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A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thursday, August 9, 2018
PRIME CHALLENGES BEFORE IMRAN KHAN
“Our nation plays a key role in the developing story of the twenty-first
century. What happens in Pakistan-socially, politically and
economically in the coming years not only will help decide the outcome
of the global war on terror, it will shape what the future will look
like for both Islam and the West. I am determined that the future be
peaceful and prosperous-not only for Pakistan but for the entire
international community. That vision is possible only if the Muslim
world and the West, led by the United States, strive together towards
resolving the issues before us”.
The call for the creation of Pakistan was made by a British-educated lawyer, M. A. Jinnah in 1940, the unchallenged leader of the Muslim League. Arguments for the creation of Pakistan was mainly based on the elections results of India held in 1937, under the Government of India Act of 1935. It was pointed out by Jinnah and his keen supporters that the Congress Party failed to do well in the “separated electorates” reserved for minorities. By using these election results and controversial figures, this group agitated that Muslim did not want to be ruled a Hindu-dominated Congress.
Between 1940-1945, a very tensed and volatile situation emerged in the Indian political scene, because of the iron-willed campaign led by Jinnah and his followers to carve-out a Muslim opinion for a separate state. The cunning British rulers saw a grand opportunity for their ‘MANTRUM’ -divide and rule-and established an independent nation-state on August 14, 1947, on the Indian soil.
Linguistically diverse population
The creation of Pakistan was a catalyst to the largest demographic movement in recorded history. Nearly seventeen million people-Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs- are reported to have moved in both directions, between India and two wings of Pakistan (The eastern wing is now, Bangladesh). Sixty million of the ninety-five Muslims on the Indian-sub continent became citizens of Pakistan. However, thirty five-million Muslims accepted India as their motherland and became Indian citizens, making it the largest minority, in a non-Muslim state.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who fought for the division of the country died in 1948.
During its short history, despite the shared religion of its overwhelmingly Muslim population, Pakistan has been engaged in a painful and difficult struggle to define a national identity and evolve a dynamic political system for its linguistically diverse population. Pakistan is known to have over twenty languages and over 300 distinct dialects. Although Urdu and English are the official languages, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu, Baluchi and Seraiki are considered as main languages.
These social and linguistic differences have generated chronic regional tensions. Although a nuclear power, recent political events have witnessed several wars with India, gravely damaging its economy and social fabric. Its north-western frontier is strategically open to enemy attacks. Because of heavy and overburden military expenditure, economists point-out, that various political leaders, as well as military rulers who have governed the country during the last six-seven decades, have failed to address the social and economic problems of Pakistan and also have failed to allocate its scarce economic and natural resources in an equitable manner.
Political instability
The dawn of Bangladesh as a separate state became a reality in 1971 mainly due to the military defeat of Pakistan at the hands of India. This was due to the breakaway of its eastern territory. Further, Pakistan’s political instability is also due to the various schisms that have sprung up in the smaller provinces of Sind, Baluchistan and the North-Western Provinces.
There is also allegation against the Panjabi community from certain quarters alleging that this community enjoys benefits, which are denied to others. It is their opinion that there is a monopoly by the Panjabi majority of the benefits of power, profit and patronage. Adding fuel to this burdening situation, there is also a continuing ideological debate about the form of government it should adopt, Islamic or secular. In the absence of any nationally based political organisation, which can command the respect of the majority of people, ignoring caste, creed or other regional and ethnic differences, Pakistan authorities rely on the civil service and the power-hungry army to maintain the status-quo of the country.
Imran Khan, who has exhibited his fine skills as an all-rounder of the cricket world and brought the prestigious World-Cup to his loving Motherland in 1962 has claimed victory at the recently held controversial general election, will be sworn in soon, as the 19th Prime Minister of Pakistan. This marks a radical departure, for a politically and religiously conservative country dominated by the wealthy Bhutto and Sharif family dynasties.
Khan, now 65, grew up in a middle-class household in Lahore and was educated at Aitchison College, considered the Pakistani equivalent of Eton, before sending to England to study at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe and then to Oxford to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
Khans supporters will hail his achievement as the dawn of a new age, symbolizing the end of politics- as --usual and the perceived elitism, cronyism and corruption associated with Shehbaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz (PMLN) and Bilawal Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party(PPP).
Khan has already promised a fresh start, appealing in particular to younger people among the 106 million voters, out of a population of 207 million people. However, the former superstar in cricket will have to carve out his own political image and convince his countrymen who have fallen into deep and troublesome waters, that he is a worthy, honest and credible winner who can bring democracy, peace and political and economic stability to his motherland.
The call for the creation of Pakistan was made by a British-educated lawyer, M. A. Jinnah in 1940, the unchallenged leader of the Muslim League. Arguments for the creation of Pakistan was mainly based on the elections results of India held in 1937, under the Government of India Act of 1935. It was pointed out by Jinnah and his keen supporters that the Congress Party failed to do well in the “separated electorates” reserved for minorities. By using these election results and controversial figures, this group agitated that Muslim did not want to be ruled a Hindu-dominated Congress.
Between 1940-1945, a very tensed and volatile situation emerged in the Indian political scene, because of the iron-willed campaign led by Jinnah and his followers to carve-out a Muslim opinion for a separate state. The cunning British rulers saw a grand opportunity for their ‘MANTRUM’ -divide and rule-and established an independent nation-state on August 14, 1947, on the Indian soil.
Linguistically diverse population
The creation of Pakistan was a catalyst to the largest demographic movement in recorded history. Nearly seventeen million people-Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs- are reported to have moved in both directions, between India and two wings of Pakistan (The eastern wing is now, Bangladesh). Sixty million of the ninety-five Muslims on the Indian-sub continent became citizens of Pakistan. However, thirty five-million Muslims accepted India as their motherland and became Indian citizens, making it the largest minority, in a non-Muslim state.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who fought for the division of the country died in 1948.
During its short history, despite the shared religion of its overwhelmingly Muslim population, Pakistan has been engaged in a painful and difficult struggle to define a national identity and evolve a dynamic political system for its linguistically diverse population. Pakistan is known to have over twenty languages and over 300 distinct dialects. Although Urdu and English are the official languages, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu, Baluchi and Seraiki are considered as main languages.
These social and linguistic differences have generated chronic regional tensions. Although a nuclear power, recent political events have witnessed several wars with India, gravely damaging its economy and social fabric. Its north-western frontier is strategically open to enemy attacks. Because of heavy and overburden military expenditure, economists point-out, that various political leaders, as well as military rulers who have governed the country during the last six-seven decades, have failed to address the social and economic problems of Pakistan and also have failed to allocate its scarce economic and natural resources in an equitable manner.
Political instability
The dawn of Bangladesh as a separate state became a reality in 1971 mainly due to the military defeat of Pakistan at the hands of India. This was due to the breakaway of its eastern territory. Further, Pakistan’s political instability is also due to the various schisms that have sprung up in the smaller provinces of Sind, Baluchistan and the North-Western Provinces.
There is also allegation against the Panjabi community from certain quarters alleging that this community enjoys benefits, which are denied to others. It is their opinion that there is a monopoly by the Panjabi majority of the benefits of power, profit and patronage. Adding fuel to this burdening situation, there is also a continuing ideological debate about the form of government it should adopt, Islamic or secular. In the absence of any nationally based political organisation, which can command the respect of the majority of people, ignoring caste, creed or other regional and ethnic differences, Pakistan authorities rely on the civil service and the power-hungry army to maintain the status-quo of the country.
Imran Khan, who has exhibited his fine skills as an all-rounder of the cricket world and brought the prestigious World-Cup to his loving Motherland in 1962 has claimed victory at the recently held controversial general election, will be sworn in soon, as the 19th Prime Minister of Pakistan. This marks a radical departure, for a politically and religiously conservative country dominated by the wealthy Bhutto and Sharif family dynasties.
Khan, now 65, grew up in a middle-class household in Lahore and was educated at Aitchison College, considered the Pakistani equivalent of Eton, before sending to England to study at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe and then to Oxford to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
Khans supporters will hail his achievement as the dawn of a new age, symbolizing the end of politics- as --usual and the perceived elitism, cronyism and corruption associated with Shehbaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz (PMLN) and Bilawal Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party(PPP).
Khan has already promised a fresh start, appealing in particular to younger people among the 106 million voters, out of a population of 207 million people. However, the former superstar in cricket will have to carve out his own political image and convince his countrymen who have fallen into deep and troublesome waters, that he is a worthy, honest and credible winner who can bring democracy, peace and political and economic stability to his motherland.
