National Unity

National Unity

National Purpose (shared values and beliefs) envisages: (1) a prosperous and peaceful country where all citizens have right to worship, life, property and speech. (2) Equality of opportunity, with merit as the final standard for all jobs/slots and not the disqualifier it is today. (3) Liberal/Tolerant Modern State with an Islamic Ideology. (4) Welfare State with both the State and private sector working in cooperation with each other with a strong institutional framework encouraging individuals and businesses to support less affluent classes. (5) Strengthening democratic traditions by creating a real grassroots democracy.

National integration is a process of achieving national cohesion, stability, prosperity, strength, and feelings of being united as a nation. Pakistan has faced varying degrees of religious, ethnic, linguistic, and political problems that are often in conflict with our national interest. To guard against all external as well as internal challenges to the solidarity and security of Pakistan, a well knitted and integrated nation is a must. Lack of confidence and faith in the future of Pakistan speaks volume of our failings. All the turmoil and unrest in the country cannot be entirely placed on the external forces and our enemies. The brute and the savage force in an individual, which is basically harnessed by positive aspects of education, tends to get unleashed in different directions and causes serious disruptions within society.

Hamza Amir in his book “Pakistan-an overdeveloped state” has revealed the fact that after independence, the governing class was highly educated, on the pattern of the British mind set, while on the contrary the masses were miserable illiterate. This huge gap created management crisis. Uniform development across the country over the past sixty years would have solidly integrated the Pakistani nation but that did not happen due to absolute incompetence, poor leadership and corruption at all levels. The price Pakistan is paying for its neglect is in the shape of an internally disjointed nation forced to suffer the present-day indignities in the shape of terrorism and insurgency.

Factors responsible for current disintegrated nation

For too long, we have focused on our differences - in our politics and backgrounds, in our race and beliefs - rather than cherishing the unity and pride that binds us together. Numerous factors are responsible for the current dismal state of affairs with regard to national unity in Pakistan. We can categorize these factors on political, social, economic, religious dimensions.
Feudal consider enlightenment as a challenge to their age old oppressive hold over their surfs and have a greater stake in the status quo. Due to large holding and weal is always politically active in decision making regarding the common masses. Thus the power continues to flow from feudalistic order of the society rather than a broad based popular public support. The Urban leadership, mainly industrialists, is also following the footsteps of feudal lords.
Sectarianism: with the introduction of religious status and exploration of religion by various governments to legitimate their rule created held on this Land of the Pure. Different sects manipulated by external actors, are engage in alienating the simpleton Muslims from the true spirit of Islam and are weakening the Muslim brotherhood, which is the real basis of Pakistan.

Pakistan has been divided between Enlightened and Conservative Muslims, Particularly after 9/11 these opposing forces are putting all their energies to falsify the other at the cost of national image and stability. Corruption is so deeply rooted in our public and private life that it is threatening the very fabric of our society. An individual finds no fair way to get his legitimate rights and he feels frustrated against this set up of looking and cheating.

Caste/Tribal system: Centuries old cast and tribal system prevailing in all provinces is very decisive in nature. It has fragmented the society and put the people in the watertight compartments. The tribal chieftain, making full use of their terrible ignorance and economic dependence, are pushing them into the swamp of poverty and frustration. Bearded war Lords:
Lust for money and power with a robust desire to govern the country, some of the religious leaders have turned Deeni Madresas into terrorists organizations by attracting the poor youth to their free education program. The few violent hands can dismantle the whole state structure, as is frequently envisaged in suicide bombings.

Higher and costlier Educating is only providing the chosen elite control the policy making process, thus excluding majority of deserving and passionate youth converting them into frustrated souls.
Absence of quick and cheap justice has minimized the role of Law and order agencies forced the victims to take vengeance by the dint of their own power and introduced a culture of intolerance and violence.
The Colonial Masters integration of the society was detrimental to the vested interested.
Since the independence, the ruling elite with the same colonial mind set segregated the Pakistani society on ethnic, linguistic, sectarian issues and kept them in the abeyance of poverty and illiteracy.
Inequitable Distribution of wealth fueled by the feudal, profit oriented industrialists, biased policy makers aggravated the situation. The concentration of wealth, contrary to the Islamic code, by 22 families in 1960s and 500 groups at present, has alienated the majority from assuming positive role in nation building process.

Unsatisfied Federating Units:

Strong Center, first operated under the provisions of the British made 1935 Act alienated the small provinces, generated sentiments of separatism, violence, distrust. Frequent failure of Counsel of Common Interest, National Finance Commission, disputed water distribution and energy resources, the right of royalty, inequitable job distribution, have endangered the security and prosperity of the country. Attempts to keep unity under bayonet bring short relief but unending unrest and brutalities. Insurgency in Wazirstan and Balochistan, Foreign Elements, are alarming indicators to the national Army.

Controlled Media in Pakistan has been projecting flowery image of the state while the demon of corruption, hatred, injustice, in violence, and deprivation kept on infecting its foundations.

Effects of disunity:

The crisis of management has created an air of uncertainty, disloyalty, frustration, and insurgency. The Pakistan Army is at war with its own people in Balochistan and FATA. The fragmented Pakistan with internal weakness and external threats is unable to refuse the Americans Orders, to get its legitimate right of Kashmir, to secure its borders with Afghanistan.
Foreign investors, especially the overseas Pakistanis are examining the fear factors in opening new ventures due to corrupt financial institutions and violent groups. Consequently the vicious circle of poverty expands aggravating the already inflamed situation. The secret agencies of enemy countries find local terrorists to disrupt the system. Under the thick air of jealousy, non construction of Big dams is pushing he country into dark ages.
A common citizen suffers worst type of corruption and thus is uninterested in paying taxes. Social values, crime rate, and national patriotism, religious satisfaction are fast disappearing with growing poverty. Disengage of citizen in election process is a clear indication of general masses hatred against the political, religious and military leadership. Individuals are becoming if oriented, preferring their self interest to the national interest.

Pragmatic Steps:

Many steps can be taken at Government, Society, and Individual level to fight the menace of disintegration and harness the much needed national unity. To create physical asset by educating the masses, proper allocating the land, credit, Zakat and Usher, ensuring cost effective provisions of basic --------- Improved efficiency in the public and Corporate sectors to provide rule of Law.
Independence of Judiciary will strengthen democracy, restore trust between Center and Provinces, and facilitate quick dispensation of justice. Depoliticizing of Public departments to avoid political pressures. Peace inside and outside the borders will provide sufficient resource, skills and opportunities to focus on the national prosperity. Media with its magical power can unite the warring factions by minimizing the differences through open debates. Stable democratic system to work for welfare state. Patriot intellectuals writing to bring harmony. Accountability at all levels. Autonomy to the Provinces. Awakening of Islamic ideology.
The political and military establishment must now understand that the military potential of any country is multiplied manifolds when it is backed by a nation that is well-integrated. An integrated nation can cover up for military shortfalls but military strength cannot cover up for the shortfalls of a nation that lacks integration and cohesion. The Soviet Union’s break-up in 1991 is an example that amply illustrates this aspect. Pakistan must, therefore, accord top priority to uniform development throughout the country in order to have a nation that can back its enviable military potential in a solid manner; if not, then all will be lost.

Following the example of the armed forces it is necessary that Pakistanis learn to work with each other in all sectors of national life. Army units are formed on the basis of amalgamating soldiers from different areas. For example a battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment (FFR) does not consist of Pakhtuns alone but has a component of soldiers from other parts of Pakistan amalgamated with the Pakhtuns. Thus they become one solidly integrated entity – the Pakistan army. Pakhtun, Punjabi, Baloch, Sindhi and Kashmiri fellow soldiers posted anywhere in the country then willingly die for each other and for Pakistan; such is the level of integration. Sadly, one cannot say the same about the rest of Pakistan.

In the light of the military experience it just might be a good idea if all businesses, factories, corporate entities, service providers etc located in any province are made to follow a regulated system that absorbs people of other provinces so that a bonding interaction is brought about in the workplace.

Lastly, it is time to understand that Pakistan can no longer be ruled from Islamabad by an ever-weakening, but imposingly dominant, centre. To continue doing this will be a step in the wrong direction. There is now no alternative to allowing complete, undiluted and effective autonomy to the provinces

Some recent positive steps taken by the government

Through the historic 7th NFC Award, Provincial share of the divisible pool would increase from the present 47.5 per cent to 56 per cent in the first year of NFC (2010–2011) and 57.5 per cent in the remaining years of the award under the vertical distribution of resources. He claimed that this share would virtually be over 60 per cent. During Musharraf regime, provinces were demanding for a 50% provincial share in the divisible pool. This is indeed a positive step, provide that it is implemented in its letter and spirit.

Though Balochistan Package for the ever-neglected province, was a good step in clearly right direction, but the lack of implementation on it, has compelled the observers to term it as a ‘futile exercise’. Of the 61 major steps envisaged in the package, only 15 have reached the stage of the full implementation despite more than a dozen high-profile meetings, two of them presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The 18th Amendment provided many steps for the provincial autonomy and strengthening of democracy, which in turn will hopefully translate into increased national unity. The constitutional reform package not only meets the federating units’ demand for abolition of the Concurrent Legislative List it also allows the units some say in respect of a few matters that have so far been in the Federal List. The Amendment also envisages a most welcome increase in the powers of the provincial assemblies.

In his recent trip to Balochistan in October, 2011, Prime Minister ensured the Baloch people that implementation on the Aghaz-e-Haqooq package is underway, and every obstacle in the path will be removed.

In a nutshell, sincerity of approach will emerge as the main factor. We need to strengthen our political system and institutions, develop a dynamic and sustainable growth, eradicate corruption, provide timely justice, enhance employment, undertake steps for population control, seek consensus based political solutions, and resolve ethnic, sectarian and religious fault lines. With time running out, the failure to resolve the crises mean that there will be no escape from the eventual dark reality of disintegration. Verily will never Allah change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.