a famous incident is quoted by the interviews that it was the starting point of sectarian clashes in

D.I. Khan. It is said that, “About 27 years ago on September 30 1988, a very famous incident
occurred when the administration tried to stop the Moharram Jaloos of Shia Community. FC opened
fire on procession and because of this several peoples were killed and wounded as well as arrested
by the security forces"

Ethnicity in Pakistan

In order to treat an ailment, one has to go to the main cause that may have triggered it.
Also, if and when it becomes a grave sickness, one may have to resort to urgent remedial
measures. The issue of ethnicity has pushed the country to the brink of an implosion.
Various ethnic groups are up in arms. The economy is on a nose dive and cost of living is
becoming unbearable. Ethnic conspiracies are being allegedly hatched to weaken the state
security paradigm. These militant ethnic groups are at cross swords with the governmental
law enforcing agencies. At the top of the list the ethnic conflicts in Karachi, Baluchistan. KPK
are blotting out the real myth of the writ of the government and the most unfortunate
aspect is that by doing this these people are burning their own bridges.

Introduction
Ethnicity refers to a group of people who have their own-shared common characteristics
that distinguish them from most other people in the same society. Biological characteristics
that play a part in racial differences may be visible in an ethnic group, but these
characteristics do not form a criterion for defining an ethnic group. It is a population whose
members identify with each other on the basis of a real or presumed common origin. No one
has control over at their ethnicity. It relates to your race as well: Asian, African-American,
Caucasian or European, Hispanic etc.
Behavioral ethnicity includes the learning of values, belief, behavioral norms, languages or
distinctive dialect, by the member of ethnic category during the process of socialization.
They use these social values as their basic interaction manifestation.
In other words ethnicity implies the sense of belonging together as a cultural group in a
given society. It is a complex combination of racial, cultural and historical characteristics by
which people differentiate themselves from other groups. The term ‘ethnicity’ may be
defined as ‘the self-consciousness of a group of people united by shared experiences’ i.e.
language common religion, economic and political interests etc.

Present Situation
Along with the proliferating violence and mass scale bombing, ethnic groups in Pakistan
continue to rap and force down the people of this country. This has not been an issue that
erupted a few decades ago, but had always encompassed this land since its birth. After
raising the curtains, Ethnicity in Pakistan proves to play a significant role in obliterating the
economy and its people. Since the very first human beings placed their steps on earth,
people and societies have always become a victim of differentiation and discrimination.
There are many different languages which are spoken amongst these Ethnic groups.
Although Pakistan has five provinces, which are Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, and Khyber-
Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan, each province consists of more than one language and
many dialects.
• The province Punjab, also known as the land of five rivers constitutes various ethnic
groups. Arabs, Afghani’s, Persians and Turks ruled the land mainly. Even though all these
empires gradually disappeared from Punjab, but their culture and language became a part
of people’s lives. Punjabi language has different dialects and there are almost 63 dialects of
Punjabi are spoken throughout the province of Punjab. Punjabi is the largest speaking
language of Pakistan with almost 44% of total population speaking it.
• Pushtuns, generally referred to as Pathans, are the natives of West Indus River. They are
the second largest ethnic group in Pakistan. Their majority population lives in Karachi and
then in KPK. Their unique code of conduct is based on tribal structure and referred to as
Pushtunwali. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, mostly Pashto is spoken. It is also spoken in
Afghanistan. There are other languages also spoken in this region because of different
emperors and rulers that stayed in this region for years. These include, Chitrali, Kohistani,
and Hindko.
• The province Sindh exists along the Indus River and got exposure due to Indus Valley
Civilization. Sindhis are the inhabitants of Sindh. The name of the land was inherited from
Indus Civilization. In Sindh, mostly Sindhi is spoken. It’s the second most spoken language
after Punjabi. Holy Quran was first translated in Sindhi language, which explains a strong
religious factor. The poetry is mostly based on Sufi-ism.
• Baluchistan is situated on the South West side of Pakistan. It is the largest province of
Pakistan The population of Baluchistan constitutes 6% of Pakistan’s total population. The
people belonging to the land are referred to as Baluchis. In Baluchistan province, mostly
Baluchi is spoken, however in some parts of Baluchistan Pashto is also spoken.
• The word “Muhajir” means migrating from one place to another. These people are
migrants from Central Asia and Middle East. The large majority of these people are
Pashtuns; others include Bokras, Memons and Ismailis. The one thing, which unites them, is
the Urdu language.
• Seraikis speak the language Seraiki and are settled in southern part of Punjab. This is the
second largest community in Punjab. It is one of the dialects of Punjabi. There are almost
14 million Saraiki people in Pakistan.
The one factor that unites Pakistan is the Urdu language. It’s a mixture of different
languages like Punjabi, Arabic, Farsi and English and other different other languages. 7.57%
speak Urdu in Pakistan.
English is the international language and people have adopted the language. The official
communication is also done through English. English has taken place of Urdu in govt. offices
and departments. In Pakistan 11% people speak English.
The ethnic groups in Pakistan contribute to her rich culture. Pakistani society and culture
continues to develop as the interaction among these groups rises. Although, diversity
contributes to positivity and creativity in a society, conflicts of severe nature have hampered
country's economic and socio-political progress. Division among the people on the basis of
geographic association, language, religious economic disparities, and subcultures has had
adverse effects on the country in all aspects. At this hour, the matter of ethnicity in Pakistan
needs critical attention and the government needs to root out the differences among the
people.

Genesis
There are many factors which contribute to enhance ethnicity in a region.
* The economic disparities are important in this respect. In a heterogeneous society,
economic disparities strengthen ethnic identities. The minority groups feel themselves
threatened by the dominant groups in terms of culture and ethnicity. These feelings are
intensified in the absence of socio-economic justice. Socio–economic injustice (for example,
the denial of fundamental rights or the neglect of economic rights such as access to
adequate food and housing) fosters ethnic conflicts. When the state fails to protect an
individual’s rights and liberties, and to maintain equitable opportunities among various
groups, marginal identities tend to perceive state institutions and laws as unjust or
oppressive. This situation is further aggravated when some ethnic groups are not drawn into
mainstream politics by the state. It increases their isolation from the state structure and
creates ethnic conflicts. The ethnic groups can also tend to violence, if the situation persists
as the marginalized groups take violence as the only way to vent their grievances. Therefore
socio-economic injustice develops the feelings of alienation and deprivation among the
marginalized ethnic groups. This sense of alienation generates conflicts and issues in the
society and leads to the demand for political autonomy. In short, ethnic conflicts are closely
related to divergent and uneven levels of economic development. In this situation, ethnic
groups complain of or make demands for a change in the distributive system. If a group of
people or some minority in a state is deprived of its due share and suppressed economically
then this difference leads towards ethnic tension. Economic disparities result into the social
bifurcation and fragmentation of society.
* Then there is the problem of Modernization and Competition for Scarce Resources. It is
another aspect that needs to be taken into account while analyzing the causes of ethnic
conflict. Today modernization is taking place all over the world. As a result of
modernization, uneven levels of development exist. Discrimination in terms of development
and sharing of benefits among ethnic groups creates disequilibrium in a society. In this
situation, underprivileged ethnic groups may develop a perception of relative deprivation.
* Then there is the presence of historical & cultural factors. These are very significant with
regard to ethnic conflicts, especially in the context of Third World states that are
heterogeneous in nature. Ethnicity is also commonly tied to territory. Sometimes alterations
in territorial boundaries can lead to significant changes in ethnic identities. Ethnic groups
can fuse or split apart: such processes may combine prehistoric sentiments. Colonial powers
exploited caste, racial, linguistic and religious differences among indigenous people of
African and Asian countries to perpetuate their rule. The imperial policies of the colonial
powers have politicized ethnic groups in many colonies. This has been a divisive factor in
the Third World. Religious and linguistic diversities are a common feature in these countries
i.e. majority – minority language issues, the question of national – official language;
religious cleavages are a common phenomenon. Smaller cultural entities feel threatened by
the domination of larger ethnic groups. The submergence and marginalization of smaller
groups create ethnic tensions in society. Several ethnic conflicts have raged around the
world due to religious differences. Religious identities are commonly transformed over time
into ethnic identities.
* Demographic factor is another important reason which enhances the element of ethnicity.
Ethnic problems emerge not only due to socio-economic processes but also due to
demographic changes (migration, assimilation, etc.). Large-scale migrations within the
state, contribute to ethnic conflicts. Inter-state migrations also create problems of
adjustment. In this way, ethnic conflict starts between local people and outsiders gradually.
As Eriksen describes, when migrants come into contact with people of a distinct culture,
traditions and identities, both the groups (migrants and locals) attempt to retain their hold
in the power structure of the state. This situation leads towards ethnic inconsistencies in
most developing heterogeneous societies.
* Political factors are also responsible for ethnic conflicts. Political turbulence ensures when
all ethnic groups do not get due representation in the power structure and decision making
process of the state. In this situation ethnic groups tend to identify themselves on the bases
of their respective regions. The elite also mobilizes ethnic groups for political purposes,
reshape their identities and even form new ethnic groups and nations. The modern nation
state is comprised of diverse ethnic communities especially in the postcolonial era, which is
why it has to face the challenges of ethno-nationalist movements when the political
aspirations of nations are not accommodated by the state. States adopting strong
assimilationist policies may become a cause for the resistance from those ethnic groups who
are not willing to surrender their ethnic identities. Ethnic groups may also attempt to seek
more political power to protect their political and economic interests. These groups provide
the bases for political mobilization. It becomes a serious threat to national solidarity and
creates the problem of social disagreement. It also obstructs the path to national
integration, resulting in ethnic conflict.
* The working of external factors also gives rise to ethnicity. These can also generate ethnic
conflicts. Sometimes ethnic groups get ideological and financial support from external
actors. History is full of examples of countries with outside interests, and cases of
interference in the ethnic issues of other countries. In the post-World War I period, several
treaties were signed between states regarding the protection of each other’s national
minorities. The League of Nations guaranteed the protection of minorities but it was not
successful. A number of bilateral treaties were signed between states on the treatment of
national, religious and linguistic minorities during the period between World War I and II.
Subsequently the U.N. and international agencies have guaranteed against genocide and to
protect human rights.
(Historical Background)
Pakistan was established as a federation of five provinces i.e. Bengal, Punjab, NWFP,
Baluchistan (was granted the status of full-fledged province in 1973) Sindh, and Federally
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in August 1947. Pakistan is a multi-lingual, multi-racial
and multi-ethnic state with these provinces reflecting various diversities in terms of
population, development and area. The Eastern Wing of the country (Bengal) formed the
majority of the population and possessed homogeneity in terms of linguistic and cultural
composition. On the other hand, the Western Wing, which was comprised of four units
NWFP, Baluchistan, Sindh and Punjab, depicted the intra-wing diversities in terms of socio-
economic conditions. The differences between the Eastern and Western wings were very
pronounced and had serious implications on the smooth functioning of the state. These
disparities accentuated over time. The diversities within the Western region created
additional problems for the working of federation. The NWFP (renamed Khyber Pukhtun
khaw under the 18th Amendment to the 1973 constitution) comprises the North West
region of the Western wing. The most dominant community in the area is the Pathan
community that reflects the features of ethnic tribal society. They are free-spirited people
and are deeply conscious of ethnic and cultural unity. Provincial autonomy has been the
major demand of NWFP. The forced action of the One Unit in 1950’s intensified the sense of
their distinct identity.
Baluchistan consists of tribal areas and the states of Makran, Kharan, Lasbela and Kalat. At
Independence, it had the richest linguistic and cultural heritage. It is a tribal society,
dominated by Sardars. It was the least developed area of the Western part of Pakistan. The
basic profession of the Baluch community is agriculture. The region lacks adequate
infrastructure.
Sindh remained a part of Bombay Presidency till 1935. It became a separate province in
1936 under the Government Act of India 1935. After Partition in 1947, Sindh became a part
of Pakistan. Sindhi people have also been very conscious of their cultural and linguistic
identity. Feudalism is very strong in Sindh and is an important feature of Sindhi political and
economic landscape. After Partition, the influx of large number of refugees (Mohajirs)
changed the socio-ethnic fabric of the Sindhi society.
Punjab is the most populous province of the Western part of the country. At Partition,
Punjab was a relatively developed province in terms of its education system, skilled
manpower, agriculture, means of communication etc. The civil-military bureaucracy was
also dominated by a Punjabi majority which controlled the decision making processes.
According to the 1951 census, Punjabis had eighty percent representation in the army and
fifty-five percent in the bureaucracy. This created a sense of marginalization among all
other provinces, which was further increased through the policies of successive
governments. Punjab, due to its huge size and population, had always been a dominating
factor in Pakistani politics.
The moment Pakistan was established Muslim nationalism in India had fulfilled itself and
outlived its purpose. Now there was a fresh equation of privilege and deprivation to be
reckoned with in the new state. Virtually overnight there were ethnic re-definitions. Punjabis
who were the most numerous could boast of a greater percentage of people with higher
education and were most firmly entrenched in both the army and bureaucracy. They were
the new bearers of privilege…..the small provinces of Bengal, Sindh, Sarhad and Baluchistan
did not share this and accordingly they redefined their identities as Bengalis, Sindhis,
Pathans and Baluch who now demanded fairer shares for themselves.

Suggestions to solve
In order to solve this haunting issue every one of us will have to act very seriously because
it is a very delicate matter. It can only be solved in a manner if it will be considered in the
following manner:
• Every person has to ask himself, who is involved in any kind of ethnicity that what is going
to be the consequence of the intrusion of this narrow-hearted political idea in an Islamic
country which has its own ancestral tradition that all Muslims are brothers by virtue of their
common religion, in spite of belonging to different races, languages and origins.
• The Islamic tradition of the brotherhood of man would seem to be a better ideal for
meeting the social needs of the times than the western tradition of sovereign independence
for dozens of separate nationalities.
• It is the time for the poets and other literary minded people to stand up to the occasion
and they try to motivate the masses in a way that they should make the people realize that
although they differ from each other on the basis of complexion, language, place of origin
etc., but they all are the creatures of Almighty.
• The religious scholars should also try to play their role. The Imam of every mosque
everywhere in the country should be instructed by the local officials that he should
emphasize on the negation of ethnicity through his speech (Waaz). The people listen to the
Imam Masjid of their area and respect his wordings especially in the rural areas of the
country.

Conclusion
So it can be concluded in this way that whenever it is talked about ethnicity in Pakistan,
there is always a negative response from people residing in different ethnic regions.
Witnessing the elders the young generation also caught up by the ethnic fire and it burns
their harmonic feelings for each other. Masses are forced to do riots for the sake and
respect of their particular regions. Not many governmental or non-governmental institutions
have taken any proper remedial measures to remove the shade of different cultures from
the minds and to bring youth and the masses under a single umbrella which is patriotism for
Pakistan.
All those who sincerely wish the country to stay intact and strong, must consider seriously
and try to strengthen the only home that we have —Pakistan — at this critical juncture. It
has to be fought at several fronts for the survival and it must not be weakened by malicious
politics. Otherwise, in the long run, there will only be losers and no winners, except for our
external enemies.

Word count: Approx. 3000