Peshawar: First time in Pakistan, any provincial government has decided t celebrate Pakistan Day on August 15, the Independence Day of India which is considered Pakistan’s rival country, under the umbrella of provincial government.
Bashir Bilour the provincial minister of Pakistan’s northern province of Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa got printed the invitation cards in which guests were invited on August 15 to celebrate the Independence Day.
Pakistani politicians and civil society members widely condemned the decision of Awami National Party (ANP) leader and termed it an anti-Pakistan.
Pakistan People’s Party leader Nabeel Gabool in his statement condemned the decision and demanded ANP leadership to cancel the Pakistan Day celebration on August 15 because everyone knows very well that India celebrates its independence on 15 August. He said it would be very shameful if ANP leader did this.
Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary Information, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Ahsan Iqbal, has also condemned the decision and urged Prime Minister Pakistan to take the notice of the decision. He termed the decision a move to further raise the discriminations among masses.
He said the decision to celebrate Independence Day on August 15 was illogical. He said there is no space of such kind of celebration in Pakistan.
It is pertinent to mention here that the ANP leader has planned to host world’s highest flag in the Jinnah Park Peshawar on 15 August that was earlier decided on August 14 but according to ANP’s provincial secretary information, Arbab Tahir, due to security risk the programme was postponed.
Bilour had decided to host the 200 feet long Pakistani flag on 185 feet high pole. The KPK government spent Rs 3.6 million rupees to complete the project.
Later after severe resistance from political parties, ANP leadership again cancelled the celebration ceremony of August 15 and now the ceremony would be held on Aug 16.