A Fatherless Nation

It has been over seventy years since the passing of the nation’s founding father, a loss deeply mourned by many. Pakistan, freshly liberated from the clutches of British colonialism—who had governed like vultures feasting upon its resources—was left to find its way. Despite the challenges, the nascent nation inherited a rich cultural heritage, and above all, an unyielding resolve that had fuelled its struggle against the British Raj.

Yet, Pakistan’s journey has been that of a child growing up without a guiding hand. As time passes, the consequences of this absence become more apparent, with each day revealing new challenges. As Jesse Jackson poignantly observed, “A father’s absence is a wound that never fully heals.” Today, this fatherless nation bears its scars, still searching for direction, as the visionary who gave it life departed before he could guide it along the path to enduring stability.

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As Pakistan grew in its early years, it resembled a child who had lost its father and desperately sought a guiding hand. The void left behind led it to grasp for any support, and to its surprise, many were willing to step in. Pakistan, unaware of its immense natural wealth and strategic importance, accepted the outstretched hands without hesitation. Much like a young heir, rich beyond understanding, who suddenly finds distant relatives flocking around, eager to claim a share of the fortune, Pakistan found itself surrounded by those more interested in exploiting its assets than nurturing its growth.

In its vulnerable state, the nation was blind to the true intentions behind the offers of help. Just as a child remains unaware of its inheritance until it matures, Pakistan too was slow to realise that many of those who appeared to assist were primarily driven by their own gain.

Despite the initial tragedy of its inception, Pakistan experienced moments of prosperity as it began to grow as a nation. In its formative years, the first leaders to guide it were like well-meaning relatives—acquaintances of its “father,” Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. They shared his vision and unwavering determination, a resolve that had triumphed over the chains of colonialism. Yet, it is often forgotten that the fight wasn’t merely to break free from oppression but to build a successful, independent nation that could stand as a testament to our worth and potential. However, Pakistan’s true suffering began when a part of it was torn away—an act rooted in political negligence and the selfish turf wars of those supposed to protect it, the politicians who behaved more like estranged relatives than true guardians.

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The journey of Pakistan met several more hurdles. Its guardians debated its custody multiple times, convinced that the nation had been wronged and vowing not to tolerate such dishonour, they took over and Pakistan spent decades under the protective grip of its so-called caretakers, who justified their control by claiming to shield the young and vulnerable nation from further exploitation. In one instance, these guardians even ascended the shaky “ladder of necessity,” invoking it as a noble cause to safeguard the country, when in reality, it was their own power they sought to protect.

It is deeply disheartening to witness a promising child fail to reach their potential simply due to the absence of a steady guiding hand—such has been the story of Pakistan.

Seventy seven years on, amid the cacophony of political strife and power struggles, Pakistan has seen more caretaker Prime ministers and none who completed their full terms. One leader after another seized control, only to relinquish it before any lasting progress could be made, as if Pakistan were passed from hand to hand without anyone truly nurturing it. Would the outcome have been different if those who grasped power had remained in office for their full allotted term of five years? Unfortunately, this is something Pakistan has been deprived of ever discovering.

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Now, as Pakistan approaches eighty years of existence, it finds itself in a heartbreaking predicament—witnessing its own people striving to escape from it. Much like a neglected child watching its caregivers abandon them, Pakistan stands forsaken by those who should have nurtured it. It’s as though its people never truly embraced the country as their destiny and were eager instead to criticise its shortcomings without reflecting on how it was mistreated and neglected over the years.

Pakistan, you have been gravely wronged. But there is still hope. I can only wish that those who choose to stay behind recognise your untapped potential, and that they become the guiding hands to lift you back up—playing the role of the father you never had but always deserved.

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