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 14th
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.
Comments
Post a Comment