The unfinished independence

Pakistan's independence, celebrated annually, is characterized as "unfinished" because the fundamental nature of its governance remains largely unchanged since 1947. Poet and intellectual Faiz Ahmed Faiz's observation of the dawn of independence as "stained" and "night-bitten" reflects a persistent disillusionment.

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yeh daagh daagh ujala, yeh shab-gazida sehar

The core issue, according to the article, lies in the enduring legacy of colonial rule. Beyond territorial control, British colonialism deeply ingrained a "habit of mind" among the populace. This fostered a perception of the people as subjects to be managed by rulers, rather than as citizens with inherent rights and a stake in the state's ownership.

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did we win a country and quietly postpone its freedom?

Seventy-nine years on, the article posits that Pakistan has yet to complete the transformation from a formerly colonized territory to a truly self-governing nation. The challenge is not merely repealing laws but altering this deeply embedded colonial mindset. The "unfinished independence" calls for a conscious effort to redefine the relationship between the state and its citizens, moving from a supplicant dynamic to one of genuine ownership and service.

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Colonial rule does not merely occupy a land; it occupies the imagination of those it governs, teaching them to see themselves through the ruler’s eyes, as subjects to be managed, not citizens to be served; supplicants at a counter, not owners of the state.