And Independence Day is over….!

She was crying and begging for a visa at the Embassy but despite having all the documents, she didn’t get the visa.

Why? Because in place of her nationality, ‘XXX’ was written on her residence permit. I wondered what it stood for? She was crying loudly and with deep pain she was saying, “So on earth we have no country, we have no place to live, no place to call ours. We have no right to live at any place. We have no nationality. What should we do?  It’s not our fault but still we have to sacrifice.”

This ‘XXX’ is written because almost half a century ago, when there was war in Palestine her forefathers moved to Syria. They thought that they will travel back once the war would be over. But with the passage of time, the war wasn’t over and they remained in Syria. But now at present, when there is a war in Syria too, the Palestinians have to leave for their survival to another country.

The visa officer refused to give the visa giving the reason, “She will remain in my country.  She will never return back, her ancestors did the same”.

The above incident made me think about our independence in a totally different way! This made me feel how lucky I am to have a country, to have a nationality.

‘I am Pakistani’. But I never thought that having a representation in this world would have so much impact. No one knows me but everyone knows about my country. My only representation in this world is my nationality. What if I didn’t have a nationality? What if I was not in an independent country.

Just two days ago it was 14^th August: Independence Day. Every one celebrated it, fireworks were displayed, every one wore green and white dresses, flags were everywhere, and patriotic pictures and statuses were uploaded on social media. But  now it’s over.

Yes! Independence day is over.

Now, it’s again a normal day, because we think we are done with our part and we showed true patriotism.

But I question myself :is independence just for a single day? The entire struggle, all the efforts and all the lives our ancestor sacrificed lead us to celebrate a single day? After a single day’s celebration, could we say to ourselves that we have worked enough for our country and our work has paid off?

No! Independence is a blessing we are rewarded with. Ask those who are still struggling for it, who sacrificed their whole lives for the day that they will be independent, for the day after which they will have their own representation in this world.

Pray for your Muslim brothers and sister who are struggling for it. No matter where ever you go, where ever you live, being a Pakistani is your representation.

This piece of land is our own on this earth. Today pray 2 rakat nafaal only to thank Allah for this reward. Thank Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal, Liaqat Ali Khan and many others who spent their lives for this country. Pray for those who sacrificed their lives!

Dont forget, Independence Day might be over, but Independence is NOT!

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Saira Shah

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