Are we really independent?

What have we achieved these years apart from constraints of every kind? It's shameful how immobilised we are as a mass

As we were commemorating the independence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, I found myself asking the same questions I ask every year: are we a self-sufficient nation? Have we gotten the liberty to be ourselves without being questioned and shamed about our choices as individuals? Do we have freedom of speech? Have we achieved any major accomplishments in the past year? Every year, without fail, I am left in a state of dubiousness.

As we set our feet in the 76th year of independence, our fundamental human rights are still unprotected; women of our country still feel unsafe when they step out of their homes, and at times, in their homes too. Our minorities and unguarded society members are threatened and killed at the hands of so-called patriots. Sectarian violence is vividly present. Our political instability, education systems and economic conditions continue to worsen unabated. In addition to a decaying judiciary system, corruption, increasing crimes and poverty are considerable contributing issues too.

Pakistan, over the seven decades, has seemed to become an amalgamation of religious extremists, classism, fascism, sexism, feudalism and nepotism, and that has directly led us to our current miserable and withered state.

Another major reason why we have failed as a nation is we are blindly ensnared by our elected political leaders and religious enthusiasts. We have, collectively, lost the ability to comprehend, critically analyse and question the wickedness and morals of our society.

With numerous tragedies that dawned on us over time, we as a nation have become alarmingly callous and apathetic. On any misfortunate event, we neither react nor respond thoughtfully to the incident.

The endless and frequent calamities have resulted in the migration of masses. Hundreds and thousands of Pakistanis are departing to various parts of the globe. The youth, over 60% of the population, is unmotivated, pessimistic and highly directionless, wasting the prime years of their lives in this haphazard country. They have lost all hope for a better future.

Seventy-six years later, we have yet to attain what Jinnah had dreamt of, a free country where people could practice their religions without any hindrance. Every other day, we observe religious and sectarian conflicts resulting in cold murders over minute disagreements among different communities. We have grown uncomfortably intolerant towards others. Lawlessness has played a significant role in enabling the culpable. Jinnah quoted:

“You are free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed, that has nothing to do with the business of State.”

Over the course of these 70 something years, we failed ourselves and Jinnah simultaneously and all the other freedom fighters who fought for the rights and liberty of Pakistanis for aeons. What have we achieved in the past years apart from constraints of every kind, normalisation of abuse and violence on a broader scale, billions of debts from different countries and dozens of other complications? It's profoundly shameful and dishonourable how immobilised we are as a mass.

Let's look at the brighter side and try to ameliorate our faults somehow. In order to improve our despairing state, a few measures need to be adopted. First, and most important, is being tolerant towards other members of our society and accepting people along with their diversities.

Secondly, we must grow politically and socially aware and concurrently work on refining our education systems and terminate being a flock of sheep who follow the command of the shepherd blindly. Education can bring surprising developments and amendments among the young mass. It can bring awareness and show our shortcomings and what we lack as a nation. Identifying the root cause helps greatly in resolving the cause itself rapidly and efficiently.

As I conclude, I wish and pray for a prosperous and flourishing country. A country which Jinnah dreamt of, and so did our ancestors. May we get to this land of peace and thrive like no land ever did.