The International Webinar titled “ Ethnic Fissures & State Response of Pakistan: An Overview” , held on 14th August , 2020 commenced with the inaugural address of Kankana Roy on behalf of Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, where she herself introduced the distinguished speakers with the audience and requested the moderator of the webinar Mr. Rana Banerji to conduct the session. Mr. Rana Banerji, a distinguish fellow of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi, India , initiated his inaugural address by greeting the people of Pakistan on the eve of their 74th Independence Day celebration. He said that though in the recent past democracy had seen partial success yet it still remained a hybrid state where the Military establishment was ruling from behind the curtain. He ended his address by saying that, dominance of the Punjabi speaking people of Pakistan in every sphere 31of the country’s national life had created ethnic fissures and increased ethnic differences between the various ethnic groups residing within the border of the country.

Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, Chairman , United Kashmir People’s National Party, Switzerland, focused his deliberation on the Pakistani occupied Kashmir. He articulated the misery faced by the Kashmiri people residing in POK . He added that the ‘Two Nation Theory’ created by the Muslim League was disastrous for the people of Pakistan because it negated all historical nation. He said that till now several ethnic groups were continuing with their struggle and were facing government enrage in form of persecution and killing. He raised the issue how Pakistan was aiding the terrorists in Kashmir and Gilgit- Baltistan and interestingly commented that the local residents were continuously protesting against the Pakistani government who had not only converted this place into a hub of terrorist activities but also had ignored the basic rights of the local people. The voices of the Kashmiri people to free themselves from Pakistani rule had resulted in the state taking repressive action.

Professor Naela Quadri Baloch, President , World Baloch, Women’s Forum, Canada, in her speech said that the creation, constitution and governance of Pakistan had transformed the country into a failed state. She said that though the 1940’s Pakistan Resolution promised rights of the nations which voluntarily annexed , as the “federating units” on the basis of their history, culture and ethnicity, gave them equal right to secede, the constitution of Pakistan did not recognize the nations at all. It took away the national areas as administrative units. She commented that the various ethnic groups in Pakistan were being exploited and the basic rights of these nationalities are still denied.

She pointed out the deep cultural and civilizational linkages between India and Balochistan and added that the Balochi people were against the division of India .She opined that there was no real Pakistani identity and raised her hope that people must not leave their thousand years identity for an artificial state and created identity like Pakistan. Mr. Baseer Naweed, Executive Director, International Human Rights Council , Hong Kong, severely criticized the principle of the Two Nation theory which was assumed to be the backbone of the 32 Pakistani nation. He opined that this basic ideology of Pakistan was a historic blunder, that resulted in discontinuation with the history, and old civilization of whole sub-continent.. He added that the two nation policy not only gave the Pakistani state an impunity but also initiated an appeasement policy towards the terrorists and the fundamentalist section of the society. On the issue of cross border terrorism he opined that the cross-border terrorism became the part of ideology of Pakistan.

He raised the issue of inadequate Land Reform System in Pakistan and accused the higher military leadership as land grabbers who had been benefited by the lack of proper land reform systems. Justice A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, Former Justice , Supreme Court of Bangladesh started his presentation by commenting that it was Jinnah’s aspiration which led the creation of the Two Nation Theory which was opposed by eminent Muslim leaders like Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad and Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan. He narrated how military generals like Tikka Khan was responsible for genocide in Baluchistan and East Pakistan. Quoting the United Nation reports on Human Rights of 2018,2019, he showed how there had been rampant violation of gender and human rights in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. He concluded his deliberation by quoting Maulana Azad and said that in near future
Pakistan as a state would cease to exist. The last speaker of the webinar, Dr.Hidayatullah Bhutto, UK, Europe organizer, World Sindhi Congress,UK, like all his previous speakers criticized the Two Nation Theory of Pakistan, which remained as the founding pillar of the country.

He meaningfully commented that the state of Pakistan did not believe in peaceful coexistence and had since become a country where radical religious institutions had a freeway. He concluded that centralization of Pakistan had made the country instable and demanded that the five major ethnic nationality in Pakistan must have the right of self – determination. During the questioner session, several important questions were asked on various aspects and the distinguished panellists adequately replied them. The webinar concluded with the vote of thanks from Kankana Roy on behalf of Institute of Social and Cultural Studies.