Pakistan is celebrated its Independence Day on Wednesday, 77 years after British colonialists partitioned the Indian subcontinent following two centuries of rule.
The separate nations of India and Pakistan were created in August 1947.
Although the Indian Independence Act designated August 15 as the day of independence for both nations, power was transferred a day before to Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan, by Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last viceroy of British India.
Mr Jinnah, a barrister who was born in the British-Indian city of Karachi, was head of the All-India Muslim League before the partition.
He led the growing demands during the 1940s for a separate homeland for the Muslim minority of South Asia as violence between Muslims and Hindus increased.
Pakistan was created out of north-western and eastern parts the British-ruled Indian subcontinent, while the rest became modern-day India.
Both the nations were granted dominion status as step towards obtaining full independence.
The eastern part of Pakistan became Bangladesh after independence from Islamabad in 1971.
What happened on August 14, 1947?
The division in 1947, known as the Partition, was followed by widespread violence between Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs as millions migrated between the newly created states according to their religion.
Zia Ul Haq, a captain in the Indian army, helped escort refugees from India during the period of intense inter-communal violence.
Taking the last refugees from Babina in Uttar Pradesh would prove a formative experience for the young captain, who would rule Pakistan between 1978 and 1988.
It's thought that about 10 million Muslims fled India during this time, while a similar number of Hindus were displaced and fled to India. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps up to two million people, died in the violence.
For Mr Jinnah, however, the unrest would ultimately lead to something positive: the birth of a homeland for Muslims in the region.
“August 14 is the birthday of the independent and sovereign state of Pakistan,” he said of the country's founding.
“It marks the fulfilment of the destiny of the Muslim nation which made great sacrifices in the past few years to have its homeland.”
In a speech during the handover of power to the newly sovereign Pakistan, Mr Jinnah said he hoped the country – envisioned as a parliamentary democracy by its first prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan – would be a place of “no discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no discrimination between one caste or creed and another”.
“We are all citizens and equal citizens of one state,” he said.
Despite Pakistan's origins as a homeland for Muslims, Mr Jinnah insisted that the new country would guarantee religious freedom for all.
People “may belong to any religion, or caste, or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the state”, he said an address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in August 1947.
How is Independence Day celebrated?
Jinnah died the following year, but his legacy remains a central theme of Independence Day celebrations.
The main celebration takes place in the capital Islamabad, where the national flag is raised at the presidential and parliament buildings and the country’s leadership makes televised speeches to the nation. Similar flag-raising ceremonies are also held across the country.
Special prayers and a 31-gun salute in the capital and a 21-gun salute in all provincial capitals also take place.
Cultural songs, parades, flag-raising ceremonies and fireworks are seen across Pakistan on the day.
Streets, roads and major buildings are illuminated and adorned with flags and decorations.
Pakistan World Cup squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain
Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
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Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
UAE's role in anti-extremism recognised
General John Allen, President of the Brookings Institution research group, commended the role the UAE has played in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He told a Globsec debate of the UAE’s "hugely outsized" role in the fight against Isis.
"It’s trite these days to say that any country punches above its weight, but in every possible way the Emirates did, both militarily, and very importantly, the UAE was extraordinarily helpful on getting to the issue of violent extremism," he said.
He also noted the impact that Hedayah, among others in the UAE, has played in addressing violent extremism.
Crops that could be introduced to the UAE
1: Quinoa
2. Bathua
3. Amaranth
4. Pearl and finger millet
5. Sorghum
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
Company%20profile
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Women%E2%80%99s%20Asia%20Cup
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
