Adil Najam
Tomorrow we will all celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day – Yom e Azadi.
Today, let us take a moment to think about just what ‘independence’ – Azadi – means.
Azadi – independecne – is not a destination, it is a journey. It is not something that we ‘achieved’ on August 14, 1947. It is something that we must earn, and preserve, every day.
On this particular Yom e Azadi, there can be no better reminder of just what the continuing journey that is Azadi really mean than the daily struggles of internally displaced Pakistanis (IDPs). Those who remain homeless in their own homeland.
Some IDPs have indeed begun to return to their homes. That is good. Too many, however, remain displaced. And even those who have returned home continue with the struggles of displacement with their lives dispersed and the ugly shadows of Talibanism hanging heavy over their every move.
We at ATP wish to take a moment today to reaffirm that we have not forgotten these displaced Pakistanis. And that we will not. It is far too easy to get distracted by the hot news of the day and to forget the sacrifice that these Pakisatnis are having to bear in defense of their own and of all of our Azadi. We have not, and will not, forget.
Over the last many months ATP has had two separate fund-raising efforts for IDPs in Pakistan. During the first our readers contributed US$ 4,780; during the second they contributed another US$ 1,806. To this we at ATP have added, in various tranches, an additional of US$ 3,414. In total, therefore, a total of US$ 10,000 (Pak Rs. 820,000) has now been sent to support IDP relief works on behalf of you, our ATP readers. As we have mentioned before, this amount has been equally distributed between the Edhi efforts in Pakistan and UNHCR.
Today, we wish to take a moment to thank all of you for all of this.
As we all prepare to celebrate our Azadi, it is your Pakistaniat that reaffirms our own. It is your passion that ignites our hopes. It is your commitment that gives us strength.
The IDPs remind us today that the struggles for Azadi are always hard, but never futile.
Bass yehi pehchan thi meri, Pakistan say pehlay bhi
Pakistan ka sehri tha mein, Pakistan say pehlay bhi
Abhi garaani-e-shab maiN kami nahiN aayee
Chalay chalo keh woh manzil abhi nahiN aayee
Keep marching, we are not there, yet
(Faiz)
I FEEL THAT YOU HAVE EXPRESSED FEELINGS OF ENTIRE PAKISTAN.REALLY PAKISTAN IS GIFT FROM ALMIGHTY ALLAH TO US.WE HAVE ACHIEVED AFTER GREAT AND UNPRESIDENTAL SACRIFICES.IT WAS DEMANDED FOR MUSLUMS OF SUBCONTINENT IN THE NAME OF ISLAM,WE ARE STRUGGLING AND UNDERGOING MANY TEST AND FACED EVERY TIME WITH GREAT COURAGE AND UNPRECEDENTAL CONFIDENCE.STILL WE HAVE TO FACE MANY TESTS TILL THE REAL INDEPENDENCE IS ACHIEVED WITH TO IMPLIMENT SHARIA WHICH IS THE MAIN CAUSE TO DEMAND PAKISTAN.BE READY FOR ALL KIND OF AZMAISH[TEST]PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.MAP
Happy 62nd Birthday Pakistan and many many happy returns.
I may now live thousands of miles away from your beloved land and when I leave this earth my remains may not be a part of your noble soil but to the very last breath I’ll draw: I’ll always be grateful and indebted to you. I will always cry tears of joy on your triumph and success and I always moan your tragedies and misfortunes…I will always always love you.
Long live Motherland, Pakistan Zinda Bad
Some comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “Pakistan zindabaad!”
– “Mera PAKISTAN apka PAkistan HUm sab ka PAKISTAN. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD”
– “JEVE JEVE PAKISTAN…
DIL DIL PAKISTAN…
JAN JAN PAKISTAN…
SONI DARDHE ALLAH RAKHI…
WATAN KI GHOOD RANG SE UMANG SE BHARE RAHAY…
mere parwardigar Pakistan ko salamat aur tariqi ki rah par roshnas kar (Ameen)”
– “Mast Kalandar Lal Kalandar Jeway Pakistan”
– “pakistan paainda bad”
– “luv ma pakistan”
– “love u pakistan mary jaan tum pay qurban”
– “Love paK… Koi Ham sa Ho to Samne aAye….”
– “Ye watan tumhara hai, tum ho pasban is kay…… I love my country!! Long Live Pakistan, Safe and Prosperous!!”
– “MEN B PAKISTAN HUN TU B PAKISTAN HE..”
– “PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!!”
– “Mohobbat Aman hai aur uska hai Paigham PAKISTAN
mera Iman. PAKISTAN”
– “PAKISTAN ZINDA BAAD……PAINDA BAAD”
– “62 years since 1947 and we are just getting started!”
– “Junoon Se or Ishq Se Milti Hai Azaadi ….. Pakistan Zinda Baad … Painda Baad”
– “Happy Independence Day 14 August To All Pakistani Friends 2009.Long Live Pakistan”
– “HAPPYY INDEPENDENCEE DAY 14 AUGUST 2 ALL MY FELLOW PAKISTANISSS………….. INSHALLAH PAKISTAN LIVE FORE EVER……….. CELEBRATE WITH ”
– “is pic mein aik nae umeed hai, aik paighaam hai.. dunya k leay, kya wo dekha hai kisi ne? :)”
– “lONG LIVE PAKISTAN”