Pakistan: A Homeland Born of Sacrifice and Still a Sanctuary

In a quiet home in Pakistan, a 75-year-old woman sits by the window, her memories drifting back to the narrow alleys of Lucknow where she spent her youth. As tears gather in her eyes, she recounts a painful memory—how during the recent Indo-Pak conflict, Indian police stormed her sister’s home in Lucknow without a warrant, based solely on a false claim that she had arrived from Pakistan.

The questioning was relentless: When did she come? Why did she come? Isn’t she here now? Despite being told that she hadn’t visited in a decade, the harassment didn’t stop. Her family was subjected to accusations of treason, threats, and verbal abuse—simply for having ties to Pakistan.

But this, she says, is not just her story. It is the lived reality of countless Muslims in India today—citizens by birth, yet made to feel like outsiders. Her brother, a highly educated professor and PhD graduate from the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University, spent a lifetime proving his loyalty. He was pressured to denounce Pakistan, glorify India, and erase parts of his identity. Eventually, at 52, broken in spirit, he left the country of his birth—a country that never truly accepted him.

This, say many in Pakistan, is the condition Indian Muslims are forced to endure daily. From neighborhoods to newsrooms, from film sets to classrooms, they are constantly reminded of their “difference.” Their ancestors once contributed to India’s heritage—ruling empires, shaping language, and enriching literature—yet today they must furnish loyalty certificates just to live in peace.

This painful reality, say observers, reaffirms the truth of the Two-Nation Theory—the foundational principle of Pakistan’s creation. The theory, often dismissed by critics as political opportunism, is seen by many as a recognition that Muslims are a distinct nation, with a unique religion, culture, and heritage. And when that identity is threatened, a nation must choose between erasure and emancipation. Pakistan, they argue, is the result of that choice.

Even prominent Indian Muslims—actors, scholars, and professionals—are not spared. Shah Rukh Khan, one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, has had to publicly justify his family’s religious practices. Aamir Khan was branded “anti-national” for merely expressing concern over growing intolerance. Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik now lives in exile, banned from India. Their fame and contributions have not protected them from suspicion.

Meanwhile, ordinary Muslims face even harsher realities. Lynched on mere suspicion of eating beef. Killed without trial. Names like Akhlaq Ahmed, Pehlu Khan, and Tabrez Ansari haunt India’s collective conscience, their families left to grieve in silence.

The recent May 2025 Indo-Pak war only deepened the divide. In India, Muslims were branded traitors, Pakistani agents, and were told to “prove their loyalty—or leave.” Mosques were attacked, Muslim neighborhoods isolated, and mass arrests carried out—all in the name of democracy.

Against this backdrop, many in Pakistan are urging a renewed appreciation of their homeland. Pakistan, they say, is not just a piece of land—it is an identity, a freedom hard-won, a sanctuary built through immense sacrifice. They call on parents and educators to teach not just how Pakistan came into being, but why it had to be formed.

For the fearful Muslim families still living in the shadows across the border, there is a hope—that one day, they too will breathe the free air of a country where their identity is not a liability but a legacy.

“Pakistan is not a dream,” says one voice. “It is a priceless gift. It is ours—and will always be.”

This article is based on a column written by Mohammad Irfan Siddiqui, originally published in Daily Jang on June 1, 2025 click to read the original column in Urdu HERE. The content has been adapted for clarity and readability while preserving the original narrative.