Pakistan is celebrating its independence from the United Kingdom on August 14, 1971, in what is now known as the "Act of Independence". The country has a long history of being ruled by a series of different powers, including the British, French, Dutch, and Portuguese.

In the years leading up to the event, the country had a series of democratic elections, in which the people voted for their own leaders. The elections were not free and fair, and the outcome was not necessarily indicative of future elections. In addition, the leaders who were elected were not committed to a unified vision of national identity, and the country's political structure and society were still influenced by various ethnic groups and classes.

In the years following the election, the government of Pakistan was involved in a number of significant events. In addition to the conflict with the United Kingdom, the country was involved in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the conflict with India, the First and Second Arab–Israeli War, and the Soviet–Afghan War. The country also experienced an economic crisis and a nuclear attack by the United States.