Independence?

As I type this, our nation is celebrating its 62nd Independence Day, Congrats to u all!

But, take a moment to think. While you are all caught up in this patriotic fervor, and uploading "milli naghmay", texting "azadi mubarak", and hoisting the Pakistani flag from your rooftops,,, think, and question yourself, are you truly free? Are you really independent? Are you allowed to speak your mind freely, without fear of repercussions? Or are you gagged by your own "democratically elected" government? To never criticise? To tow the line, and never speak what is really in your heart? And only speak the truth in hushed voices in the privacy of your homes? Because if you do speak the truth in public, then that will be the last time you will ever speak it?

Welcome to a shackled independence. The people go to bed hungry, without shelter and proper clothes. There is no electricity, no gas, no dams, no infrastructure, no system, no honor, no integrity, no accountability, no right of free speech. The "elected leaders" roam the world, spending billions without any thought or conscious, and party hard wherever they go, the nation be damned!

Is this the independence our forefathers died for? Is this the independence that we want? Is this the independence we want our kids to grow up in?

Ask yourself the truth! The time to sleep is gone! The time to turn a blind eye to things happening around you is gone! 

Now is the time to question yourself! Now is the time to question the "leaders"! Now is the time to wake up! Now is the time to take action! Now is the time to turn things around! Now is the time for accountability! Now is the time for the true independence to finally come to Pakistan!

Now is the time when you decide to accept the truth, and strive to do everything in your power to help this nation achieve that true independence!

Now is the time when we declare in one voice that we shall not accept injustice and tyranny, and truly become independent! May God Almighty bless us and our nation, Amen! 

Pakistan Zindabad!

- Abdur Rahman Faisal
Originally written on 14th August 2009