Pakistan Day

{{Main|Lahore Resolution|Iqbal Park}}

File:Muslim League leaders after a dinner party, 1940 (Photo 429-6).jpg (in centre) and some of the Founding Fathers of Pakistan in Lahore, {{circa|1940}}]]

The Muslim League held its annual session at Minto Park in Lahore, Punjab, 23rd March 1940.Programme of the All India Muslim Leagues 27th Annual Session, to be held at Lahore 21 to 24 March 1940, at the National Archives of Pakistan, Islamabad, the Quaid i Azam Papers, File 1354 During this event, the Muslim League led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and other Founding Fathers narrated the events regarding the differences between Hindus and Muslims, and introduced the historical resolution that cemented the formation of a nation-state in South Asia as Pakistan, even though it did not actually mention Pakistan at all.Syed Iftikhar Ahmed (1983), Essays on Pakistan, Alpha Bravo Publishers, Lahore, {{OCLC|12811079}}

The resolution was moved by A. K. Fazlul Huq (26 October 1873 – 27 April 1962), often called Sher-e-Bangla, passed on 23rd March and had its signatures from the Founding Fathers of Pakistan. It reads as:[https://web.archive.org/web/20060127232758/http://www.pakistan.gov.pk/Quaid/leader5.htm The Pakistan Resolution], Government of Pakistan Official website. (Retrieved on 23 April 2006)

{{quote|[Quoting Resolution:] No constitutional plan would be workable or acceptable to the Muslims unless geographical contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so constituted with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary. That the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in majority as in the North-Western and Eastern zones of India should be grouped to constitute independent states in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign.}}

The British plan to partition the Indian subcontinent into two dominions - India and Pakistan - was announced on 3 June 1947. In the event, Pakistan was created on 14 August 1947 and Indian independence came a day later. Pakistan was immediately identified as a migrant state born amid bloodshed. Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, became the first Governor-General of Pakistan with Liaqat Ali Khan becoming the first Prime Minister of Pakistan. The Indian Act of 1935 provided the legal framework for Pakistan until 1956, when the state passed its own constitution.Cohen, Stephen P. The idea of Pakistan. Brookings Institution Press, 2004.

While Pakistan's Independence Day celebrates its freedom from British rule, the Republic Day celebrates the coming into force of its constitution.

Works and efforts by the Basic Principles Committee drafted the basic outlines of the constitution in 1949.{{Cite book|url=http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t236/e0616|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121052313/http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t236/e0616|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 November 2008|title=Pakistan|last=Hussain|first=Rizwan|work=The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World}} After many deliberations and years of some modifications, the first set of the Constitution of Pakistan was enforced in the country on 23 March 1956. This marked the country's successful transition from Dominion to Islamic Republic. The Governor-General was replaced with the President of Pakistan as ceremonial head of state.{{cite book | title=Islamic Pakistan: Illusions and Reality | first=Abdus Sattar | last=Ghazali | publisher=National Book Club | location=Islamabad | url=http://ghazali.net/book1/chapter_3.htm | chapter=The First Islamic Republic | access-date=21 March 2018}} Initially it was called Republic Day but after Ayub Khan's takeover its name was changed to Pakistan Day due to the end of democracy in Pakistan.

{{main|Pakistan Day Parade}}

The main celebration is held in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.{{cite news|last1=Staff work|title=Preparations complete for Pakistan Day parade on March 23|url=http://www.thenewstribe.com/2015/03/22/preparations-complete-for-pakistan-day-parade-on-march-23/|access-date=24 March 2015|agency=NewsTribe|publisher=NewsTribe, 2015|date=22 March 2015|archive-date=23 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323034336/http://www.thenewstribe.com/2015/03/22/preparations-complete-for-pakistan-day-parade-on-march-23/|url-status=dead}} The President of Pakistan is usually the Chief Guest; also in attendance are the Prime Minister of Pakistan alongside the Cabinet ministers, military chiefs of staff, and chairman joint chiefs.{{cite news|last1=DAWN.com|title=Pakistan holds first Republic Day parade in seven years|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1171371|access-date=24 March 2015|agency=Dawn Newspapers|publisher=Dawn Newspapers, 2015|date=24 March 2015}}

A full inter-services joint military parade is rehearsed and broadcast live by the news media all over the country. The Pakistan military inter services also gives a glance of its power and capabilities during this parade.

The celebrations regarding the holiday include a full military and civilian parade in the capital, Islamabad. These are presided by the President of Pakistan and are held early in the morning. After the parade, the President confers national awards and medals on the awardees at the Presidency. Wreaths are also laid at the mausoleums of Allama Sir Muhammad Iqbal and Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan. In very rare times and significance, foreign dignitaries have been invited to attend the military parade.{{cite news|last1=Dawn.com|title=Relive Pakistan Day: 1940 – 2000|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1171374/relive-pakistan-day-1940-2000|access-date=24 March 2015|agency=Dawn archives|publisher=Dawn archives, 2015|date=24 March 2015}}

In the United States, while New York City has celebrated North America's largest Pakistan Day parade for decades, New Jersey's first annual Pakistan Day parade was held on August 16, 2015, in Edison and Woodbridge, New Jersey.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2015/08/pakistan_day_parade.html|title=Pakistan Day Parade a display of pride in their heritage and America|author=Ed Murray|publisher=New Jersey On-Line LLC|date=August 16, 2015|access-date=August 16, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150819231556/http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2015/08/pakistan_day_parade.html|archive-date=August 19, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://patch.com/new-jersey/woodbridge/icymi-pakistan-day-parade-be-held-sunday-woodbridge-edison-0|title=ICYMI: Pakistan Day Parade To Be Held Sunday In Woodbridge, Edison|author=Michelle Sahn|publisher=Woodbridge Patch|date=August 15, 2015|access-date=August 16, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817074813/http://patch.com/new-jersey/woodbridge/icymi-pakistan-day-parade-be-held-sunday-woodbridge-edison-0|archive-date=August 17, 2015}}

• History of Pakistan
• Holidays in Pakistan
• Iqbal Day
• Minar-e-Pakistan

{{reflist|group=Note}}

Citations

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.pakistan.gov.pk/ Govt of Pakistan]
• [https://www.ispr.gov.pk/ Pakistan Armed Forces]

{{Pakistan Movement}}

{{Public holidays in Pakistan}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Public holidays in Pakistan

Category:Pakistan Movement

Category:Parades in Pakistan

Category:March observances

Category:Events in Pakistan

Pakistan

Category:Constitution of Pakistan of 1956