Society

In photos: Independence Day celebrations

Citizens marked the day with nationwide celebrations, thankful of the gains the country's security forces have made against militants in recent years.

Photos by Shahbaz Butt

2019-08-14

Pakistani police of the Special Security Unit (SSU) march in front of the mausoleum of founding father Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah during Independence Day celebrations in Karachi on August 14. [Rizwan Tabassum/AFP]

Pakistanis take part in Independence Day celebrations in Quetta on August 14 as the nation marks the anniversary of independence from British rule. [Banaras Khan/AFP]

Pakistani police with the Special Security Unit (SSU) march in front of the mausoleum of founding father Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah during Independence Day celebrations in Karachi on August 14. [Rizwan Tabassum/AFP]

Pakistani girls hold a national flag in front of the mausoleum of founding father Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah during Independence Day celebrations in Karachi on August 14. [Rizwan Tabassum/AFP]

Workers in Peshawar decorate a car in preparation for Independence Day. [Shahbaz Butt]

Young men in Peshawar blow bugles as Independence Day nears. [Shahbaz Butt]

A vendor in Peshawar offers a variety of merchandise for celebrating Independence Day. [Shahbaz Butt]

A customer August 10 in Peshawar selects a national flag from a roadside stall. [Shahbaz Butt]

A boy August 10 in Peshawar displays a variety of merchandise meant for Independence Day celebrations. [Shahbaz Butt]

Girls August 10 in Peshawar sing patriotic songs at an event held in connection with Independence Day. [Shahbaz Butt]

National flags are shown on sale at Qissa Khwani Bazaar in Peshawar August 10, four days before Independence Day. [Shahbaz Butt]

Children have the national flag painted on their faces at Qissa Khwani Bazaar in Peshawar. [Shahbaz Butt]

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistanis Wednesday (August 14) turned out nationwide to celebrate Independence Day.

Many citizens are enjoying a return to normal life after a multi-year fight against militants and terrorist groups that cost the country thousands of lives.

The country declared independence from the British empire August 14, 1947.