Petition seeking declaration of August 15 as Independence Day rejected by LHC

E-Paper | March 12, 2026

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday rejected a petition seeking directives for the government to celebrate the country's Independence Day on August 15, instead of August 14.

Justice Mamoonur Rashid declared the petition, filed by a citizen named Hasnain, as non-maintainable.

The citizen had named the federal government, the Higher Education Commission and the Punjab Curriculum Board as respondents in the case.

The petitioner had contended that according to the Indian Independence Act 1947, Pakistan came into being on August 15. He further said that the federal government, the interior ministry and other parties were misleading the nation.

Examine: August 15 — Pakistan's Independence Day

He had asked the court to order the government to issue a notification for celebrating the day on August 15, instead of 14.

Pakistan

Rana Bilal is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn News (TV) with over nine years of experience covering legal affairs, justice-sector developments, and environmental issues. He can be found on X at @ranabilaldawn.

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M. Emad

Sep 16, 2019 10:45pm

15 August is the actual independence date of both India and Pakistan.

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Shubham

Sep 16, 2019 10:54pm

The petitioner is right

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Kvrk

Sep 16, 2019 11:09pm

Mr. Hasnain is 100 percent right.

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Ammir

Sep 16, 2019 11:34pm

What difference does it make ?

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Vencut

Sep 16, 2019 11:42pm

He is right though!

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atif

Sep 16, 2019 11:47pm

A true example of frivolous petition

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RationalBabu

Sep 16, 2019 11:50pm

Astonishing that a nation is still unsure about the day it got its independence!

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k k tiwari

Sep 17, 2019 12:18am

Let it be 14 th august so Pakistan is elder brother of India

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Aamir

Sep 17, 2019 12:25am

Please move on!

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Sep 17, 2019 12:34am

Not an anomaly- our decision makers have also distorted the rest of history to serve national interest. I wonder who and how is the national interest defined?

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M. Saeed

Sep 17, 2019 12:36am

Pakistan was born on Friday, the 27th of Ramazan, 1366 which corresponded to 14th August 1947.

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Vikas

Sep 17, 2019 12:38am

@Ammir, Would you prefer to celebrate your birthday on your actual date of birth or anyday is fine for celebration?

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Sep 17, 2019 12:56am

As per act it was 15th. However, Independence ceremony was attended by mount battin on 14th night hours before day change and documents signature were also done on 14th due reason that main ceremony was held in india at midnight day change time. As mountbatin could not be present at two venues at one time so all ceremony and document signatures were done on 14th in case of pakistan.So except first year, it is celebrated as 14th august

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Syed A. Mateen

Sep 17, 2019 12:56am

Why this matter has come for arguments and debate after 72 years of Independence?

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Sep 17, 2019 01:03am

@atif, He is 100% right in this case though it doesn't matter now

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Ariba

Sep 17, 2019 01:12am

Look further into this person's background and find out who actually is behind this. A lone individual without some kind of backing could not have initiated this petition.

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Prasad

Sep 17, 2019 01:13am

@Ammir, it is history miya you can't change it!

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bhaRAT©

Sep 17, 2019 01:24am

@M. Emad, Pakistan legally came into existence at midnight on 14–15 August 1947. So, as it is in the middle of both days, why the fuss?

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Atif

Sep 17, 2019 01:25am

He is wrong. The Viceroy gave path and handed over power on the 14th and did the same ceremony in India the next day. Yes the Independence Act does say 15th but the process was done on 14th.

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Zak

Sep 17, 2019 01:33am

Why non-maintainable?

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Sep 17, 2019 01:36am

Pakistan gained independence 1 minute before midnight, but operationally independence started the next day. But the fact remains 1 minute before midnight is still 14th August.

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Ijaz

Sep 17, 2019 01:45am

The petitioner is wrong. India was granted independence at the midnight hour (in Delhi), i.e 15th August. However, in the new Republic of Pakistan the local time in Karachi (the new capital) was now 11:30 PM 14th August, and 12:30AM on 15th August in Dhaka (East Pakistan). There is no need to change independence day.

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Chini

Sep 17, 2019 01:46am

@Ammir, truth and fantasy

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Just saying

Sep 17, 2019 02:14am

Are we really independent?

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Jigar J

Sep 17, 2019 02:15am

@Ammir, Difference is one day.

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Sep 17, 2019 02:44am

Pakistan got its independence BEFORE India!

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Kaiser ali

Sep 17, 2019 02:58am

Finally someone have the courage to bring this issue into light sooner or later history. Will be corrected

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Amit

Sep 17, 2019 03:09am

Actually it was declared independence on midnight of 12.00 am in India. But the It was 11.30 on Pakistani sides on 14 aug. so they can celebrate on 14. Aug and we celebrate on 15 aug.

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Rehan Ullah

Sep 17, 2019 03:18am

Right 100

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Raj

Sep 17, 2019 03:21am

Ask the British who gave independence.

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Fastrack

Sep 17, 2019 03:58am

@RationalBabu , 99.999% Pakistanis are not. 0.00001% left wingers thought they are. Case rested now. Back to your declining economy.

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Khan

Sep 17, 2019 04:37am

@M. Emad, technically No Pakistan timing is 30 mins ahead so it was 11:30pm on 14th august

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Chinpaksaddique

Sep 17, 2019 06:01am

@Ammir, why don’t you celebrate it on 1st Jan then, what difference does it make!

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Wasim

Sep 17, 2019 06:10am

This petition was bound to be thrown out as it didn’t make any sense. It was decision made by the founding father and leaders at the time of Nation, to differentiate the Independence Day. Where does the Indian Independence Act comes into play, when you are living in Pakistan.

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Wasim

Sep 17, 2019 06:10am

@Shubham , No the Petitioner is wrong.

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Subbu

Sep 17, 2019 06:30am

You should be proud if your date of birth. Declare and celebrate the right one

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Nitin

Sep 17, 2019 06:47am

So History and actual dates wont matter for LHC.

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Bipin

Sep 17, 2019 06:52am

Otherwise how they are different??

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CN khan

Sep 17, 2019 07:19am

What difference does Aug 15, or Article 370 make? Nothing. Just go on. Revoke whatever article, celebrate Aug 14 -- your wish, my wish.

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Mangoman

Sep 17, 2019 07:28am

@atif, not really. Pakistan has unresolved issues since its birth which have manifested in multiple ways to all the ills we see today.

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Sep 17, 2019 08:06am

This guy has too much time on his hands. He needs to get a job.

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Ali kazmi

Sep 17, 2019 08:10am

@RationalBabu , Nation is not unsure, just a few stooges trying to cause confusion.

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Ali kazmi

Sep 17, 2019 08:13am

I asked a few people who remember, they all agreed that Aug. 14th is the correct date.

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Rao saheb

Sep 17, 2019 08:18am

irrespective of the differences, day august 15 should be pride for both the nations to celebrate. this day should not be linked with any black day. august 15 day should bring people to people more in contact than august 14.

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Sameer

Sep 17, 2019 12:30pm

Doesn't Husnain have better things to do?

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