The document discusses the identity crisis facing Pakistan since its inception. It argues that Pakistan's ideological foundation and its status as a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual state have contributed to this crisis. Specifically, it notes debates around whether Pakistan was intended to be an Islamic state or secular democracy, as well as tensions between regional linguistic groups and religious minorities. The document outlines two main perspectives on resolving the crisis - the Islamist view of implementing an Islamic system to unite citizens, and the pluralist view of decentralization and empowering regional cultures alongside Islam. It concludes that developing a shared Pakistani national identity above other affiliations is needed for stability and progress.

1. Institute of Administrative Sciences
Political and Economic History of Pakistan
Submitted by Submitted to
Isma Khalid Dr. Aamir Saeed
Roll no. BS-IAS-31R-F18
Section A
Identity Crisis of Pakistan

2. IDENTITY CRISISOF PAKISTAN 1
National identity refers to citizens belongingness to a state or nation which binds people in form
of a unit i.e. nation ,through language, culture , religion, ideology and other factors. National
identity is the basis of formation of a nation. Unless people of a country or state don’t recognize
themselves as part of a unit, they can’t build a nation .A state can’t progress until its citizens
don’t have one direction or identity because when a state has sub-nations in it, there is internal
struggle among them to promote their respective identities. Identity crisis occur when there is
conflict between nation’s ideology and prevailing conditions. Pakistan is a country having
diverse languages, cultures and religious groups . Being multilingual and multicultural country,
Pakistan is facing identity crisis from the time of partition of subcontinent in 1947.
The root cause of identity crisis of Pakistan is its ideology. Muslims of sub-continent demanded
a separate country on basis of “Two-Nation Theory” which says that Muslims and Hindu are two
different nations having their different identities, so they need separate homelands. Moreover, on
the time of partition , it was the religious difference on basis of which areas were divided.
Muslim majority areas were given to Pakistan , while Hindu majority areas became part of India.
A famous slogan of Muslims at that time was, “ Pakistan ka matlab kya? Laa ilaha illa Allah.”
But the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah regarded Pakistan both as Islamic Laboratory
and a secular state . The ideology of Pakistan is still a mystery. A group of people known as
“Rightists” think that Jinnah created Pakistan for Muslims so that they can practice Islam
without any fear. On the other hand, another group known as “liberals” believe that Quaid-e-
Azam had secular thinking and wanted to make Pakistan a secular state. Both groups support
their arguments with evidences .
i) The Rightists quote these to support their point of view that Quaid-e-Azam wanted
Pakistan to be an Islamic state.
 On the occasion of the inauguration of the State Bank of Pakistan at Karachi in 1st July
1948, Muhammad Ali Jinnah addressed the nation by saying:

3. IDENTITY CRISISOF PAKISTAN 2
“The adoption of Western economic theory and practice will not help us in achieving our
goal of creating a happy and contended people. We must work our destiny in our own
way and present to the world an economic system based on true Islamic concept of
equality of manhood and social justice. We will thereby be fulfilling our mission as
Muslims and giving to humanity the message of peace which alone can save it and secure
the welfare, happiness and prosperity of mankind”
 In a Radio Broadcast to the people of the United States of America in February,1948 he
said that:
“Pakistan is the premier Islamic State and the fifth largest in the world. The constitution
of Pakistan has yet to be framed by the Pakistan Constituent Assembly. I do not know
what the ultimate shape of this constitution is going to be, but I am sure that it will be of a
democratic type, embodying the essential principles of Islam. Today, they are as
applicable in actual life as they were 1,300 years ago. Islam and idealism have taught us
democracy. It has taught equality of men, justice and fair play to everybody”
ii) While the “Liberalist” support their argument by giving following evidences:
 Before Muhammad Ali Jinnah left India for Pakistan Iskandar Mirza recalls that he asked
him in Delhi, “Sir we are all agreed to leave for Pakistan; but what kind of polity are you
going to have? Are you going to have an Islamic state?” and Mr. Jinnah replied,
“Nonsense, I am going to have a modern state” .
 The first Indian High Commissioner Siri Prakasa recalls that Quaid-e-Azam told him
many times that he wants to Pakistan to be a secular state.
 In his speech on 11th August 1947, Muhammad Ali Jinnah said that:
“You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the
business of the State”
This Islamic State or Secular State debate is still ongoing even if Pakistan is named as
“Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”
Another things which makes national identity is language. Nations having one language are
usually more connected and unified . Our nation is lingually divided because people belonging to
different regions prefer their own language instead of national language . This forms different
sets of sub-nations in the country, who often fight just on basis of their lingual identity . That is

4. IDENTITY CRISISOF PAKISTAN 3
why, another main cause of identity crisis in Pakistan is that it is multilingual country. People
speaking different languages identify them as part of a group speaking that language instead of a
nation. If the number of people speaking a specific language is less, it produces a sense of
discrimination in them and they consider themselves as minority. Different groups want to
promote their language and have a sense of belongingness to their group. At the time of partition,
Pakistan had two wings i.e. East wing and West wing. People belonging to East Wing were able
to speak only Bengali and they didn’t knew how to read and write Urdu at all. When Muhammad
Ali Jinnah regarded “Urdu” as national language of Pakistan, it emerged a sense of
discrimination in people of East Wing as majority of population didn’t knew Urdu at all. This
inequality in treating people of different lingual groups resulted in identity crisis and nation
became lingually divided. Not only these two lingual groups, but there are many other competing
lingual groups such as Sindhi, Balochi , Pakhtoon , Siraki and Punjabi which prevent us from
uniting as a nation.
Other than lingual identity crisis, religious minorities particularly pointed at discrimination. A
large part of Pakistan's population are Muslim while there are also minorities like Christians ,
Hindus and Sikhs. There is a large conflict among different religious groups . Religious groups
fear that they will be turned to minority based on their religious belief. This fear and sense of
superiority results in fights on the name of religion. A lot of people has been killed in these
religious and sectarian conflicts. In this Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Muslims instead of having
peaceful relations with other religious minorities are themselves divided into sectors.
From the day first , Pakistan is getting aid from America. There is always a clear shadow of
American policies on Pakistan, prevents it on stand as a state and unite it’s people as a nation.
Politician’s decisions under the influence of America or for their self-interest , produce feeling of
distrust in nation. They are then decentralized and are demotivated to support their country as a
nation.
Today, Pakistani youngsters are loosing their Muslim identity under the influence of different
cultures they observe on media. They are adopting western ideology very fast. Islamic Republic
of Pakistan is turning into a state of people having western mindset. If we keep on loosing our
Muslim identity and values, our broken concept of nation will be totally erased from context.

5. IDENTITY CRISISOF PAKISTAN 4
Whether it’s religion , language, culture, ideology, race, caste or political views , our nation is
never united in any area. If this nation united at a point, it was just inorganic unity. Instead of
growing our country , these sub-cultures make efforts just to promote their culture. Every nation
needs clear national identity for it’s survival. It’s the national identity on which domestic and
foreign policy is based.
There are two main views which can provide solution to these identity crisis:
 Islamists believe that our nation can be united if we completely implement Islamic
system and every citizen regard himself as member of Islamic state. According to this
school of thought, only Islam can act as a binding force for nation. It will centralize the
people as Pakistan was separated on the name of Islam. General Zia-ul-Haq was ardent
promoter of Islamist school of thought . Islam provides a single plan to state’s system. In
this way, instead of different lingual , cultural or regional groups , they will just be
known as Muslims and will accept members of other religious minorities according to
teachings of Islam.
 Pluralists focus on decentralization and believe that Pakistan has people belonging to
different cultures and languages .These different languages and cultures should grow
along with Islam. If these different cultures are harmonized , there can be peace and
equality among them and there will be a sense of belongingness among all groups.
In the end , nothing can bind us as a nation, until there will be sense of distrust in nation for
leaders. A leader who can build trust in a minds of nation can unite our nation through his vision
. Pakistan can’t make progress until its people will not work as a nation. Although Pakistan also
has economic and other social crisis, but these crisis make Pakistan’s situation more critical
because when internal conditions of a state are not stable , it cant stand against other forces.
Instead of Islamists, Molvi, Secular, Shia, Sunni, Sindhi, Balochi, Punjabi, Pakhtoon , Hindu or
other identities, we should first be “Pakistani” , if we really want to see Pakistan as a developed
country.