South Asia, in focus

FOR PAKISTAN

The debate about redefining Pakistan’s ideology is a phenomenon that has only surfaced quite recently and almost every other author is reaping benefits of fame by bashing the existence of Pakistan. Sixty eight years later a state should now have moved away from its historical narrative and does not need certain individuals, Pakistani by origin, to critique the current turmoil of the state and attribute it to Jinnah’s failure to define the state’s principles clearly.

Pakistan, defined by Jinnah was a state created to safeguard the rights of Muslims who were previously being alienated in British India. Knowing that once the British had left, Muslims will be singled out and prone to being settled as second class citizens with Hindu dominance looming; Jinnah had to take the step for a separate homeland to avoid hostility against the Muslim minority.

Revisiting the ideology of Pakistan will not get Pakistan where it needs to be as the state, no matter who opposes it, already exists. Challenging the establishment’s existence and how it should never have broken away from India when a ‘political stalemate’ had been reached bears no fruit whatsoever. Pakistan raising regional security concerns to the top most of its priority list is now in a position to rally support in ridding the country off terrorism and any groups that support the militancy. The certain individual promoting anti-state material is not only out to tarnish Pakistan’s image but to destabilize the establishment that already faces much opposition from India. And of course, the ‘Pakistani’ has next door’s backing; which needs an excuse to jump down Pakistan’s throat whenever it can get a chance.

Surely the more pressing issue at current is governments collaborating in order to secure the region; with the TTP gaining momentum despite the military operation and ISIS now revealing its agenda of naming their leaders in Pakistan and North India. So, in a situation that requires utmost attention in both Pakistan and now India; is the ideology of Pakistan’s existence still a matter to be discussed? Maybe that’s where the problem has always been—scholars and authors alike, have not been able to let go of the past to look towards shaping a future that is appreciative of Pakistan’s existence as it is home to a 190 million people. By questioning the existence of Pakistan; are they denying in turn the existence of a race that resides within the land?

At times like these, the nation must come together and stop picking out the made-up historical flaws of the state’s existence theory but look ahead at what must be done to take Pakistan to a level where it should be 68 years after its independence.