23rd March is a historic day in the history of Pakistan. A day that has fulfilled the dream and desire of millions of Muslims living in the subcontinent to make their dream true. It was a day when a working committee of the All India Muslim League gathered in a place called Minto Park, now Iqbal Park on March 23, 1940, where they passed a resolution. Basically, it was the Lahore resolution which was called the Pakistan Resolution by the Indian congress. The Lahore resolution (Pakistan Resolution) gave the initial idea of Pakistan and set the foundation for a separate homeland.
The Minar-e-Pakistan was built at the same place where the resolution of Pakistan was passed. The Minar-e-Pakistan was built in commemoration of this historic day.
The importance of the Pakistan Resolution is that it is a brief but comprehensive declaration. Paragraph three of the declaration essentially proposes the creation of “independent states” in Muslim majority areas of the Indian sub-continent under the British Raj.
The Muslim League’s demands for a separate homeland became more significant after 1940. The struggle for a separate homeland became stronger and stronger which led to the creation of Pakistan on the world globe. A Muslim state which came into being in the name of Islam. Where people from all religions can practice their religion without any fear. As our father of nations Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah said, you are free to go to your schools, you are free to go to your mosques and worship places. The main ceremony of this day (23rd March) is held in Islamabad, at the capital of Pakistan, where the President of Pakistan is the Chief Guest. The official attendees are the Prime Minister of Pakistan, alongside the Cabinet ministers, chiefs of tri-service (Army, Navy, and Air force), and chairman joint chiefs of staff. The other foreign dignities are also invited on this historic day.
In the early morning of that day the gun salute has given to the country, 31 gun salute in the capital and 21, 21 gun salutes in each of provincial capitals respectively. Later the full military parade of tri-services is warmup and broadcast on all media in the entire country. Pakistan military also showcases its power and capabilities during that day parade. The parade was held early in the morning where fighter jets. F-16, JF-17, Mirage, AWACs, P-3C Orion, and ATR aircraft formation participate in the flypast. Pakistan arm showcases its all modern weapons including its missiles and drones at parade day. The parade also showcases the local cultures of the four provinces as floats from Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir.
The President of Pakistan addressed the audience and the nation. The ceremony kicked off with the flypast of the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy. After the parade day ceremony, the President of Pakistan confers the awards and medals to the nominated personalities at the President’s House. The change of military guard also takes place at the tomb of Allama Muhammad Iqbal and the tomb of Father of nations Quaid-e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
This 23rd March is different because Pakistan is hosting the 48th Conference of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) from 22 to 23 March 2022 which is happening simultaneously with the 75th-anniversary celebrations of ‘Pakistan Day’. It is a big achievement and honor for Pakistan Where foreign ministers of 57 countries are present in Pakistan including the Chinese foreign minister on the occasion of this historic day of 23rd March. OIC is the second-largest international organization after United Nations With 57 member states. Pakistan has always used OIC as a platform to gather Muslim world regarding their issues or currently, Muslim Ummah is facing and also demanded support on the issue of Kashmir, Palestine, and now Afghan humanitarian crisis. The session will also discuss several political issues, including developments in Afghanistan and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, which will be taken up by the OIC’s contact group on Kashmir.
The OIC has also invited ‘All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC)’ to invite Mirwaiz Omar Farooq but it was criticized by the Modi government.
Another aspect of the OIC conference is combating the rising threat of ‘Islamophobia’ as this step was taken by Pakistan. Pak PM Imran Khan took this initiative during his speech at the UN General Assembly session in 2018, leading to the recognition of ‘Islamophobia’ as a form of religious and racial discrimination. Russia and a few other countries have endorsed Pakistan’s efforts and its position. Now United Nations General Assembly declares March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
PM Imran Khan said “I want to congratulate the Muslim Ummah today as our voice against the rising tide of Islamophobia has been heard and the UN has adopted a landmark resolution introduced by Pakistan, on behalf of OIC, designating 15 March as International Day to Combat Islamophobia,”
Today Pakistan is not a dream, it is a reality, a reality that can not be neglected. It is in the heart of millions of people. On 23rd March, the organizing of the OIC conference is a big diplomatic victory for Pakistan.
