For 77 years, we have celebrated Independence Day on the 14th of August, but do we truly understand the essence of freedom? Freedom is a great blessing, but if not understood, it can become a tremendous burden. Every year, as the night of the 14th of August arrives, we witness a bizarre and unsettling form of celebration across the country, raising questions about our understanding of what it means to be free.
The midnight hour marks a time when people, in their excitement, fire bullets into the sky, oblivious to the fact that those bullets could bring death to someone on the ground. This was tragically evident this year in Karachi and Hyderabad, where aerial firing led to the deaths of three people and injured 80 others.
On this night, some believe that they have the freedom to abandon all moral decency, ogling at women as if their bodies are targets. Women, in turn, are reduced to mere objects of desire. Whether it’s Karachi’s Sea View, Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan, Murree’s Mall Road, Islamabad’s Blue Area, Faisal Mosque, or F-9 Park, these places are overrun with people who act as if they own them, claiming public spaces as if they were their father’s property.
The behavior exhibited on the streets is often that of madness, where people under the influence of drugs or alcohol see themselves as truly free. They disregard the law, considering themselves above it. Motorcyclists remove the silencers from their bikes, mistakenly thinking that others will be impressed by their noise, while in reality, people curse them both in their hearts and out loud.
The flag of Pakistan, a symbol of our hard-won freedom, is often seen lying on the ground, trampled underfoot by those celebrating freedom without a second thought. The same people who claim to love their country are the ones who disrespect its symbols, choosing revelry over reverence.
For many women, the night of Independence Day has become a time of fear. They avoid stepping out of their homes because the streets are filled with predators, waiting to harass and harm. The disturbing incidents of the past few years, where women were openly harassed in public spaces, are a testament to the sad state of affairs. Families now tell their daughters that it’s better to stay home than risk going out on a night meant to celebrate freedom.
In contrast, countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other European nations also celebrate their Independence Days. People take to the streets, there are parades, music plays, and even drinking is part of the festivities. However, what’s different is the behavior. Despite being under the influence, people maintain decorum. There’s dancing and singing, but no harassment. Fireworks light up the sky, but you rarely hear of tragic incidents because the celebrations are about joy, not chaos.
The youth of Pakistan are our greatest asset, but they need to be educated on the true meaning of freedom. Our social institutions, scholars, and public figures need to emphasize the importance of celebrating in a way that doesn’t infringe on the rights and safety of others. The lack of respect for law and order is the biggest problem we face. Abroad, we see Pakistanis strictly following the rules, fearing the consequences of breaking them. But in their own country, they feel free to act without accountability, knowing that they can bribe their way out of trouble.
It’s disheartening to see that on a day meant to celebrate freedom, law enforcement seems to take a back seat. People openly flout the rules, knowing that a small bribe will allow them to continue their reckless behavior. This lack of accountability only fuels the chaos, making the streets unsafe for ordinary citizens who wish to celebrate peacefully.
This nation was born from the sacrifices of countless individuals, and it’s our duty to honor that by behaving responsibly. If we fail to understand the true value of our freedom today, it will be too late tomorrow. Freedom is the right of everyone, but it should be celebrated in a way that doesn’t force others to feel imprisoned in their own homes.
Our problem isn’t just the people who engage in these behaviors; it’s the society that allows it to continue unchecked. The environment of our free Pakistan feels suffocating on days like these, and it’s one of the great tragedies of our nation that we don’t know how to celebrate our freedom with dignity and respect.
In conclusion, celebrating Independence Day should be about honoring the struggles of those who fought for our freedom, not about turning our streets into a battleground. It’s time for us to reflect on the way we celebrate and to educate the younger generation on the true essence of freedom. We must learn to celebrate in a manner that upholds the dignity of our nation and respects the rights of all citizens. If we can do that, we will truly be free. Until then, our celebrations will remain a tragic reflection of our misunderstandings of what freedom really means.
