Cover Story 
 

Cover Story

By Senator (R) Javed Jabbar | March 2024

Is it possible to be immensely diverse within the demarcated boundaries of an internationally-recognized nation-state and yet retain a core cohesion that ensures stability and continuity?

Though, in religious terms, the people of Pakistan are 97 per cent Muslim, within their broad adherence to Islam, there is a plurality of sects, sub-sects, differences in timings of calls to prayer, varying levels of acceptance of the views of theologians over the past 1400 years, contrasting practices of rituals, polarities of views about visits to tombs and shrines, practice of burqas for women in the same city where females have high profile visibility in fashion shows, TV commercials, drama, cinema, advertising and other professions, numerous lifestyles of attire, diet, cuisine, customs shaped by geography, climate, tradition, education, livelihood, and profession. About 70 dialects and languages are spoken by myriad ethnicities.

Even within the small 3 per cent who are Zoroastrian, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, Bahai, as also Ahmedis who claim to be Muslim but are officially categorized as non-Muslim: there are sects, sub-sects, castes, sub-castes, and stark contrasts mirroring the variety found in the preponderant Muslim majority .

There is something quite spectacular and beautiful in such plurality. While the scale of diversity found in neighbouring India is possibly even six --- or more --- times larger, in reflection of the larger size of population, we in Pakistan tend to under-estimate our splendid, sprawling mosaic. The tendency for self-abnegation in view of our failures has brought forth a fairly widespread habit of making sweeping statements to the effect:

“In this country, no one cares ....”, “We Pakistanis are inherently corrupt...” and worst of all, more recently:” There is no future here...” As if all and sundry, disregarding sharp individual and community distinctions, all share the same traits and habits. Such thoughtless falsehoods and unilateral negativism springing from bitter experiences on personal, or even group levels irrationally and inaccurately lump wide varieties in almost all categories together into singular labels. There is certainly much to be deeply concerned about at the macro level. So micro-level frustrations being unfairly extrapolated to a higher ground should not be dismissed out of hand. Yet, on the whole, we tend to overlook the rich treasure of millions of jewels glittering in plain sight! Recent events have not helped bring our attention to our own untapped wealth.

In one respect at least, we seem to be on one page: except for the Caretaker Government and those that support it frontally, and from behind the scene. Elections 2024 have stimulated virtual unanimity in acrimony. This is mainly aimed at the Election Commission of Pakistan which, with the alleged -- or actual, as in some glaring instances -- support of the Judiciary, the hyper-active Executive (read, for example, “Police” ), the ever-present yet unseen intelligence agencies have managed poll results that are unacceptable to everyone, including those about to begin tasting the pleasures of public office. Does total consensus in accusations about rigging overcome huge contrasts in characteristics?


To be fair: there are instances, symbols, dates and events when our immense diversity becomes an awesome unity. Respect for the stirring national anthem, for the serene national flag, for the commemorative national days, for the venerable Quaid-e-Azam, for the sanctity of our territory, for the perverse consolation that comes from being a nuclear weapon power even while knowing that such a weapon should never be used, solidarity in facing an adversary --- on the battle-field of our self-assertion of national identity, or on the cricket ground. Sceptics and cynics, although a small percentage, who exist in every nation, may not join in the unanimity in events and salute to the symbols cited above but they constitute a miniscule minority .

As we begin, in March 2024, a new phase of our political journey into the unknown, unpredictable future, it is cold comfort to know that several domineering ghosts of the past, and the present, are reasserting themselves.

In such respects, an overwhelming majority ---otherwise a potential source of suppressing dissent and democracy --- becomes a well-spring for renewal and reaffirmation.

Despite the devastating setback of 1971, and its implications of how the state structure dominated by West Pakistan disrespected diversity, over the past 53 years we have strengthened both singular, nation-wide organizations, inimical as well as benevolent --- respectively, for instance, FIA and NADRA, and also non-official community and societal units at the grass-roots level. Some of these have existed in pre-Pakistan history such as tribal, clan, ethnic fraternities. Many more have emerged due to new needs. These have been facilitated both by indigenous resources (clinics, hospitals, schools) as also by multilateral and bilateral support to civil society organizations (CSOs, NGOs). Thus, concurrently, there has developed an overarching national-level set of organizations and networks, along with minutely local-level entities, both informal, and formal.

This dual process has generated evidence to prove that, at one and the same time, a nation-state can afford to foster uniformity and plurality without one contradicting the other. With one caveat: as a fall-out of FATF, undue paranoia and obstructive bureaucratic procedures inhibit CSOs and NGOs from sustaining their normal capacity and potential for speedy engagement with abiding challenges, be they related to family planning or to advocacy for rights and responsibilities. In most recent times, it appears that both the civil structures, and the military intelligence agencies have realized the need to pull-back, and enable the country’s intrinsic capacity for constructive work to reach fruition.

As we begin, in March 2024, a new phase of our political journey into the unknown, unpredictable future, it is cold comfort to know that several domineering ghosts of the past, and the present, are reasserting themselves. They wish tore-impose cohesion and coherence --- even as the harsh realities before, during and after the 8th February polls demand candid self-critiques by each segment, civil and military. If there is a moral of the unfolding story, perhaps it is: let the pages multiply, because the nation has already germinated in 77, or in 53 years, depending on how we count time! A singularity of an exclusive, broad, all-inclusive Pakistani identity that can contain within itself enormous diversity at every level.

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