‘’You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or 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 the State.’’ These words from Jinnah’s speech of 11th August 1947 describe the Pakistan he had envisioned. Quaid-e-Azam unequivocally proclaimed that he had created this state for Pakistanis, and whoever was on this side of the land will not have to face the harsh realities of life. His vision was unparalleled to any leader in the history of the world, he wanted to build a country where race, color, religion, and creed did not hold any ground. He wanted to create a state where bias based on religion did not occur. He wanted to make Pakistan a state where it would have become the world’s first and only sanctuary state, where religious prosecution did not exist. 

In 1947, United States was drenched in Jim Crow laws, our leader wanted to send a message to the world leaders, on how we would create a state that the world would watch and learn from. Seventy-four years later, we are barely hanging by a thread of a dream that Quaid-e-Azam had dreamt of. Our country is torn by secular hate, religious prosecution of minorities, women, and even the land itself. We have forgotten the role played by women including the founder’s sister Fatima Jinnah, in the struggle for Pakistan and continue to play to date despite increased challenges. It is unfortunate to see that there are people in this country, who want women’s identity reduced down to just a gender. 

There is a huge misconception, which sadly our history books are riddled with that the Quaid wanted to create Pakistan exclusively for Muslims. Had that been the case, there would have been no white in our flag. He wanted a homeland where minorities will not have to face the same fate as Muslims did in Hindu majority united India led by the British. 

The British conquered the world by spreading hate, fear of the other one. Their motto was to divide and conquer while Quaid saw this opportunity to create a country that will be led by ‘’Unity, Faith and Discipline.’’ It is very important to note that by Faith, he did not mean religion, and by no means he was a man who would have been confused. He meant faith as in that he had confidence that the citizens of Pakistan would take it to greater heights. By unity, he meant to stand together, through thick and thin, as a nation, and discipline being the key to success. 

How did we go from such a great leader to today, where we are exactly going back to live in fear of one another, divided and misled by baseless ideas. We need to question, what has led us to reach a point where our women are being reduced to hashtags demanding justice?  What has made our minorities to live in constant fear of blasphemy? How did we go from a leader who promised the Hindus, the Christians, the Sikh’s their rights to a country which burns an entire Christian village, and forcefully converts underage Hindu girls while we watch like silent spectators?  

The early years of Pakistan were a struggle, but they were still golden years. Economically, socially, and politically Pakistan was doing well, the minorities were well established in Pakistan and considered it their homes, where everyone co-existed and celebrated the land of pure.  Where we did not consider the temple bells ringing as an attack on our identity as a Muslim or as a Pakistani. Pakistani minorities were an important part of the country’s fabric. 

A lesser-known fact that is seldom celebrated on our Independence Day is that Flight Lieutenant Alfred Jagjivan was one of the first officers to lay his life for Pakistan. In 1948, he was returning from a battle, while he and Air Commodore M.A. Dogar were caught in an attempted air arrest by Indian fighter pilots. Dogar reported Jagjivan shouting “do not give in, we will live for Pakistan and die for Pakistan”. They both gave up their lives for their country, not as downtrodden minorities, but as proud Pakistanis. Many more Christians embraced martyrdom in future conflicts like Novan Theodore Fazal Elahi in 1949, Mervyn Leslie Middlecoat, known as the Defender of Karachi and recipient of the Sitara-e-Jurat in 1965, martyred in the 1971 Bangladesh War along with Squadron Leader Peter Christy. Christy was then awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat and Tamgha-e-Jurat posthumously. These are our war heroes, whose lives and contributions as Pakistanis are just as important as everyone else’s. 

This was the Pakistan Quaid dreamed of a country where everyone was equal and treated just. My grandparents had fond memories of ‘’Quaid’s Pakistan’. At a time when Pakistan would attract tourists from all over the world and was known for its cultural values. When the Pakistani film and cinema industry was booming and produced stars like Waheed Murad, a heartthrob, whose memories are alive to date. We celebrated culture, arts, performances, literature. Pakistan’s entertainment industry gave rise to Pop music in South Asia. When we had classic drama serials projecting a progressive image of our country, where we co-existed in a tolerant environment, where we celebrated our diversity and identities. 

On this independence day, let's promise to bring back Jinnah’s Pakistan, where no one has to live under any sort of fear, this is our independent homeland and no citizen of this country should feel suppressed. I am a patriot, my country is my identity, it breaks my heart into million pieces to see my beloved homeland fall prey to horrific elements like sectarian violence, terrorism, drugs, and extremism. This is not who we are, we need to reflect on ourselves and remind ourselves that this land of Pure, is home to all of us. Homes are meant to be safe, the white in our flag deserves our respect, we are all one, with one identity, i.e. Pakistanis. Let’s do our part as responsible citizens and learn to rise above hate, together, we can. If we stand united as one, we will rise and shine stronger on all fronts, as our beloved Quaid said “There is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan”. Long Live Pakistan.