Why Pakistan celebrates Independence day on 14th August?

India and Pakistan became two independent nations carved out of the Mughal empire at midnight when the Indian Independence Act of 1947 gave birth to these two on August 15, 1947. This Act allows August 15th to be celebrated as Independence Day for both countries. Even Pakistan's first commemorative postage stamps mention August 15 as Independence Day. But Pakistan celebrates its Independence Day on August 14 instead of August 15, as India does. Why so? 

The Indian Independence Act states, "As from the fifteenth day of August, nineteen hundred and forty-seven, two independent Dominions shall be set up in India, to be known respectively as India and Pakistan." Still, Pakistan celebrates it on the 14th of August. There are multiple versions of reasons given behind this date of celebration. Some of which may be myths or reality!

In this article, we will cover several versions of the reasons for celebrating Independence Day on 14 August in Pakistan. Let’s take a ride.

Why does Pakistan celebrate independence a day before India?

For those who believe that August 15th is the day when Pakistan must celebrate its Independence Day. Did you know? The said date was confirmed from the radio address of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan. In his Independence Day speech, Jinnah stated that "August 15 is the birthday of the independent and sovereign state of Pakistan. It marks the fulfilment of the destiny of the Muslim nation, which made great sacrifices in the past few years to have its homeland." 

But, here are the three versions or reasons as to why it is celebrated on 14 August 1947 in Pakistan:

The auspicious occasion of Ramadan

• The first version is that 15 August was special for Muslims in Pakistan as it was the last Friday of the Islamic month of Ramzan that year. 

• So, it is argued or believed that the intervening night of August 14 and 15, 1947, coincided with the 27th day of Ramadan, which is regarded as an auspicious day of the holy month. Hence, 14 August was taken as the independence day.

Lord Mountbatten's Busy Schedule

• The second version is that during the partition of India, the original scheme provided for the Britishers to transfer power to India and Pakistan must be before June 1948. But, during a press conference, the last British viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten, announced that Independence would come on 15 August 1947, rushing the transfer of power.

• Mountbatten was scheduled to formally transfer power to Indian leaders at midnight on August 14th and 15th in New Delhi. Pakistan was to announce its Independence from Karachi, its first capital, where Mountbatten had to transfer the power to Jinnah.

• However, Mountbatten could not be present at both places simultaneously. So, a solution was found in Mountbatten's visit to Karachi on August 13th. Then, on August 14th, he addressed the constituent assembly of Pakistan; in his speech, he stated, "Tomorrow, the government of the new Dominion of Pakistan will rest in your hands."

• From this, we can say that Pakistan's Independence came on August 15th. Yet, some argue that since Mountbatten announced a power transfer to Pakistan on August 14th, the government decided to celebrate its Independence Day on the 14th.

Cabinet Decision

• Next, let’s read about another version according to which a group of Pakistani leadership wanted to celebrate Independence Day before India did. 

• So, a group of ministers in Pakistan's first cabinet held a meeting in June-end 1948, which was presided by the then Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan. In this meeting, it was decided to advance the Independence Day of Pakistan by one day, i.e., on the 14th of August. 

• The proposal was to be put to Jinnah, upon whose approval the date was to be shifted. Jinnah agreed, and Pakistan's Independence Day was changed to the 14th, but of course, it was not in historical records.

Conclusion

Hence, historical documents, books, and speeches make it prudent that the independence day of Pakistan must fall on the 15th of August. However, it is celebrated on the 14th of August for many reasons. So, in an ordinary sense, what do you think? Are there any other two nations in the world that have gained independence on the same day but prefer to celebrate the anniversaries of their independence on different days? Or is this the case with India & Pakistan only?