I watched the 23rd March Parade on television as I used to do so every year till eight years ago, when the event was scrapped because of the security situation. I was happy, proud and elated at what I saw except for moments, when my joy turned alternatively to regret. The latter was generated by the body language of the three political figures standing on the saluting dais.
I can perhaps forgive the President for bloopers as this was his first real exposure to a ceremonial military parade, but when as the reviewing officer, he began to lean on a fixture - I was hard put to resist going livid. Someone should have told the gentleman about the decorum to be observed at such a momentous event, notwithstanding the fact that standing on the saluting dais for three hours was something totally alien to someone bred in the opulent luxury of a well to do home. That the President (who is also the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces) had either not been briefed or found it difficult to retain what he had been told, was evident from the fact that the Prime Minister had to tell him not to put his hand on the left side of his chest (in salutation to the National Anthem or the National Standard), when the band struck up for the parade to begin marching. While I am prepared to overlook the blooper on grounds of ‘first exposure and maybe age’, I cannot come to terms, when the Minister for Defence, who lacks neither exposure nor the age factor, was found almost lounging with his hand resting on another stage fixture. This callous disregard for the dignity and sanctity of the occasion is something that the gentleman must introspect, given his frequent political rhetoric on values and patriotism.
Perhaps, our Prime Minister had a lunch appointment to keep, for at least on two occasions, he was caught looking at his wrist watch impatiently. I am still at a loss to understand what could be more important to the Head of Executive than the event that he had been invited to grace.
It is indeed a matter of shame that the Government announced zero load shedding on the day that Pakistan played the pool match with India in the ongoing Cricket World Cup, but conveniently left a milestone national day at the mercy of those who play around with electricity feeders throughout the country. I received an irate call from a friend, who lives on Simly Dam Road to the effect that his power had been switched off at the very moment that the parade commander sought permission of the reviewing officer to begin the march past. I could only advise the injured party to continue watching the event on his computer (as no cell phones were operative) and immediately had to contend with a dial tone as the receiver at the other end was banged down.
In Lahore, the changing of the guard at the last resting place of Allama Iqbal was thrown into brief confusion, when the blade of the sword carried by the Rangers guard commander broke loose from the hilt and fell to the ground. This so flustered the poor man that he mixed up his next series of commands and their responses. I am happy that the media transmitting the ceremony live did not turn this mishap into breaking news nor is my mention of the incident an attempt to poke fun at a much respected and competent institution. I am merely trying to highlight the fact that what happened was perhaps a result of someone not checking the serviceability of the parade accoutrements, before issuing them to the participants – a sign of how careless and irresponsible we have become.
All said and done, the resurrection of the traditional celebrations connected to Pakistan Day injected new life into every Pakistani. It has shown us the way to face odds with courage and grit. It has perhaps even given us a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel.