By: Raba Noor,
More than 74 years have passed since Pakistan became independent, and all along we have remained unaware of many aspects of our history.
We celebrate our Independence Day on 14th August every year and our neighboring country India, which became independent with us, celebrates the same on 15th August every year and every year the question arises that the two countries which became independent together on their Independence Day, why the difference of one day?
The elders tell us that Pakistan became independent on the 27th night of Ramadan and that the day Pakistan became independent was the happy day of Jumu’ah al-Wada ‘.
Then we are told that this day was August 14, 1947, and we are one day older than the country that became independent with us. However, when we look at the calendar of August 14, 1947, it is known that this day was Thursday and Hijri date. It was not 27 but 26 Ramadan.
Then we see the first stamps of Pakistan which were issued on July 9, 1948, 11 months after the independence of Pakistan. On these stamps, Pakistan’s Independence Day is clearly printed on August 15, 1947.
Then we come to the conclusion that Pakistan’s Independence Day is not 14 but 15 August 1947, then why the first anniversary of Independence Day was celebrated on 14 August 1948? Thus the mind is once again confused as to when Pakistan became independent: on August 14, 1947, or on August 15, 1947.
If we became independent on 14th August 1947 then why the date of Independence Day was written on the postage stamps issued 11 months after independence on 15th August 1947 and if Pakistan became independent on 15th August 1947 then we celebrated the first anniversary of independence on 15th August 1947. Why celebrate August 14, 1948, instead?
And most of all, why are these birthdays still being celebrated on August 14 instead of
August 15?
The most important document in this regard is the Indian Independence Act of 1947, which was passed by the British Parliament and ratified by the British Emperor George VI on 18 July 1947.
A copy of this law was sent to Quaid-e-Azam on 24 July 1947 by the Secretary-General of Pakistan, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali (who later became the Prime Minister of Pakistan).
This law was enacted on page 234 of volume 12 of The Transfer of Power, a document published by the British Government in 1983 and translated by Jinnah Papers published by Quaid-e-Azam Papers Project, Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. (Urdu translation of K) can be seen from page 45 to page 72 of volume III. This is clearly stated in the law.
From 15 August 1947, two independent sovereign states will be established in British India, which will be named India and Pakistan respectively. Later in the law, ‘these states’ means new states, and ‘fixed day’ means August 15.
The original text on page 234 of Transfer of Power, Volume 12 is as follows:
Here are a few more orders issued in continuation of this law, the excerpts and translations of which were published by Zia-ud-Din Lahori in his article ‘Independence Day: Happy Friday 27th Ramadan or 15th August’. Department of Writing, Compilation and Translation has been included in Karachi University.
August 12, 1947 Excerpt from the press release of the Secretariat of the United Nations Memorandum on the Privilege of Membership of India and Pakistan
The Indian Independence Act states that on 15th August 1947, two independent states will be established in India under the names of India and Pakistan respectively.
The British government announced that both Pakistan and India would be free at the same time, on 15 August 1947 at zero hours, but the problem was that Lord Mountbatten visited India in New Delhi on the night between 14 and 15 August 1947. Was to declare independence. The elected government was to transfer power and become the first Governor-General of independent India.
The solution was for Lord Mountbatten to visit Karachi on August 13, 1947, and address the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on the morning of August 14, 1947, to complete the transfer of power and announce that on that night, August 14 and 15. By the middle of 1947, Pakistan would become an independent state.
So that’s what happened. On August 13, 1947, Lord Mountbatten visited Karachi and on the same night, dinner was given in his honor at the Governor General’s House in Karachi. Addressing the gathering, Muhammad Ali Jinnah said:
I am very happy to suggest the health of the country. This is a very important and unique opportunity. Today, full power is about to be transferred to the people of India and on the appointed day of 15th August 1947, two independent and sovereign states Pakistan and India will come into being. This decision of the Prime Minister’s Government will achieve the lofty goal that was declared the sole purpose of the Commonwealth.
The next day, Thursday, August 14, 1947, according to the 26th of Ramadan 1366 AH, a special session of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan began at 9 am in the present Sindh Assembly Building in Karachi.
Enthusiastic people had gathered in front of the building since morning. When Pakistan’s nominee for Governor-General Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Lord Mountbatten arrived in the Assembly Hall in a special carriage, the people greeted them with enthusiastic slogans and applause. All the seats in the assembly were full. The gallery was attended by a large number of prominent citizens, politicians, and local and foreign journalists. The chair was presided over by the President of the Constituent Assembly, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and next to him was Lord Mountbatten. The operation was formally launched when the two dignitaries took their seats.
First, Lord Mountbatten read out a message from the King of Britain, addressing Jinnah:
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on the great occasion of the formation of the new Commonwealth of Independent States of Britain. The way you have achieved freedom is an example of freedom-loving people all over the world. I hope that all members of the British Commonwealth will support you in upholding democratic principles.
After the message, Lord Mountbatten delivered a farewell speech and prayed for the security of Pakistan and the Pakistani people.
In his speech, Lord Mountbatten made it clear:
“Today I am addressing you as your Viceroy. Tomorrow the reins of the new Dominion Government of Pakistan will be in your hands and I will be the constitutional head of your neighboring Dominion of India. The leaders of both governments have invited me to be the neutral chairman of the Joint Defense Council, an honor I will strive to fulfill.
Tomorrow, two new sovereign states will join the Commonwealth. …
Source: bolnews.com
Thursday, April 23, 2026
