By Dr. Naseer Dashti
National identity poses itself theoretically as an insoluble problem in the context of previously colonized countries. The major components of state identity in Pakistan have been ‘ideology of Pakistan’ which is the transformation of national identities of different nationalities to a so-called Pakistani Islamic identity by adjusting it to the requirements of ruling elite belonging to the dominant nationality and a ‘strong centre doctrine’ which excluded the minority nationalities from the power structure of state. This state identity, having no rationale basis, had to be imposed by force and for this Pakistani armed forces took upon the responsibility and as a result Pakistan became a permanent experimental place for military dictatorship in South Asia. Implementation of this state identity, based on the propagation of a superfluous non-existing Islamic Ummah, by force resulted in hostility towards national aspirations of minority nationalities. The consequences were reflected in Pakistan becoming the bastion of Islamic fundamentalism and hatching place for international terrorism and jehadi activities and a centre of instability as a result of increased enmity between majority and minority nationalities. With the drastic changes in international polity in a post soviet and post September 11 milieu, Pakistani State is under tremendous pressure to reconsider the parameters of its state ideology and to reform its institutions of governance. From a realistic point of view it is clear that neither the majority nationality is prepared to give up its subjugating designs upon minority nationalities nor the state establishment is ready to replace the old irrational ideological parameters with a genuine and viable state identity. The conscious elements in the minority nationalities and international observers believe that the claims of a fundamental change in Pakistani state approach are merely deceptive tactics by state establishment to deceive the international community.
The present territorial states in postcolonial Asia and Africa were created by drawing artificial lines by colonial powers to create countries, uniting different ethnic identities in to one state negating the national and cultural aspirations of many nationalities. The State of Pakistan and its manufactured ‘Muslim Pakistani identity’ reflect to the paradox of state national identity that is characteristic of many so-called national states created by imperialists after World War II in Asia and Africa. Pakistan came as a unique phenomenon in modern history. Its top leadership and bureaucracy came from northern India, having no cultural and social roots in the country. It was also unique that the language of a few hundred thousands emigrants was declared as the national and official language of a sovereign state. It was not only the ruling elite but also the very ‘ideology of Pakistan’ was alien to the present nationalities comprising Pakistan. Proponent of Pakistan ideology, the Muslim League, a political party that was formed and groomed by British rulers in early 1906, had no popular support within the present geographical boundaries of country, a fact fully reflected in the pre-partition general elections. Only a section of Muslim minority in northern India was in the forefront for Pakistan movement, motivated in the hope that their future prosperity might be materialized in a separate new state.
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