Outline

1. Introduction

2. Ethnicity and National Integration

3. Ethnic Movements in Pakistan

4. Ethnic issues

5. National integration and disintegration

6. How to address ethnic issues

7. Conclusion

Introduction

• Pakistan is a multi ethnic country consisting of four major ethnic identities.
• Accordingly, Pakistan consist of four provinces having ethnic issues.
• If these issues are resolved amicably, it would create national integration Which means bringing the people together.
• In case of failure to do so, disintegration.

 Ethnicity is defined as the division of people on the basis of race, color, region, language etc.

• There are two theories of ethnicity – Capitalist and Communist

Capitalist theory says that ethnicity is natural and ethnic issues can be addressed through development. Example USA – a melting pot

Communist theory says it is unnatural and revolution can remove discrimination.

• National Integration is essential for unity, harmony, development and prosperity of a country.

• National leaders address ethnic issues to the satisfaction of all stakeholders for the greater good of the country.
• Pakistan suffered in 1971 due to disintegration and Baluchistan has problems similar to East Pakistan.

There are ethnic issues in Pakistan such as;

1. Resource distribution,

2. Water distribution,

3. Provincial autonomy,

4. Implementation of 18th amendment,

5. Non-implementation of Quota system,

6. Census,

7. Routes and Economic Zones of CPEC,

8. Kalabagh dam,

9. Language, etc

These issues are largely due to unequal size of provinces and distribution of resources on population basis.

Ethnicity and National Integration

There is a strong linkage between ethnicity and national integration.

Malaysia is an example where PM Mahatir Muhamad, addressed ethnic issues and created national integration.

Federal system as it exist in Pakistan is unity in diversity.

Too much centralization would lead to disintegration.

Ethnicity has challenged integration in the past.

1. Due to divergence between East and West Pakistan, disintegration took place in 1971.
2. There have been five conflicts between Baluchistan and the federal government in the past.
3. Similarly, there have been problems in other provinces also.
4. In Singapore, there was a realization that, in order to progress harmoniously, it was important to have ethnic harmony.
5. Therefore, government housing was allocated in a manner that all groups were mixed and ethnic segregation avoided.
6. The result has been that the ethnic disharmony seen in many developing countries such as India, Myanmar does not exist in Singapore.

Ethnic Movements in Pakistan

1. East Pakistan Movement

2. Greater Balochistan Movement

3. Pashtunistan Movement

4. Sindhudesh Movement

5. Saraiki Movement

6. Muhajir Qaumi Movement

7. Hazara Movement

8. PTM

East Pakistan Movement

1. This movement started with language as the people of East Pakistan were not ready to accept Urdu as the only national language.
2. Although the majority of the people lived in East Pakistan, due to lack of democracy, most of the rulers were from West Pakistan.
3. Economically, East Pakistan was backward.
4. After the elections of 1970, power was not transferred to East Pakistan leaders.
5. This movement started with language as the people of East Pakistan were not ready to accept Urdu as the only national language.
6. Although the majority of the people lived in East Pakistan, due to lack of democracy, most of the rulers were from West Pakistan.
7. Economically, East Pakistan was backward.

Greater Baluchistan Movement

• Baluchistan was reluctant to join Pakistan at the time of independence and forced to join.
• Baloch living in Baluchistan, Sindh, Punjab, Iran, Afghanistan will be merged into one independent Baloch country.
• There have been five conflicts in the past, 1948, 1958, 1963, 1973, 2003.
• Baluchistan Packages have addressed some issues and the problem still exists.

Pashtunistan Movement

1. Merger of Pashtuns living in KP, FATA and Baluchistan into one independent state.
2. This movement is different from the claim of Afghanistan over certain areas of Pakistan.
3. This movement was supported by the nationalist parties.
4. It has subsided due to Pakhtuns inclusion into armed forces and Bureaucracy next to Punjab.

Sindhudesh Movement

1. The movement in Sindh dates back to the early 1970s when G.M. Syed gave the call for an independent ‘Sindhudesh’ ─ a separate homeland for Sindhis.
2. Their denials vary from fighting for provincial rights to independence.
3. It has some support in the rural areas of Sindh.
4. Sindh is the second developed province after Punjab, therefore it subsided a bit.

Saraiki Movement

• This movement exists in South Punjab due to the relative backwardness of the area.
• Their demand is to create a separate province by dividing Punjab.
• Their grievance is that resources are spent in West and Central Punjab.
• During the PPP period effort was made to create a separate province which failed due to PML(N) opposition.

Muhajir Qaumi Movement

• MQM was created in 1984, in order to discourage PPP in Sindh, supported by the Urdu speaking people of urban Sindh.
• Subsequently, it became militant and created law and order in Karachi.
• Various operations conducted including the current one.
• Demand varies from province to separate country. Links with Raw, PSP and division.

Hazara Movement

It started after the 18th Amendment in 2010 in which the name of NWFP was changed into KP.

The people of Hazara residing in Abbottabad, Mansehra etc. started a movement for a separate province.

The movement was quite active during the PPP period and has subsided with the passage of time.

Pashtun Tahafuz Movement PTM - 2018

Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), or Pashtun Protection Movement.

Its leaders are Manzoor Pashteen Ali Wazir (L), and Mohsin Dawar.

Pashtuns of FATA, KP and Baluchistan are united for their collective demands.

The Military declared it, as engineered protests.

Their demands are ;

1. Justice for Naqeebullah Mehsud who was killed in a fake police encounter in Karachi,
2. Recovery of the missing people,
3.  Clearance of landmines, and,
4. An end to harassment of Pashtuns at security check-posts.

Ethnic issues

1. Distribution of resources
2. Distribution of water
3. Provincial autonomy
4. Language
5. Creation of provinces
6. Census
7. Routes & Economic Zones of CPEC
8. Implementation of 18th Amendment
9. Kalabagh Dam
10. Violation of Quota

1. Distribution of resources

One of the most important ethnic issues.

• During 1947-71, this was an issue between East and West Pakistan, which was resolved through parity which was discriminatory to EP.
• Under the Constitution of 1973, resources were distributed through population which was discriminatory to Baluchistan.
• Through 7th NFC this has been addressed, Population 82%, poverty 10%, Revenue 5%.

2. Distribution of water

• The Indus River System passes through all the four provinces.
• There were disputes regarding water distribution amongst the provinces.
• IRSA (Indus River System Authority) was created in 1991 to resolve Water disputes.
• Sindh’s share currently stands at 10,000 cusecs per day, Punjab’s 18,000 cusecs, Baluchistan 3,000 cusecs and KP 3,000 cusecs.

3. Provincial autonomy

• The smaller provinces have been raising the issue of provincial autonomy.
• It was granted through the 18th Constitutional Amendment in 2010.
• The Concurrent list was omitted and as a result 18 mini series were transferred from center to provinces.
• The East Pakistan tragedy was due to lack of provincial autonomy.

4. Language

• It was an issue in East Pakistan as that wing was not ready to accept Urdu as the only language of Pakistan.
• This was one of the reasons for Pakistan's disintegration.
• In present -day Pakistan, language is not an issue as English is the official language, Urdu as national language and every province has regional languages.

5. Creation of provinces

• There is a demand for creating more provinces such as Saraiki, Hazara, FATA, Karachi etc.
• More provinces address ethnic issues and in neighbouring countries there are more provinces.
• Such provinces should be created on an administrative basis instead of ethnic basis.
• It would ensure distribution of resources.
• India had 28 states, seven provinces at the time of independence.
• Iran has a population of over 80 million and has 30 provinces,
• Afghanistan has a population of over 34 million and has 19 provinces,
• Turkey has a population of around 80 million, but has 81 provinces,
• Egypt has a population of over 95 million and has 27 provinces,
• Britain has a population of around 66 million but has nine administrative units,
• Germany has the population of around 83 million and has 16 states and
• France has 18 administrative regions.
• Pakistan has a population of over 225 million with only four provinces.

6. Census

• Census is a constitutional requirement after every 10 years.
• Last census was held in 1998 and was due in 2008 but held in 2017 due to Supreme Court intervention.
• Every ethnic identity opposes or supports the census on the basis of its interest.
• It would affect resource distribution, Parliament representation, CSS Quota etc.

7. Routes & Economic Zones of CPEC

• It is a huge investment project from China that has been made controversial.
• Baluchistan and KP leaders are of the view that originally there was one route passing through them(Western).
• According to them, the PML(N) Govt was diverting towards Punjab and Sindh(Eastern and Central).
• Every Province is trying to have as many Economic Zones as possible.

8. Implementation of 18th Amendment

1. There is a tendency of centralization in Pakistan.
2. Provincial autonomy granted through the 18th Amendment has not been fully implemented.
3. The leaders from smaller provinces raise this issue.
4. New ministries have been created with different name on the devolved subjects.

9. Kalabagh Dam

• This dam has a capacity of generating electricity of 3600 MW, which is the average shortfall.
• It was floated in the Zia ul Haq period and made controversial.
• KP is opposing due to its adverse implications.
• Sindh and Baluchistan are opposing due to reduction in water flow.
• Only Punjab in its favor.

10. Violation of Quota

1. Quota is being followed in CSS exam but it is violated in recruitment at the lower level in various departments.
2. The leaders of smaller provinces raise this issue from time to time in the parliament of Pakistan to address the situation.
3. Various appointments in Federal Capital are also questioned on this basis.

National integration and disintegration

• National integration is bringing the people together by addressing their mutual concerns.
• Equal distribution of resources, equal opportunities of education and health facilities, equal representation at all level, non-discrimination etc. create integration.
• The absence of above would lead to disintegration

How to address ethnic issues

1. Equal and just distribution of resources.
2. Creation of more provinces on administrative basis
3. Implementation of the Constitution.
4. Equal opportunities of education, health etc.
5. Creating national consensus on vital projects
6. Discouraging regionalism through development

Conclusion

➔ It is concluded that ethnic issues are inversely proportional to national integration.

➔ Reduction in the first would increase the second.

➔ In Pakistan, ethnic issues have not been properly handled leading to disintegration in the past and may create problems in future if remained unattended.