This year, Pakistan marks the 78th anniversary of its independence — a moment not only to recall our history but also to reflect on the ideals that shaped our vision of the state.

Many definitions of "state" exist, but one of the most human, poignant and enduring comes from our distinguished politician and legal mind, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, who compared the state to a mother: "Riyasat ho gi maa ke jaisi; har shehri se pyaar kare gi." This translates into: "The state will cherish its people as a mother loves her children."

A mother's moral responsibility is to be empathetic to the needs of her children, nurturing and protective. That, too, should be the defining responsibility of the state. On this Independence Day anniversary, we must ask ourselves: to what extent have we lived up to this lofty ideal?

At the same time, we must also ask: how are we treating our mothers, and how are they able to fulfil their maternal obligations toward........

© The Express Tribune