It was more than a thousandth time that I heard rejection so bluntly in a series of discussions on the state of my country. On the day of independence, all the shafts of my mind are jarred open seeking the true reason for which we should celebrate our freedom. If the acquisition of a separate homeland in the name of Islam was our achievement, we celebrated it for almost half a century with all zeal and zest but now, for last few years, with the shrinking of the world and the spread of analytical philosophy, our joys and celebrations also demand reasoning. What should we celebrate on the day? Or is Independence a ‘rattle’ that we should keep shaking as a jingling toy?
My questions do not appeal to those ears upon which the sound fails to awaken the mind’s analytical powers.
I’ve been told by friends, even by so-called “writers” that I have no right to comment on Pakistan’s affairs because I don’t live there. I have never been able to make my heart understand this. Why would I not show care? Why have I no right to tell right from wrong? Why my opinion doesn’t matter for my people? Only because I am staying out of my homeland? Does anyone realize what it feels like when your own land becomes too narrow for you that you have to go to another land to earn your livelihood; and when you return someday, you find that someone else has taken your place?
Living this reality is way more difficult than mere understanding.
I believe, I have all the rights to express my concerns on stagnant and unprogressive approaches of my countrymen. Any Pakistani who has experienced peace of living and comfort of thriving in another country is far more eligible in giving commentary than those who have either become habitual of the suffering caused by their circumstances or those few who are the beneficiaries of the broken order.
Anyone who is staying abroad or travels often to places out in the world can better present a comparison of how other countries operate to ensure rights, peace, and security of their citizens. As a very basic luxury, safety is felt in the footsteps of a lone traveller at midnight in Dubai. And when you hear H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum claiming: “If a woman wanders alone at night without fear, you know she is in the Emirates” — it might be a surprise for people living in Pakistan. We expat Pakistanis in the UAE proudly present testimony though our firsthand experience of this reality. We can drive at the extended roads from one emirate to the other without being feared by the darkness around or the worry of any kind of assault. Safety here is not a privilege; it’s the norm. This freedom is unparalleled that truly deserves celebration. Unlike Pakistan, the sight of the police rather than inspiring fear, creates a sense of reassurance. This is a far cry from Pakistan, where encounters with police often bring feelings of intimidation or mistrust. Where stories of harassment, kidnapping, and unsafe public spaces for women are still painfully common; making late-night travel alone a risky choice for many. What to speak of the abuse that the women suffer at the hands of their rightful ‘owners’.
My friend who is working in hospitality sector in Dubai always surprises his international guests whenever any of them forgets their mobile phone or even wallet at a food court table and unattentively move to next point along with his group tour guide. Suddenly he or she realises and gets panic on remembering where they forgot their precious belongings, my friend smiles and assures them that they would find it either at the same place untouched or will get from ‘Lost & Found’ facility of the mall or the park. And this always proves true. You can pick your iPhone back from the same table or the bench you forgot at. Tourists from around the world takes this story with them and celebrate it. This is an unmatched feature of UAE from that of even advanced countries like America.
For last five years, I have been hosting one of my friends from US almost every year. Checking in the hotel, her first requirement is always of a safe or a locker where she can keep her valuables. Even while roaming out, she keeps her bag and wallet tightly held under her arm with the fear of snatching. I tell her always that we often forget to lock the doors at night, go to the nearby market closing the door without lock for another family member who by chance forgot keys to take along; there’s no need to worry at all. Every time I leave her appalled at such stories. The culture of trust in Dubai is unmatched.
In the UAE, more than 200 nationalities coexist peacefully, and opportunities are accessible to all. Education, regardless of nationality, works toward common goals: excellence, innovation, and character building. Compare that with Pakistan’s fragmented curricula, which deepens social divide rather than bridging them. Media in Dubai, while not perfect, plays a largely constructive role, encouraging harmony, progress, and innovation. Pakistani media, on the other hand, too often fuels chaos through sensationalism, bias, and political manipulation. In contrast of Dubai Plan 2030 that aims to make the city a centre for knowledge, sustainability, and happiness, I witness Pakistan declining to unfulfilled promises and the extreme form of human degradation. What to celebrate on this day then? This is the high time to reflect, not celebrate.
True celebration requires joy and pride. Yet, where we have still not defined what real independence means, other nations are scaling new heights on the happiness index. So when the Independence Day fireworks light up the sky, I can’t help but ask:
Are we celebrating our progress or distracting ourselves from the lack of it?
- Independence Day — A Day to Reflect or Celebrate? - 25/08/2025
- A REJOINDER TO THE CRITICISM ON ‘GOOD-BYE MR. CHIPS’ - 11/03/2018
