the pile of unjustness and inequality. This deeply embedded patriarchy over the years has resulted from the Indian subcontinent culture, which till now affects the three “independent” parts of the subcontinent. 

Women in Pakistan have been subjected under the control of external forces; men under the name of “culture”, and unfortunately, due to the lack of awareness, this subjection of women has been normalized to such an extent that people overlook or choose to ignore the wrongs and their roots in our society. The predicament of women in Pakistani society, which has confined them to limitations, has tremendously increased due to messages and objectification of women in media.

In an era, where media acts as a powerful “framing” tool, influencing people, particularly young minds, it has failed in empowering and lifting women. The media in Pakistan is often seen as portraying women as some weak, “dependent” individuals, who are mostly treated as objects of honor for the family, whereas men are portrayed as strong individuals of society, enforcing their unnecessary dominance and power over women and other weak individuals, creating an overall wrong impression of what needs to be accepted and normalized by all.

Speaking of “other individuals”, Pakistan has unfortunately failed in providing basic rights to the people belonging to the white part of the flag. The exploitation of rights of the minorities has resulted from racial and religious discrimination which has emerged as an uprising present-day issue for the minority sects and groups.

The discrimination and limitation of freedom are a result of hatred among groups due to a lack of tolerance and acceptance towards the beliefs and values of one another, which mainly causes the minorities in a region to suffer in greater amounts.

This sowed hatred is dated back to the formation of Pakistan, which came into existence as a result of British colonialism and their strategy to divide and rule, which sparked hatred among religious groups, resulting in separate states.

 The discrimination is not only confined to religious groups but also different ethnic groups, sparking feelings of jealousy and revenge among people, which at times threatens the value of human life determined by religion, cast, language, and color. 

The gender conflict in Pakistan has led to the cancellation of any other gender except male or female resulting in an obvious way, is the availability of only two tick-box options in gender columns of public forms, denying the right of trans people to work collectively, let alone work with cis-gender people, and so on.

The Pakistani transgender community despite belonging to an “independent” land, has to strive daily for their independence, freedom to work and earn, and unfortunately the right to even live, in harmony.

 

A land that was earned by hard work, dedication, blood, and sweat of our leaders and people, who migrated, and a land that was created to practice freedom, is now the same land where only a particular group is independent, safe, and enjoys freedom completely, while the rest suffer in silence.

It is often argued by some individuals how being a critic of one’s own country does not result in anything productive but only ill feelings for your motherland – which is wrong, by the way.

Being a critic of one’s own country does not cancel out an individual’s patriotism and love for it. Being patriotic requires one to point out and talk about problems and issues in his/her country, for making it a better and secure place to live for people belonging to any sect or group. Turning a blind eye toward the problems of one’s own country, in the name of “patriotism”, only makes one ignorant and inhuman.

Pakistan will not become true to its green and white flag proportion and its purpose of being till the citizens of Pakistan put their basic human morality above their love and patriotism for their motherland, and start initiating discussions about how to make Pakistan a better place to live FOR ALL, which would later turn into collective action for an actual “independent” land.

 An independent Pakistan. A better Pakistan.