New Delhi: Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations across the country saw citizens throw bottles at each other, get into fistfights, and even steal cakes decorated in the colours of the Pakistani flag.
Pakistanis on social media soon reached a consensus: “Men need a curfew.”
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif led Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day celebrations in Lahore, with official ceremonies and public festivities held across the city. Her administration organised mega concerts, cultural shows, and midnight fireworks at Liberty Chowk and Minar-e-Pakistan.
However, the crowds soon descended into chaos. Videos that went viral on Instagram showed people climbing and swinging from structures at the venues. Others were seen throwing bottles and getting into physical confrontations.
Soon, the country did what it does best — resort to memes. Pakistani performer Abraham Qaiser sarcastically wrote on Instagram: “Acha bhala British rule kar rahay thay (We were doing quite well when the British ruled us)”.
Even commercial brands joined in. Ride-hailing app inDrive commented on a video showing a bottle fight, calling it “Liberty Wars”.
Then there were those who noticed the nuances. The women were nowhere to be seen.
“It’s so sad to see how on even Independence Day not a single woman is out there to enjoy… Why only men can enjoy Independence Day? Why only men can come outside like that but not women? Why freedom has an address? Streets for men and balconies for women,” Pakistani Instagram user Sonia Khan pointed out.
Lahore-based fine arts artist Serene Shadab responded: “There needs to be a curfew on men.”
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Cake and privilege
Soon, the scene shifted from Lahore to Peshawar, with videos showing people attacking an Independence Day cake. Some were even seen filling the cake in a bag and smearing it over themselves.
Amid the criticism over the apparent lack of civic sense, Pakistani actor Khaqan Shahnawaz offered an alternative view. He pointed out that Pakistan’s privileged class often enjoys mocking those who are less privileged, may lack civic sense or may never have tasted a cake. According to him, these people have deliberately been kept away from resources, making it easy for the privileged to ridicule them now.
Content creator Javaria JJ, however, disagreed.
“Privileged or not, these people won’t come out and stand for their rights but yeah Azaadi to manani hai aur chalo ye benefit of doubt bhi de dein ke they are uneducated but what kind of celebration is this? Hitting each other, destroying public property. Jitne marzi underprivileged hon jungle se uth ke to nahi aaye na? Apne ghar pe kya isi tarah sab kuch barbaad karte hain? So it’s not a matter of class, please don’t portray it that way.”
Eventually, political parties intervened — but not quite in the way one might expect.
When content creator Irfan Aslam shared a video of people fighting on the streets, PML-N Lahore commented: “Larai walay 2 clips Peshawar ke hain. Kindly verify before posting!”
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)