Pakistan must stop treating 14 August like a one-day spectacle and start living up to the promises made at its creation, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said on Thursday.

In a statement released from his headquarters in Dera Ismail Khan, the cleric warned that the country’s future is at stake unless citizens and leaders abandon empty slogans and focus on justice, equality and Islamic welfare—the core objectives outlined in the Lahore Resolution of 1940 and the Objectives Resolution of 1949. He questioned why Pakistanis celebrate Independence Day with flags, fireworks and social media posts but fail to address the rising inflation, unemployment and corruption that betray the nation’s founding principles.

Fazl-ur-Rehman’s remarks came ahead of 14 August 2025, Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day, and echoed similar calls from other political and religious leaders who have urged the public to reflect on the country’s direction rather than just its history.

What Fazl said — and what he left unsaid

The JUI-F chief did not mince words. In his statement, he said:
- Pakistan was created to provide justice for all, yet courts are clogged, police are politicised, and the poor still wait decades for justice.
- The country was envisioned as an Islamic welfare state, but inflation has pushed milk prices past Rs 200 per litre and electricity bills swallow half a daily-wage worker’s income.
- The Lahore Resolution of 1940 demanded autonomy for Muslim-majority regions; today, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa still face neglect and violence, while Sindh’s water woes grow worse every year.

Fazl stopped short of naming specific policies or leaders, but his message was clear: the ruling elite has failed to deliver on the social contract Pakistanis were promised.

Why this matters now — and who is listening

Fazl’s statement lands at a time when Pakistan’s economy is shrinking, the rupee is weakening against the dollar, and the IMF has tied another bailout to unpopular reforms. Ordinary Pakistanis are feeling the squeeze: petrol now costs over Rs 300 per litre, monthly electricity bills for a middle-class household exceed Rs 15,000, and job advertisements in newspapers carry starting salaries of Rs 25,000 for degree holders—barely enough to cover rent in major cities.

Political analysts say Fazl’s timing is strategic. His party, JUI-F, is a key ally of the PDM coalition, and his criticism puts pressure on the government to act before 14 August, when public frustration over living costs could spill into protests. Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s PTI has been organising rallies under the slogan “Haqeeqi Azadi” (Real Freedom), arguing that Pakistanis are still not truly free from corruption, IMF diktats and elite capture.

What Pakistanis can actually do — beyond flag-waving

Fazl’s call is broad, but here are three concrete steps ordinary citizens can take to move from celebration to action:

  • Demand transparency: Use the RTI (Right to Information) Act 2017 to ask government departments for spending records on development projects in your district. The Punjab Information Commission and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s RTI portal accept online applications.
  • Support local welfare: Donate to or volunteer with registered welfare organisations like Edhi Foundation, Saylani Welfare International Trust or Al-Khidmat Foundation. These groups provide free meals, healthcare and emergency relief—services the state has failed to deliver.
  • Vote strategically: Register to vote by 31 December 2025 (deadline for the 2026 general elections). Check your CNIC status and polling station on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) website. Avoid electing candidates with pending corruption cases—search their names on the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) website.

What to watch next — before 14 August

  • 10 August 2025: The PDM government is expected to announce a new austerity package to meet IMF conditions. Watch for cuts in subsidies on electricity, fuel or food items.
  • 12 August 2025: Imran Khan’s PTI will hold a major rally in Lahore’s Minar-e-Pakistan, framing the Independence Day narrative around economic freedom and anti-corruption. Expect tight security and possible internet restrictions in the city.
  • 13 August 2025: Religious parties, including JUI-F, will hold “Yaum-e-Takbeer” events across the country, linking Pakistan’s nuclear capability to its Islamic identity. These gatherings often turn into anti-government protests.

The bottom line

Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman’s message is not new, but it is urgent. Pakistanis are tired of empty ceremonies and hollow speeches. The country’s founding ideals—justice, equality and Islamic welfare—are still on paper. Whether the nation chooses to act on them before or after 14 August will decide if Pakistan remains a dream or becomes a reality for its people.

If you’re tired of the same old Independence Day routine, this year, do something different. Ask your MNA and MPA one question: What have you done for the people who elected you?

If they can’t answer, vote them out in 2026.

What Pakistan was promised — and what it got instead

| Promise | Reality in 2025 |
|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| Justice for all | Courts delayed by 5-10 years; police politicised |
| Islamic welfare state | Inflation at 38%, milk at Rs 200/litre, electricity bills Rs 15,000/month |
| Provincial autonomy | Balochistan and KP face insurgency and neglect; Sindh’s water crisis worsens |
| Economic freedom | IMF bailouts, rupee at Rs 300/$, job market flooded with Rs 25,000 salaries |
| Corruption-free governance | NAB cases stalled, elite capture of state institutions |

Where to check your rights and recourse

Fazl’s call is a mirror. Pakistanis must decide: Do we keep polishing the frame, or do we finally hang the picture?