This year’s Independence Day celebrations in Pakistan sparked debate after official advertisements omitted the image of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The ads, issued by the federal government on August 14, featured President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Field Marshal Asim Munir. However, the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was notably absent.
The exclusion drew strong criticism from social media users and political leaders. Many questioned why the country’s founder was missing from the official ads, especially on Independence Day, which marks the creation of Pakistan.
Users described the omission as “disrespectful” and accused the government of promoting current leaders instead of honoring national icons.
The matter was raised in the Senate, where Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar announced an inquiry. Opposition senators carried pictures of Jinnah during the session to express their disapproval.
PTI senator Faisal Javed stated that the advertisements were funded by taxpayers, yet ignored the founder of the nation. He added that not even a single documentary film was aired on August 14 to honor Jinnah.
Senator Ali Zafar also criticized the government for not sharing documents related to the August 14 resolution, which has traditionally been part of Independence Day observances.
In response, Law Minister Tarar admitted the omission was disappointing. He assured lawmakers that an investigation would be carried out and said the House would be informed of the findings.
Tarar emphasized that the government works under Jinnah’s legacy and apologized if anyone was hurt. He also reminded senators that the main celebrations began at Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad.
The controversy has led to widespread debate online. Former minister Mushahid Hussain called the move “ridiculous,” while Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the thoughts of Jinnah and Allama Iqbal seem to have little space in today’s Pakistan, just as in the government’s advertisements.
The issue has turned what should have been a unifying Independence Day into a heated political discussion, raising questions about how Pakistan honors its founding leaders.
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