Ethnic Polarization In Pakistan

Ethnic Polarization In Pakistan

Case Study

Fall- 2011

Group Leader

Saniya Raza Tiwana 01-111091-117

Group Members

Fahd Hussain Khan 01-111091-025

Fatima Ikram 01-111091-030

Sana Abid Ansari 01-111091-115

Zeeshan Ayub 01-111091-146

‘We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools’

-Martin Luther King Jr


TEACHERS’ REMARKS

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Signed By: _________________

Group Number Three, Saniya Raza Tiwana


Introduction

A precise definition of ethnicity is not easy. People define it according to their own perceptions.

Theoretically, it emerges that it is much more than racial, cultural, religious or even political

phenomenon. At its core it is probably psychological, i.e., the perception ‘what separates us from

them’. It is a shared sense of fear, vulnerability and shared aspirations by a persecuted people

resulting in hatred and a craving for separation.

The increasing incidence of ethnic conflicts and the much publicized consequences of these

conflicts have made many researchers to revisit social sciences. It is a point of inference that

ethnically diverse societies have a higher probability of political conflicts. According to

Montalvo, “the political instability caused by potential ethnic conflicts has a negative impact on

investment and, indirectly, on growth”.

It is also a point of argument, according to some researchers that, where there is ethnic diversity

it would generate a high level of corruption, which in turn, could deter investment in that

country/or region. Additionally, in heterogeneous societies or strong tribal structure (with strong

cultural and communal affinity) such as Balochistan and FATA, there is low level of propagation

of technology and creativity due to inbuilt potential for partiality, favoritism and nepotism,

which through social and political channel, affects the economy.

Background

When we look at the worlds’ lesser known conflicts, Pakistan cannot be neglected. There are

many religious sects, tribes and cultural groups in Pakistan; some of which we hardly know,

while others are on our fingertips because they make efforts to do so. Not denying the fact that

lack of education, poverty, bigotry, feudalism, tribalism, ethnic polarization, discriminatory law

and justice compounded with foreign interference, are elements which are tearing apart the

Pakistani society. Since independence, these have steadily become violent because certain

groups want to attain acceptance for their lawful or unlawful demands and failure of the

successive Governments to enforce writ of the state or reconciliation. Conversely, high level of

diversity can also be a potential for growth when handled by erudite and dedicated leadership.



Following table and map define the statistics & ethnic groups location in Pakistan:

Major Ethnic Groups in Pakistan, 1973 (Wikipedia Map)

Population Percentage

Punjabi - 42.15%

Pashtun - 17.42%,

Sindhi - 14.1%

Seraiki - 10.53%,

Muhajir - 7.57%,

Baloch - 3.57%

Others - 4.66%

Current Ground Realities

Pakistan is a multi lingual, multi ethnic and multi cultural country with more than 60 languages

spoke in it. Strangely enough, the struggle for Pakistan during British Rule transcended ethnic,

lingual, cultural and regional differences. It was an expression of a deep Muslim consciousness

which was both inspiring and invigorating. Unfortunately, post independence that expression

could not be sustained. The independence movement in British India is an inspiration to the

argument that there never was true unity among major ethnic groups; it was only a forced

lumping together by the British rulers. So was division of East & West Pakistan. Post 1971

Pakistan has also witnessed Baloch insurgencies, Pashtun separatism, Sindhi regionalism etc.

Today Pakistani society is extremely polarized along ethnic, geographic, economic, gender as

well as religious lines which are preventing the social cohesion necessary for broad-based,

inclusive growth. These secular movements pose serious risks to the Federation. These



challenges are indeed mounting, at the same time; these very events offer an opportunity for

seeking solutions remaining still in a multi-ethnic framework.

Symptoms

[2] On June 5, 2008, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace hosted a discussion on

Pakistan’s economic and social challenges and prospects. Jan Vandermoortele along with few

others was the featured speakers. The discussion was opened with an overview of Pakistan’s

lackluster performance in achieving human development goals. The country has made some

limited progress on poverty and health indicators, its education sector remains well below those

of countries at similar levels of existence. The reason ascribed was that the country spends only

about 2.5% of GDP on health and education, whereas most countries that have prospered have

spent on a sustained basis, at least 7% of their GDP.

Extreme examples of ethnic violence are of Balochistan and KPK. Several events like the PIA

Flight PK-544 hijack by the Baloch Students Organization (BSO), the abduction of John Solecki;

head of UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Balochistan (UNHCR) in 2009, of Chinese

engineers from the Gwadar port, of socio-political leaders and rich businessmen for ransom or

for release of captured compatriots. Our focus in this study is on the ‘ethnic polarization in

Pakistan’.

Causes

a. Unpatriotic Leadership. The leaders for the independence movement had achieved their

aim in the later part of their lives and were not available to guide it through its formative

years. Their inheritors were the big landlords and tribal bourgeois who were no

visionaries like Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Liaqat Ali Khan etc. Due to their personal

differences, greed and protectionist instincts did not permit stabilizing of state institution

like legislative assembly, independent judiciary, executive and the taxation

administrations. It took them six years to agree on their first Constitution and since then it

has been abrogated, set aside or changed as many times. These interest groups and cartels

control the state institutions as well as all the sources of wealth. The common people are

beholden to them for their survival.



b. Weak Education Base The successive conflict ridden leadership failed to conceive and

implement a national education policy fulfilling the aspirations envisaged for secession

from India, which is, to surmount economic persecution under the dominant Hindu

population. Thus, an educated leadership and workforce have not emerged who could

resolve the issues, appropriately utilize the wealth of resources.

c. Regional and International Interests and Intervention. Pakistan is located at the

international cross-roads which makes it prone to regional & international rivalries. The

fledgling state was constrained to join CENTO in sixties, a western alliance against its

neighboring super power the USSR and paid a heavy price for it. In the eighties, again

forced into active war for over a decade for stopping and breaking up of USSR, as a

consequence it received millions of Afghan refugees, freedom fighters called Jihadist

from all over the world, Kalashnikov bearing trained fighters who had married or settled

their families here. After the war these Jihadist termed Taliban, had no jobs or

sustenance, most had worked for international intelligence spy networks, and were

available for any takers. They were clandestinely used against Pakistan’s interests to

create disillusionment and further rift between ethnic groups. All these factors disrupted

the national cohesion and weakened economy. The leadership which led to the breaking

up of USSR, could have defended against such schemes, was conspired against and

violently removed. Even then, the country was not left alone; political and military

governments were installed and removed in quick succession to keep the country begging

from IMF, World Bank and the so called Big Eight Countries to continue doing their

bidding. These Powers have eyes on the natural and human resources in and around

Pakistan thus they are a source of conflict.

d. Religious Factions. Pakistan was created on social and religious differences with Hindus

of Hindustan (India to the western countries) but, since inception it also failed to

conceive and implement Islamic laws / constitution. Successive civil and military

leadership did not emerge from the grass roots. They were sons and daughters of wealthy

elite who were educated in the west, dreaded Islamic laws because they were imbued by

western culture, which itself had degenerated into free for all society, “do anything but

don’t be caught”. Pakistan was forced into West’s war, who called it a holy war. Taking



advantage of existing religious sects, funded these groups and devious individuals who

recruited simple Muslims from all over the Islamic world in the name of Jihad. These

little known so called Islamic groups fattened by foreign currencies and weapons have

started wielding power and become a source of conflict too.

e. Weak Economy. Despite having vast natural resources in the form of rich mineral

deposits, rivers and network of irrigation canal system, vast expanses of arable land a

conducive climate able to produce three crops per year, its economy has failed to develop

given the above potentials. The reason for this failure squarely rests with leadership

which successively emerged from particular factions or areas who failed a judicious

distribution of national resources and wealth, thus the polarization.

Analysis

Whatever the causes of ethnic polarization the fact remains that it has become a serious threat to

the integrity of the Pakistani nation. Ethnic prejudices are entrenched in our minds from the

moment we are able to distinguish between right and wrong. No matter how much we may deny

it, but when we look at a person we instantly notice his race and try to distinguish his origins.

When we meet people one of the first thought that come to our minds is, “Now where does this

person come from?”, or “Oh! He / she must be Pathan, Punjabi, Muhajir or Taliban”. We notice

the color of that person’s skin, decide on his ethnicity and instantly form judgments about him.

These judgments barricade us from recognizing intellectual and professional capabilities, moral

character and exploit such potential.

This tendency of stereotyping and making generalizations is extremely prevalent in our society.

This only leads to provincialism and ethnic disputes. In Karachi there has been widespread

unrest and violence between the Pathans, Muhajirs and Sindhis. In Balochistan there is hatred

against Punjabi civil military bureaucracy and agro-industrial settlers. The Baloch people feel

that they have not been given fair share in their economic development and appropriate

representation in the government. These divisions have caused much impediment politically and

economically, and might even lead to further division of the country.



The violent unrest that has taken place in Karachi over the years is solely on the basis of

economic disputes transiting into ethnic prejudices. At the time of the creation of Pakistan in

1947, a large number of migrants settled in the urban areas of Punjab and Sind, namely Karachi,

Hyderabad and Sukkur. These migrants were called Muhajir or refugees. From the very start the

Sindhi population did not accept the influx of the Muhajirs into their lands. The immigrants or

Muhajirs belonged to urban, middle class families, were well educated and experienced in

various occupations and they gave initial impetus to state organizations. On the other hand the

Sindhi population was relatively uneducated and rural, struggling to survive under their own

feudal system. They and their feudal lords resented the presence of a more educated community

taking over their economic prospects. In the 1970s there was violent confrontation between the

two communities, as unlike the rest of the country, the Sindhi’s were also unwilling to accept

Urdu as the national / official language in their province. There was much bloodshed on both

sides and no favorable conclusion could be reached.

Karachi being a port city grew is an economic hub, thus a number of Pashtun and Punjabi people

also came and settled there, taking over many jobs that would be available to Sindhis or

Muhajirs. To protect themselves the “Muhajir Qaumi Movement” or MQM was created in 1986

by Altaf Hussain. They have since been involved in culpable activities. Whether the MQM has

been of benefit to the people of Karachi is a matter of personal opinion. (Ahmer)

However, the biggest example of ethnic prejudice in Pakistan’s history lies in the formation of

Bangladesh, previously known as East Pakistan. East Pakistan too had a higher literacy rate and

more population than West Pakistan. Their demand to make Bengali also a national language

along with Urdu was ignored. Apart from this they were not given fair representation in the

National Assembly and the government. There were financial and monetary disputes as well.

Bengalis complained that most of the foreign exchange earned from their produce was not spent

on them and was squandered in West Pakistan by the West Pakistan heavy leadership and

bureaucracy. Taking advantage of that situation India mobilized the East Pakistani people

financially and militarily and Bangladesh was created. (Ahmed)

What we need to learn from all this is that we should look beyond racial and provincial

boundaries and see what really binds us together as a nation. Ethnic prejudice has only lead to

increased tensions and bloodshed of our own people. It is high time to look back on the Two



Nation Theory and educate the people of Pakistan about the true essence of their identity. What

matters is that we are all Pakistani and not Baloch, Sindhi, Urdu speaking, Punjabi or Pathan. It

is our country that gives us our identity. Nobody outside Pakistan is going to ask us which

province or state we belong to. The current situation in Pakistan can’t take any more divisions or

faults within itself. We shouldn’t let anything; especially disputes within ourselves get in the way

of our progress.

Recommendations

Implementing Democratic Practices. The simple people of Pakistan have paid a heavy price

for delegating their rights to greedy individuals who had fed them with false hopes and promises.

With the new found freedom of Press & IT they have been well exposed. It is time that the

people choose well their leaders, make them accountable and demand their rights.

Strengthening Institutions. Institutions are assessed on the basis of their response to the crises

and providing relief to the population, more or less institutions in Pakistan (Executive, Judiciary,

Education, Health, Power, Land Administration, Taxation, & Police) have not delivered.

The ethnic polarization in Pakistan can be determined from the uneven distribution of

developmental projects, infrastructure, institutions and poverty alleviation throughout the

country, except Punjab which had a better deal by a fostering leadership which is the bone of

resentment for other provinces specially Balochistan. These anomalies need to be addressed

immediately.

In the rural areas of the provinces, majority of the population live at below poverty level where

are no decent hospitals that can provide them with reasonable health services. Diseases like

Malaria and Tuberculosis are common, especially those living in thickly-populated slums. This is

greatly due to their low standards of living and literacy. “Every year Tuberculosis causes

approximately 70,000 death out of 270,000 afflicted by the disease. According to World Health

Organization, the country is 27th in the list of most affected states. (MacKenzie, 2011)

Establish Rule of Law and Accountability. Economic experts point out that institutional

proficiency depends to a large extent on the combination of the rule of law, accountability and

democratic practices. Decades have passed, unfortunately for Pakistan, to be ruled by the gang of



landowner wadara’s (feudal), big industrialists and civil-military bureaucracy, taking turns, who

have been making a show of holding accountable the outgoing regime but pardoning them later.

This must end now.

Judicious Distribution and Utilization of National Resources. Another big issue is the unfair

representation of isolated ethnic groups on the national level. Some provinces end up getting a

larger share of everything, be it water, power, employment and budget and get to enjoy the

superior facilities that may not be found in other provinces. This has caused resentment and

been taken advantage by the opportunists and external actors (to further their own vested

interests) Justly elected representatives must ensure equal distribution of national resources its

best utilization.

An Empowered Regulatory Authority. According to a market analyst Yunus Kamran, “the

inability of the state to deliver basic public goods and appropriate regulatory framework and the

accumulation of tax, trade, wage and bank arrears indicates weakening of institutions”. The most

important reason of this is the presence of corruption at the top level. According to the Annual

Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2001-2010, Pakistan is ranked at 143rd out of the 178

countries surveyed (Livingston, 2011). “Finally there is a strong perception that there has been a

systemic decline in the quality of tax administration and in the face of growing evasion and

corruption; it is argued that the incidence of taxes has effectively declined”- Chaudhary, 2010.

An Indigenous Education and Religious Policy. These two need immediate reforms. Apart

from few decent schools and colleges for the financially rich people in Pakistan, the general

population has no option but to go to Urdu medium schools where, given the pitiable allocation

of resources, the standards and amenities are contemptible. A big number of very poor family

children are taken up by Religious Mudrissah’s which are run by benevolent funding and which

are preaching religion, morality or behavior in an irritatingly tedious or overbearing way

repugnant to the mainstream Islam.

In the absence of a national educational policy each educational or religious institute is having

their own syllabi. Making things even worse are the strong political parties who for the lust of

money keep opting for aid in the name of education but would make no such efforts to develop

good educational institutions. In an article by Stuteville, 2010; as many as 30,000 ghost schools”



— nonfunctioning schools, that exist only on paper”. This has to stop. There is a dire need of

formulating and implementing an indigenous national education and religious policy to bring out

the best national talent. The education system should be such that it surpasses the international

standards yet at the same time promotes knowledge regarding the true Islamic / world history

culture, literature and art of Pakistan. What lies at the essence of such an educational system is

that students would not only be focusing on reaching International standards but also having a

firm grip on what they are and where they belong. Adding books written by authors of Pakistani

origin as part of schools syllabus along with comprehending the geographic and cultural beauty

of Pakistan. The aim should be to make the youth feel proud that they are a part of a nation

whose ancestors include people like Sultan Fateh Ali Tipu, Mirza Ghalib, Sayyed Ahmad Khan,

Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Muhammad Ali Jinnah etc rather than creating a sort of inferiority

complex through dramatizing western heroes. The government of Pakistan should create as many

educational platforms that would educated people regarding how they can practice their ‘rights’

make them understand what is considered as their right and make them believe that the

government will be there for their support. Once the students have a firm belief that they are no

lesser a nation than any other on the face of this planet, they would do wonders for this country.

A Proactive Agriculture Policy and Land Reforms. Adop[tion of wrong policies have lead the

country to rely more on loans from IMF and World Bank for its very survival. What makes

things even worse for Pakistan is the segment of the population who are feudal and landlords

who just do not want their children as well as others to get educated. The feudal archetype in

Pakistan consists of landlords with large joint families possessing hundreds or even thousands of

acres of land (interior Punjab, KP and Sindh). They seldom make any direct contribution to

agricultural production. Instead, all work is done by peasants or tenants who live at subsistence

level. Pakistan suffers not only from decadent feudalism but also from the primitive tribal

system.

In order to improve institutions, new and fresh policies should be implemented throughout

Pakistan. Thoroughly revising and making structural changes ensuring equal representation to

each and every province.

An indigenous Foreign Policy. Pakistan is in dire need of a foreign policy that would benefit

the National Interest of the country itself rather than one that is customized and manufactured by



super powers. Type-casting some minorities with menial sanitary work are belittling and

extremely discriminatory. Therefore care must be taken that minorities don’t get stereotyped and

consequently oppressed by those in the majority.

Conclusion

Pakistan is a state of over 180 million people with sixty percent in the age group of 35 years and below,

who are imbued with nationalistic fervor, are hard working and God fearing. They are well aware of the

prevailing regional and international geopolitics. If ‘equal opportunities for all, best man for the job’ is

adopted as the state policy it will mitigate the grouse among the people and the provinces. In the end a

beautiful quote by Mr Mowahid Hussain;

“Pakistan was never envisioned to be the play ground of plunderers, perverts and parasites, given the horrid results so far, is there any harm, for a change of flavor, to give recognition to honesty, hard work and merit? Surely, results can’t be any worse”

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Ethnic Polarization In Pakistan

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