Re: Pashtuns in Karachi Unite
*And never mention the atrocities Muhajirs committed against Pashtuns. *
First Pashtuns were targeted in 1985. A Kashmiri minibus driver had incidently killed a Muhajir girl Bushra Zaidi and in hours dozens of busses belonging to Pashtuns had been set ablaze by Muhajirs. What were the motives behind this? To terrify Pashtuns so they vacate Karachi for Muhajirs.
An Afghan "Pashtun" also killed arguably the second greatest leader of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan- A Muhajir whose family migrated from Indian Punjab. A lieutenant of Quaid e Azam, a Muslim League stalwart and most importantly a Muslim who believed in Pakistan.
*Causes: From 1947 to 1971, Muhajirs were a privleged COMMUNITY sharing power with Punjabis and pitched, in collaboration with THEM, against potential Bangali +Sindhi+Pashtun+Baluchi alliance. *
Why shouldn't Muhajirs be a privileged community? From before the partition, Muhajirs were the most educated (think Aligarh) the most business minded (think Guj. memon community) and the most politically aware and active (think the main supporters of the Muslim League). Muhajirs willingly gave up their land, family ties and migrated to Pakistan. The 'so called' Pakistanis only woke up on August 14 to find a 'Pakistan.' The support for Pakistan in the political quarters was tepid at best, yet the 'Muslim' element was the main factor for opting for Pakistan.
After Bangla Desh INDEPENDENCE, Mubashir Hassan, a clever Punjabi economic minister of Bhutto had proposed that to break Muhajir domination of the industrial and finance sector of Pakistan, there should be comprehensive nationalization.
This is partially true.
*Bhutto, as a Sindhi, had contradictions with Muhajirs. He went ahead with making Sindhi as the official language of Sindh to be compulsarily learnt by Muhajirs, nationalizing industries and financial institutions, and allocating separate quotas for Sindh Urban (Muhajirs) and Sindh Rural (Sindhis). Obviously, this greatly curtailed the excessive influence, power, and share of Muhajirs. Another factor was that, Punjabis and Pashtuns, who had initially migrated to Karachi as workers and labourers had now taken to certain professions and had started competing with Muhajirs in some commercial activities e.g. transportation. Muhajirs reacted abgrily to this decline in their status. *
This is also partially true. Muhajirs were hardly the "transport kings" before the arrival of other migrants to Karachi.
*Before 1971, Muhajirs were almost entirely followers of Muadudi but then they switched to aggressive/militant Muhajir ethnic nationalism. Pashtuns were the first target of this nationalism. *
Detail the circumstance of why Pashtuns were targeted? And why shouldn't Muhajirs have an ethnic nationalism? After only perusing the Pashtun, Baluchi, Sindhi, Punjabi threads here on Gupistan..where people talk of their provinces like it's their baap ki jageer (the Estate of their Father), it's only appropriate for the most educated, politically aware community to step up.
*Anyhow, past is the past! Now Muhajirs should stop laying exclusive claim to Karachi, Hayderabad, Sukhar and other urban centers of Sindh. The sons of the soil i.e. Sindhis have been pushed to the wall. The economy of rural Sindh is shambles. If the socio-economic conditions of interior Sindh were not improved, What I forsee is, in next 15-20 years, there will be a large-scale migration of educated and uneducated and skilled and unskilled Sindhis to Karachi and other urban centers of Sindh. An ethnic clash in that case is inevitable. *
Muhajirs will stop laying exclusive claims when Pashtuns do the same for NWFP, Punjabis for Punjab, Sindhis for Sindh, and Baluchis for Baluchistan. Muhajirs stood quietly by as non Muhajir Prime Ministers and Presidents talked up "Pakistaniyet" while supporting their core communities.
So resources should not be diverted to Karachi only leading to further marginalization of Sindhis. Sindhis should be given some breathing space.
Pashtuns of Karachi must also learn and adopt Sindhi language and culture and support Sindhis in their just struggle. This would be the noblest thing for them to do.
Be it Karachi or Lahore, New York or London, Muhajirs of Pakistan will be the stronger community..not because of the numerical superiority (like the Punjabis), or the clannish support (like the Pashtuns, Baluchis, Sindhis) but rather through education, civilization through centuries of holding power in India and an open outlook. Don't believe me? Just look at the facts.
Lucky for you, I am going to edit my response before I set many jokers on fire with some destructive facts and realities.