While i despise ethnic strifes and sharing of national economy based upon race and language, some of our politicians have been very vocal about it. Specially the nationalist groups, who claim to be marginalised and under represented. Yet minorities in their own areas have not had the due political representation.
One example is Karachi. Of the 42 provincial assembly seats of Karachi, 35 belong to MQM, 5 to PPP and 2 to ANP. Yet this is in sharp contrast to demographics of the city.
Look at the population by mother tongue in the link below. Urdu speakers make up 48% of the population, Punjabis 13%, Pashtuns 12%, Balochis and Sindhias together 13% and others 12%. Now arguably the population of Pashtuns has increased considerably since then and may be as high as 20-25%. Now these 52% of ethnicities other than urdu speakers have very little representation in the Sindh assembly and this should be rectified.
Re: Demographics of Karachi and political representation
definitely a problem. the issue is with gerrymandering ofcourse, and that is something every democracy struggles with. The solution isnt straightforward, people move about. Another factor is, every ethnic group isnt equally motivated (or sometimes able) to vote. But definitely something that should be addressed.
Re: Demographics of Karachi and political representation
One thing is that population in Pakistan has signiifcantly mixed and is mixing with time and no one should now claim that Karachi is for Muahjirs, Punjab for punjabis, Sindh or Sindhis etc etc.
Second, further demarcation of provincial boundaries to concentrate linguistic groups in any area will create more problems for minorities in that area and should be avoided.
Thirdly, boundaries of seats should be reset and of course elections be held in fair way without intimidation.
Re: Demographics of Karachi and political representation
Don’t you know the basic rules of statistics?
Anything above 0.5 is rounded off to the next digit. So, if you are rounding off, Urdu speakers were 49% of Karachi’s population according to the official census and Punjabis were 14%.
Re: Demographics of Karachi and political representation
^
Also, some of these Pashtuns are not Pakistanis. We all know that Karachi has millions of illegal Afghan refugees. They have been here since 1979 while hundreds of thousands joined them after 9/11. Many among them have acquired citizenship, albeit illegally. You have to subtract Afghanis from Pashtuns' population to get the real figures. Better still, kick them out for they have given us nothing but terror, weapons and drugs.
Isn't it a great shame that 3 million illegal leaches are destroying Pakistan for the last 32 years but we are against allowing the 250,000 Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh to return to their homeland?
Re: Demographics of Karachi and political representation
I agree with you about influx of pashtuns after 9/11, thats why the estimated increase in their population from 12 to more than 20%. Most of them are Afghanis and they are not loyal to Pakistan. Something should be done about them.
Re: Demographics of Karachi and political representation
Don't you know the basic rules of statistics?
Anything above 0.5 is rounded off to the next digit. So, if you are rounding off, Urdu speakers were 49% of Karachi's population according to the official census and Punjabis were 14%.
Whatever trivial semantics you want to try to point out, the posters point about electoral representation in Karachi is true.
I know your solution is to seperate Karachi from Sindh/Pakistan, but try to come up with a more realistic solution.
Re: Demographics of Karachi and political representation
^
Also, some of these Pashtuns are not Pakistanis. We all know that Karachi has millions of illegal Afghan refugees. They have been here since 1979 while hundreds of thousands joined them after 9/11. Many among them have acquired citizenship, albeit illegally. You have to subtract Afghanis from Pashtuns' population to get the real figures. Better still, kick them out for they have given us nothing but terror, weapons and drugs.
Isn't it a great shame that 3 million illegal leaches are destroying Pakistan for the last 32 years but we are against allowing the 250,000 Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh to return to their homeland?
And what have muhajirs, particularly biharis given us, jilao ghirao, pathhroa, bhatta khori, bori bund lashain, etc....
Get off your high horse and get rid of your racist hatred...
Re: Demographics of Karachi and political representation
^ They gave you Pakistan and are represented in the merit sectors of Pakistan, be it the banks, tech sector or in the PAF. These "biharis" also fought with the pakistani army in E. Pakistan, for better or for worse, where they were left off but tell me what have drug mafia afghans done for pakistan? will they go and fight for Pakistan in a war?
Re: Demographics of Karachi and political representation
^
Also, some of these Pashtuns are not Pakistanis. We all know that Karachi has millions of illegal Afghan refugees. They have been here since 1979 while hundreds of thousands joined them after 9/11. Many among them have acquired citizenship, albeit illegally. You have to subtract Afghanis from Pashtuns' population to get the real figures. Better still, kick them out for they have given us nothing but terror, weapons and drugs.
Isn't it a great shame that 3 million illegal leaches are destroying Pakistan for the last 32 years but we are against allowing the 250,000 Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh to return to their homeland?
This is going to be a problem once things start getting better - perhaps 10-20 years from now - so in the future we might be having a debate like the US has about immigration.
I think we should legalize the current refugee Afghan - expelling them would require too much time and effort - and would also be a real dick thing to do.
Giving them a legal stake in the country might be more peaceful that trying to drive them out.
Re: Demographics of Karachi and political representation
Whatever trivial semantics you want to try to point out, the posters point about electoral representation in Karachi is true.
I know your solution is to seperate Karachi from Sindh/Pakistan, but try to come up with a more realistic solution.
I don't even want to reply to people who want to carry out a genocide of Mohajirs. I urge others to refer to his post 22 on my thread "Sindh should be divided as well." You will truly find his real self.
Re: Demographics of Karachi and political representation
^ They gave you Pakistan and are represented in the merit sectors of Pakistan, be it the banks, tech sector or in the PAF. These "biharis" also fought with the pakistani army in E. Pakistan, for better or for worse, where they were left off but tell me what have drug mafia afghans done for pakistan? will they go and fight for Pakistan in a war?
Afghans have done many things for Pakistan, none of which was for the good of our country. A country that can't honor its citizens' sacrifice during the worst of times (East Pakistan debacle) and leaves them in a lurch does not have the right to claim any moral superiority. About time to apologize to Biharis stranded in Bangladesh, compensate them and resettle them in Karachi.