The status of multiculturalism has always posed challenges for modern states. While there isn’t one answer that works for all states, each one aims to find a contextual approach to dealing with diversity. Pakistan is a country that has been divided on linguistic, ethnic, and cultural lines across various fronts since its inception. Despite being the fifth most populous country in the world and being a melting pot of multiple religions, languages, and ethnicities, Pakistan has been plagued by sectarianism, provincialism, sociopolitical schism, and disunity, damaging its social and political fabric. It has become evident that embracing its inherent diversity is the only viable solution to addressing the prevailing crisis.
Understanding Pakistan’s Identity Crisis and Its Impact on SocietyWhile the founding narrative of Pakistan and official state symbols, including the national flag, represent diversity, heterogeneity is a denied reality in the present. In 1946, while speaking with Mr. Doon Campbell, Jinnah said, “The new state would be a modern democratic state with sovereignty resting in the people and the members of the new nation having equal citizenship rights regardless of religion, caste, or creed.” With the current state of affairs, it is evident that the people of Pakistan are entirely oblivious to Jinnah’s vision for Pakistan. As the country grapples with social fragmentation, regional disparities, and sectarianism, a pressing question echoes: Can Pakistan’s diverse communities find common ground and unite to overcome its perennial problems?
According to Ayesha Jalal, Pakistan’s national identity seems to be an unresolved battleground between the pulls of ethnic nationalism and Islamic........