23rd March - a day in life of Pakistan

23rd March - a day in life of Pakistan!!

A day which have two-fold significance in the history of Pakistan. It was the day in 1940 when a historic gathering of the All India Muslim League, a political party representing all Muslims of the British India took place at the Minto Park, Lahore and the resolution for an independent Muslim homeland for the Muslims of the British India was passed, known as the Lahore Resolution which later came to be known as the Pakistan Resolution. The place where the resolution was passed now stands a beautiful minaret known as the Minar-e-Pakistan, minaret of Pakistan, to remind the future generations of the importance of this historic place.

On this historic day, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan made this historic speech, “Muslims are a nation according to any definition of nation. We wish our people to develop to the fullest spiritual, cultural, economic, social and political life in a way that we think best and in consonance with our own ideals and according to the genius of our people”.

Due to the efforts of the leaders of the All India Muslim League under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, that the British conceded to the legitimate demands of the Muslims and allowed partition of the British India into two independent countries of Pakistan and India on 14th August 1947 - a day when an Empire came to an end that ruled this subcontinent for almost over 100 years and long drawn struggle for independence materialized for the people of Indo-Pak subcontinent.

The day again surfaces in the history of Pakistan in 1956, when Pakistan became the first Islamic republic of the world. 

Thus the day combines two important events in the history of Pakistan and is celebrated with national pride and commitment. 

The day commences with a 21 gun salute as a salute and tribute to all those who worked for the independence of Pakistan and those who died and laid their lives to acquire this country and preserving its integrity. 

After many decades since 1940 and 1956, Pakistan still stands at a very critical juncture of its history. The democracy has finally returned to country after yet another decade long spell of military rule and the democratic government has just completed its five years 'safely.' And all is set for next elections to be held in May later this year. While the country is still in the grip of militancy and religious intolerance, the democracy has not done any good either as the recent stint of the government was marred with corruption and swindling of national resources.

The politicians are once again showing new hopes to their voters - with same slogans and rhetorical statements. In Lahore today, a new political voice of Imran Khan is being heard today and youth is being mobilized to come forward and vote for a change - change form all those faces we have seen and tested many a a times in the past. Would this be a call for ushering in new era for Pakistan - a new hope for the future?

Only time and next elections will tell. But as for now, on this day, let every Pakistani make a resolve to work towards making Pakistan as one of the greatest nations of the world, as pledged by Jinnah and make an all out endeavour to make this country peaceful, progressive, tolerant and accommodating for all people of Pakistan, irrespective of their religion, caste and creed. We must also make a resolve today to rid this country of the faces that have deceived us for long - and from the menace of militancy and extremism, which has plagued this country for the last so many years.

via The Fire Within

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