As we celebrate our Independence Day, it is a time to reflect on the journey of Pakistan born out of the need to safeguard the rights and interests of the Muslim population in the Indian subcontinent on 14 August 1947. Pakistan faced monumental challenges from its inception, grappling with the complexities of state-building, political instability, and the need to forge a national identity.
The early years were tumultuous, with the country struggling to establish a stable political framework. With the early demise of the country’s founder Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, assemblies were dissolved, prime ministers dismissed, and the country witnessed the tragic assassination of its first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan. It took nearly a decade to draft the first constitution, only to see it abrogated, paving the way for cycles of constitutional turmoil and martial law. The mysterious death of Quaid-e-Azam’s sister, Fatima Jinnah, added to the sense of uncertainty and loss that gripped the nation.
The secession of East Pakistan in 1971, resulting in the creation of Bangladesh, remains one of the most painful chapters in our history. The disenfranchisement of East Pakistanis and the subsequent civil strife exploited by our adversaries highlighted the critical need for equitable power distribution and national unity.
The country briefly experienced an elected government from 1973 to 1977, but this period of democracy was cut short when General Zia-ul-Haq usurped power and later hanged the deposed prime minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Zia’s regime joined the United States in its proxy war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, a decision that opened the floodgates of militarisation in society and strengthened retrogressive forces in the 1980s. The social fabric of Pakistan began to unravel as extremism and intolerance took root, setting the stage for the challenges the country would face in the years to come. Zia died in a plane crash in 1988, but the process he set in motion continued.
Despite the many challenges Pakistan has faced over the decades, the nation’s resilience and talent have shone brightly in various fields, including education, sports, and science.
Amid this backdrop of decline and instability, Mian Nawaz Sharif emerged as a beacon of hope for Pakistan. He became prime minister for the first time in 1990 after winning the general elections as the head of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI), a coalition in which PML-N was a dominant force. Nawaz Sharif’s first tenure as prime minister laid the groundwork for economic liberalisation, with initiatives like the privatisation of state-owned enterprises and the ambitious Lahore-Islamabad motorway project aimed at enhancing national connectivity. Despite the premature end of this tenure due to undemocratic interventions, Nawaz Sharif’s commitment to economic growth was evident.
Undeterred, Mian Nawaz Sharif returned to power in 1997 with a landslide victory. His second term is remembered for significant infrastructure projects, including the completion of the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway and continued efforts to stabilise the economy. Nawaz Sharif also reinforced Pakistan’s democratic institutions by introducing constitutional amendments to curtail the president’s powers and strengthen the office of the prime minister.
A defining moment of Nawaz Sharif’s second term was the decision to conduct nuclear tests in May 1998, in response to India’s nuclear tests. This bold move made Pakistan the first Muslim-majority nation to possess nuclear weapons. However, it also resulted in international sanctions, which posed new challenges for the country’s economy. Despite this, Nawaz Sharif’s leadership during this critical time reinforced Pakistan’s sovereignty and security, making it a formidable player on the global stage.
Another noteworthy achievement during Nawaz Sharif’s second term was the thaw in relations with India, marked by the historic visit of Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Pakistan. This diplomatic breakthrough was a significant step towards regional peace and stability.
Unfortunately, this peace effort was derailed by undemocratic forces within our own ranks, leading to another coup by then Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf in 1999, which once again derailed Pakistan’s democratic process and economic progress.
In the name of accountability, military rule eroded the institutions meant to uphold the state. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), once a symbol of national pride, began its decline, ultimately being banned from several international destinations. Pakistan Railways, once a robust transportation network, became synonymous with inefficiency and financial losses. The nation seemed to be on a downward spiral, each year passing with new challenges.
General Musharraf’s fateful rule once again pushed Pakistan into the US-led war on terror, further entrenching the militarisation of society. His attempts to permanently oust Pakistan’s popular political parties and their leaders failed, as both Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif returned to participate in the general elections. The tragic assassination of Benazir Bhutto in December 2007 during the election campaign led to a delay in the polls, which were eventually held two months later.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) won the 2008 election, benefitting from a sympathy vote in the wake of Bhutto’s death. While the PPP government introduced some groundbreaking constitutional amendments in line with the true spirit of democracy, it struggled to address the long-standing issues of terrorism, power shortages, and economic decline.
In 2013, after a peaceful transition of power from one elected government to the next, Mian Nawaz Sharif became Pakistan’s prime minister for the third time. He came prepared for the job and wasted no time in setting the country on the path of progress and prosperity.
Under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, the PML-N government made significant strides in various sectors. One of the most notable achievements was the doubling of the country’s power generation capacity, effectively addressing the issue of prolonged power cuts that had plagued the nation for years. Pakistan Railways, once a financial burden, began to turn a profit.
A landmark moment during this period was the visit of China’s President Xi Jinping to Islamabad in April 2015. This visit marked the beginning of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a series of infrastructure and energy projects that promised to transform Pakistan’s economic landscape. Within three years, several motorway projects and other infrastructure developments were completed.
Unfortunately, the enemies of Pakistan conspired to remove a capable prime minister from power, orchestrating his disqualification and incarceration on baseless charges. This move, along with the targeting of the PML-N’s top leadership, paved the way for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to assume power. What followed was a period of wholesale economic, social, and political decline, reminiscent of the dark days of General Musharraf’s rule.
Under the PTI government, the progress achieved during the PML-N era was swiftly undone. Pakistan Railways, once again, recorded losses, and work on CPEC came to a virtual standstill. The economy suffered as the government failed to capitalise on opportunities, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the most glaring failures was the inability to secure long-term LNG contracts at favourable prices during the pandemic, a decision that would haunt the nation as energy shortages loomed.
Imran Khan’s government, mired in populist rhetoric and toxic propaganda, alienated Pakistan’s allies in the Muslim world and isolated the country on the international stage. The situation reached a critical point in February 2022 when the PTI government reneged on its commitments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and announced a significant fuel price cut, pushing the country closer to economic collapse.
It was only through the unity of Pakistan’s political forces and a successful vote of no confidence that the nation was spared from further ruin. Today, as the PML-N once again holds the reins of power, there is renewed confidence that the country can be steered back onto the path of progress and stability.
The challenges have been immense, but the spirit of Pakistan remains unbroken.
Despite the many challenges Pakistan has faced over the decades, the nation’s resilience and talent have shone brightly in various fields, including education, sports, and science. Dr. Abdus Salam, a brilliant Pakistani physicist, brought immense pride to the country by becoming the first Muslim to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979. In the realm of sports, Pakistan’s hockey team has won multiple Olympic medals. For over three decades, Pakistani players like Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan dominated the world of squash, setting records that still stand today.
In the field of technology, Arfa Karim made history in 2004 when she became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional at just nine years old, inspiring a generation of young tech enthusiasts. From Malala Yousafzai’s courageous advocacy for girls’ education, which earned her the Nobel Peace Prize, to the groundbreaking achievements of mountaineer Samina Baig, who became the first Pakistani woman to summit Mount Everest, Pakistanis have continually proven their extraordinary potential.
As we celebrate 77 years of independence, let us remember the resilience and determination that have defined our journey as a nation. The challenges have been immense, but the spirit of Pakistan remains unbroken. Under the leadership of PML-N, there is hope that Pakistan will once again rise, stronger and more prosperous than ever before.
