On March 23, 2006 Pakistanis living around the world celebrated the 66th anniversary of Pakistan resolution. After almost 59 years of existence Pakistan is still struggling with defining its identity and formation of a nation rallying around one flag. This identity crisis is the result of biased and ethnic policies adopted by our military dictators. Other influential segments of society beaurocrats and landlords also supported this ethnic definition of four ethnicities. An identity of a nation is derived from the vision of its founding fathers and understanding the cultural heritage it has pursued. In this article we will try to understand and define the identity of a Pakistani in the light of the vision pursued by our founding fathers and our cultural heritage.
Pakistan resolution, presented by Moulvi Fazal Haq, was adopted as Lahore resolution during the meeting of All India Muslim League in Lahore’s Manto Park, now known as Iqbal Park, on March 23, 1940. The resolution demanded formation of autonomous and sovereign states comprising of Muslim majority regions. Although there was no mention of the name Pakistan for this sovereign state but by 1945 it became a specific demand for Pakistan. After the formation of Pakistan first Prime Minister Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan presented an Objectives Resolution in the March 17, 1949 meeting of the assembly. This Objectives resolution also became the foundation stone for the constitution of 1973 as well as definition of a Pakistani nation. It is apparent from the language of the Objectives Resolution that the founding fathers understood the dilemma at hand to define a Pakistani nation. They delayed the formation of a constitution so that they can first define the identity of the young nation.
Muslim Leaque as a political party spearheaded the constitutional fight for an independent state for Indian Muslims. Immediately after independence it lost two revolutionary leaders in quick succession. First it was the death of the founding father Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, succumbing to Tuber colossus, in September 1948 and then assassination of Shaheed-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan in October 1951 was the final nail in the dream of formation of a strong democratic nation. Landlords and beaurocrats soon captured prominent positions in the only political party and struggle for political succession started, which culminated in the Marshal law of 1958. Once military tasted the forbidden fruit of political power it became increasingly difficult for the divided nation to regain its democratic values and get on the path of a single Pakistani identity. Field Marshall Ayub Khan, with his limited understanding of the civilian life and his training in British institutions of divide and rule, established the promotion of four unique ethnic cultures. His successor General Yahya Khan could not handle the crisis of East Pakistan well and it resulted in the succession of East Pakistan to become an independent state Bangladesh. Then General Zia ul Haq promoted the Islamist zealots and promotion of another ethnic group Mohajirs in Sindh to counter the emergence of Pakistan Peoples Party in its homeland. Our current President General Musharraf initiated military operation in NWFP and Balochistan to further create a dissent from the center.
Despite these set-backs Pakistan represents a dream that can become a reality and beacon of light for other struggling nations. Pakistan is the only country formed pursuing an ideology and was acquired purely through constitutional struggle without a violent independence movement pursued by the other major political party in India, All India Congress. A Pakistani is defined by following motivations and inspirations:
1. A Pakistani has firm faith in God to be the sole benefactor of human kind and a guide to a spiritually enriching life. For a Pakistani spirituality takes precedence over materialism.
2. A Pakistani believes in family values where the inspiration of an individual is always subject to the inspiration of a family. A Pakistani works in the framework of a family hierarchy where he has to accord due respect to both his elders and his youngsters. A person is defined by the role he plays in his family as a son/daughter, father/mother, and wife/husband.
3. A Pakistani is aware of the rich heritage he/she acquired from his forefathers. This includes the international icon of Muslim architecture Taj Mahal, one of the world famous poets Mirza Assadullah Khan Ghalib, and Amir Khusroo, creator of the musical instrument sitar.
4. A Pakistani is also the bearer of the youngest language Urdu created from the amalgamation of international languages Persian, French, English, Arabic and Turkish. Although being the youngest language Urdu poses one of the most well defined structures of grammar and diction. In Urdu a person can be addressed in so many different ways that shows his/her relation to the person and his social status. This beauty and richness of the language has attracted so many followers around the world, estimated to be around 2 billion people, that it has become one of the fastest growing languages in the world. Indian film industry, as it is famously known as Bollywood, despite its best efforts to adopt Hindi/Sanskrit for movie songs has to still use Urdu as the language of choice.
5. In his personal endeavors a Pakistani remembers the 1000 years of history of leadership and it comes out in it professional dealings. A Pakistani is defined as an ambitious, energetic and innovative in its approach towards adopting any profession. This is evident from the success of immigrant Pakistani community as a leading minority business community in USA.
Deep down inside the nation understands the negative effects ethnic and sectarian divisions have on its economic prosperity and progress. The nation is desperately seeking a leader or a cause that can become a reason for this unity. The whole world has seen the unity of Pakistani nation in the face of one of the worst earthquakes in the history. Everyone from Karachi to Khyber responded to alleviate the sufferings of the people who lost their homes and family in this devastating incident.
Pakistani people should understand their true identity and elect sincere leaders who can lead the country is realizing its dream of leadership in the region. Pakistani people should understand that they cannot allow corrupt and self-interested generals to rule them with a bayonet or with currency in the bank or with a large land holding. We have to create political institutions that make it possible for ambitious, energetic and qualified leaders to emerge and take the reins of the nation to put it on the path of progress and harmony.
A Pakistani identity On March 23, 2006 Pakistanis…
April 11, 2006 at 5:10 pm · Filed under Political Commentary
A Pakistani identity
On March 23, 2006 Pakistanis living around the world celebrated the 66th anniversary of Pakistan resolution. After almost 59 years of existence Pakistan is still struggling with defining its identity and formation of a nation rallying around one flag. This identity crisis is the result of biased and ethnic policies adopted by our military dictators. Other influential segments of society beaurocrats and landlords also supported this ethnic definition of four ethnicities. An identity of a nation is derived from the vision of its founding fathers and understanding the cultural heritage it has pursued. In this article we will try to understand and define the identity of a Pakistani in the light of the vision pursued by our founding fathers and our cultural heritage.
Pakistan resolution, presented by Moulvi Fazal Haq, was adopted as Lahore resolution during the meeting of All India Muslim League in Lahore’s Manto Park, now known as Iqbal Park, on March 23, 1940. The resolution demanded formation of autonomous and sovereign states comprising of Muslim majority regions. Although there was no mention of the name Pakistan for this sovereign state but by 1945 it became a specific demand for Pakistan. After the formation of Pakistan first Prime Minister Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan presented an Objectives Resolution in the March 17, 1949 meeting of the assembly. This Objectives resolution also became the foundation stone for the constitution of 1973 as well as definition of a Pakistani nation. It is apparent from the language of the Objectives Resolution that the founding fathers understood the dilemma at hand to define a Pakistani nation. They delayed the formation of a constitution so that they can first define the identity of the young nation.
Muslim Leaque as a political party spearheaded the constitutional fight for an independent state for Indian Muslims. Immediately after independence it lost two revolutionary leaders in quick succession. First it was the death of the founding father Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, succumbing to Tuber colossus, in September 1948 and then assassination of Shaheed-e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan in October 1951 was the final nail in the dream of formation of a strong democratic nation. Landlords and beaurocrats soon captured prominent positions in the only political party and struggle for political succession started, which culminated in the Marshal law of 1958. Once military tasted the forbidden fruit of political power it became increasingly difficult for the divided nation to regain its democratic values and get on the path of a single Pakistani identity. Field Marshall Ayub Khan, with his limited understanding of the civilian life and his training in British institutions of divide and rule, established the promotion of four unique ethnic cultures. His successor General Yahya Khan could not handle the crisis of East Pakistan well and it resulted in the succession of East Pakistan to become an independent state Bangladesh. Then General Zia ul Haq promoted the Islamist zealots and promotion of another ethnic group Mohajirs in Sindh to counter the emergence of Pakistan Peoples Party in its homeland. Our current President General Musharraf initiated military operation in NWFP and Balochistan to further create a dissent from the center.
Despite these set-backs Pakistan represents a dream that can become a reality and beacon of light for other struggling nations. Pakistan is the only country formed pursuing an ideology and was acquired purely through constitutional struggle without a violent independence movement pursued by the other major political party in India, All India Congress. A Pakistani is defined by following motivations and inspirations:
1. A Pakistani has firm faith in God to be the sole benefactor of human kind and a guide to a spiritually enriching life. For a Pakistani spirituality takes precedence over materialism.
2. A Pakistani believes in family values where the inspiration of an individual is always subject to the inspiration of a family. A Pakistani works in the framework of a family hierarchy where he has to accord due respect to both his elders and his youngsters. A person is defined by the role he plays in his family as a son/daughter, father/mother, and wife/husband.
3. A Pakistani is aware of the rich heritage he/she acquired from his forefathers. This includes the international icon of Muslim architecture Taj Mahal, one of the world famous poets Mirza Assadullah Khan Ghalib, and Amir Khusroo, creator of the musical instrument sitar.
4. A Pakistani is also the bearer of the youngest language Urdu created from the amalgamation of international languages Persian, French, English, Arabic and Turkish. Although being the youngest language Urdu poses one of the most well defined structures of grammar and diction. In Urdu a person can be addressed in so many different ways that shows his/her relation to the person and his social status. This beauty and richness of the language has attracted so many followers around the world, estimated to be around 2 billion people, that it has become one of the fastest growing languages in the world. Indian film industry, as it is famously known as Bollywood, despite its best efforts to adopt Hindi/Sanskrit for movie songs has to still use Urdu as the language of choice.
5. In his personal endeavors a Pakistani remembers the 1000 years of history of leadership and it comes out in it professional dealings. A Pakistani is defined as an ambitious, energetic and innovative in its approach towards adopting any profession. This is evident from the success of immigrant Pakistani community as a leading minority business community in USA.
Deep down inside the nation understands the negative effects ethnic and sectarian divisions have on its economic prosperity and progress. The nation is desperately seeking a leader or a cause that can become a reason for this unity. The whole world has seen the unity of Pakistani nation in the face of one of the worst earthquakes in the history. Everyone from Karachi to Khyber responded to alleviate the sufferings of the people who lost their homes and family in this devastating incident.
Pakistani people should understand their true identity and elect sincere leaders who can lead the country is realizing its dream of leadership in the region. Pakistani people should understand that they cannot allow corrupt and self-interested generals to rule them with a bayonet or with currency in the bank or with a large land holding. We have to create political institutions that make it possible for ambitious, energetic and qualified leaders to emerge and take the reins of the nation to put it on the path of progress and harmony.
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