It was due to the selfless practical unity among the Muslims
under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah that
Pakistan became a tangible reality on August 14, 1947. But, that unity started
declining after passing through various crises, and the result was separation of
East Pakistan in 1971, as India manipulated differences between East Pakistan
and the West Pakistan.Although the 14thAugust is celebrated every year as the
Independence Day, but, this time, it has come at a time when Pakistan is facing
multiple threats of grave nature externally and internally, which are worrying
all the citizens.
More than 12 months have passed. But, Indian fanatic government of the ruling
party BJP led by the extremist Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued lockdown
in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK)—since August 5, 2019 when Indian government
revoked articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution, which gave a special status to
the disputed territory of the Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). Thus, New Delhi
unilaterally annexed the region with the Indian Federation to turn Muslim
majority into minority. Acting upon the ideology of Hindutva ((Hindu
Nationalism), Indian biased rulers also issued domicile certificates to 40000
non-Kashmiris.
While, Indian fanatic rulers are also escalating tensions with Pakistan and have
continued shelling inside Pakistani side of Kashmir by violating the ceasefire
agreement in relation to the Line of Control (LoC).Externally, Pakistan’s
forces, especially, Pak Army and Rangers have been boldly responding to India’s
unprovoked firing at the LoC. Notably, the Indian Citizenship Amendment Act 2019
(CAA), passed by the Indian Parliament further exposed the discriminatory
policies of the Modi regime. The CAA coupled with the National Register of
Citizens (NRC) is mainly against the Muslim immigrants particularly from
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Since last year, daily mass protests
continued across every state in India against the CAA and the NRC. Despite
criticism of the rights groups, foreign leaders, the UNO and moderate Hindus in
wake of violent protests which killed and injured hundreds of persons—mostly
Muslims by the police and fanatic Hindus, Modi’s government has not withdrawn
the CAA/NRC.
In this regard, a government-appointed-the Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC)
said in its recent report: “At least 53 people, mostly Muslims, were killed and
more than 200 were injured in the worst communal violence in the Indian capital
Delhi…against a new citizenship law [CAA] in February, this year…laying out the
path to citizenship for six religious groups from neighbouring countries except
Muslims…the law was discriminatory…Muslim homes, shops and vehicles…mosques were
selectively targeted during the rioting…broke out across the country…with
support of the administration and police, a retaliatory plan of pro-CAA
protesters was worked out to trigger violence at a large scale…Some senior BJP
leaders like former member of Delhi legislative assembly Kapil Mishra of
fuelling the Feb 23 violence”.
Besides, despite the new agreement to resolve the issue of eastern Ladakh
through dialogue, border dispute between Chinaand India, which remains
unsettled, has increased tension between the two countries.In this context,
Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has repeatedly stated that in order to
divert attention from internal crises and border dispute with China, New Delhi
can arrange another Pulwama-type false flag terror attack in the Indian Held
Kashmir to military adventure against Pakistan. In response, Chief of
the Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa hasfrequently said that Pakistan’s Armed
Forces are fully ready to meet any prospective aggression or invasion by India.
Internally, Pakistan’s Armed Forces and country’s primarily intelligence agency
ISI have successfully broken the backbone of the foreign-backed terrorists.
Peace has been restored in the Balochistan province and Karachi, including other
vulnerable regions. Despite it, in the recent past, terrorist attacks
particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistanwhich is
central point of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) show that the
CIA-led Indian RAW, Afghanistan’s intelligence agency National Directorate of
Security and Israeli Mossad are destabilising Pakistan and want to damage the
CPEC project which is part of China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative or
BRI, as the US and India have already opposed this project.
At this juncture, Pakistan is also facing multi-faceted crises and challenges
like corruption, soaring prices, energy-shortage, unemployment, crimes, lack of
health facilities, and dependence upon the US-led developed countries, IMF and
World Bank for financial aid.And coronavirus pandemic has affected Pakistan in
wake of country’s fragile economy. In this respect, civil and army institutes
are implementing comprehensive plans for treatment of the patients and to
further stop the spread of this novel virus. Moreover, Pakistan’s security
forces have been facing a different war, while enemy is also different, who
employ subversive activities of various kinds which include both internal and
external challenges. In these terms, Pakistan is in the state of new war, being
waged by the Armed Forces and intelligence agencies against terrorists.At this
critical moment, this significant day emphasizes that our political leaders must
pledge that they will not support their parties at the cost of the country. In
order to castigate the conspiracy of the external enemies against the integrity
of the country, our political leaders and human rights groups must also stop
manipulating any crisis against Pak Army and ISI whose image are deliberately
being tarnished by the external plotters.
As regards the Independence Day, the 23rd of March 1940 was a watershed in the
history of the Sub-continent, when All India Muslim League passed the Resolution
in Lahore for the creation of an independent state. Earlier, in his address to
the Muslim League at Allahabad in 1930, the idea of a homeland for Muslims in
their majority areas had been envisioned by the poet Allama Sir Muhammad Iqbal,
and had become the aspiration of Indian Muslims.In fact, the British
colonialists in connivance with majority Hindu population had manipulated and
targeted Muslims through every possible way. In that background, Muslims had
started struggle for a separate state.Nevertheless, prior to the Lahore session
of Muslim League, Muhammad Ali Jinnah had specified to this historical
congregation of the Muslims, the watch-words of ‘Faith, Unity and Discipline’
which were not only necessary for waging the battle for an independent homeland,
but also for present Pakistan. The essence of these watch-words is unity which
is also the real spirit of the Independence Day.
However, it is good development that despite differences, Pakistan’s ruling
party PTI, opposition parties and military are on one page regarding Indian
prospective aggression and military lockdown in the IOK.On this occasion, the
government, the opposition leaders, civil societies and media owners, including
all other segments of society must sign a charter of unity which is very
necessary to pull the country out of the ongoing serious crises and to meet the
Indian war-mongering designs.