Miseries of Pakhtuns in Karachi

Miseries of Pakhtuns in Karachi

It is a wrong diagnosis to blame Politics as the sole cause of unrest in Karachi. A mentality which is the product of cold war and military rule would glamorize and glorify army as the panacea for all the ills of Pakistani society. MQM - a product of military  regime , was created by the military dictator General Zia to counteract the popular support of People’s Party which was the brain child of  his political rival Bhutto who for the first time gave a voice to the common masses of Pakistan. Zia's dictatorship reinforced the dangerous trend of army to take over the reigns of power due to being the defacto ruling junta of Pakistan.

Politics is the only means to resolve the causes of unrest in Karachi. Being a product of military mind, the interests of MQM are in conflict with Pashtuns who believe in being treated on egalitarian basis despite their poverty and low social status. The conflict of interest is due to better education and skills of the demographically strong Mahajirs vis-a-vis literally illiterate Pakhtun masses. Illiteracy in Pakhtuns is due to a low social profile, which is due to poverty, which in turn is due to mass exodus of Pakhtuns from their own homeland. The reason of their exodus to Karachi is the lack of opportunities in their land - Pakhtunkhwa. The lack of opportunities is due to the lack of industrial base and institutionalisation. The lack of industrial base in turn is due to the indifference of state towards Pakhtuns affairs in the form of Punjab centered and anti Pakhtuns Policies of the ruling elite.

It is thereofre concluded that when Pakhtuns win real freedom and autonomy over their land and resources,  the cycle of miseries will reverse for them and Pakhtuns will see the revival of their lost glory.