Federation
is always deemed as a viable project of statecraft especially in countries with
a diverse population divided along
ethnic and linguistic lines. The underlying rationale of a federal organization
of state is primarily meant to ensure maximum participation of all the ethnic
groups in the state business especially in terms of decision making and
resource allocation. In Pakistan, however, the case has been the opposite.
Since its very inception, no serious heed was paid to the realization of the
true spirit of federation till the 18 constitutional amendments. The centrist
forces had been in the front line to wield power and make key decisions
unilaterally, the situation resulted into grievances on part of the small
ethnic groups culminating into dissension in various manifestations. Among the
voices of dissensions in the federation, the Pashtun nationalist discourse has
been of considerable importance.
The
ANP and PKMAP have been the major political forces with the Pashtun nationalist
narrative, the former being a relatively larger entity with a rich ideological
base in the form of Ghaffar Khan’s Khudai Khidmatgar Movement. The Khudai
Khidmatgar was a multilayered movement taking into account the social
reformation, religious purity, political awareness and dissemination of
untainted education in the Pashtun belt. The ANP, through electoral politics,
however, focused on the political problems with a special reference to the
resources allocation and provincial autonomy, leaving aside the other major
objectives of the Movement, yet considering itself its descendant. The landmark
18th constitutional amendment, a much desired package by ANP, reflects an unprecedented stride in ensuring
provincial autonomy in the federation.
However,
resting on its laurels, and staying too focused on the electoral politics with
a the lens of political loss and benefit, the party could not tuned up to the
changing pattern of exigencies especially with reference to the war on terror
in the Pashtun territories. The long drawn out war badly affected the locals, resulting
into serious misgivings and grievances against the authorities. No serious political effort was made to
redress their grievances and voice their genuine concerns. The conventional
narrative of Pashtun nationalism and politics could no more repose the hope and
aspirations of the people. The state of frustration finally broke into the
birth of PTM with a stronger narrative revolving around the existential
question of Pashtuns.
Given
the aims and objectives of PTM, a critical analysis reveals it to be a more
relevant and apt ideological heir-apparent of the Khudai Khidmatgar Movement. The very demands
of PTM coupled with its modus operandi, reaching out to common people,
educating them politically, and creating awareness about their rights and
stakes in the business of state, are indeed
reminiscent of Bacha Khan’s struggle in 1920s and 1930s.
The
Pashtun intelligentsia and the students which had been an invaluable asset to
the ANP, has turned out to be a strong support base of PTM now. The emergence
of new leadership with a strong and appealing narrative has overshadowed the
conventional mode of Pashtun politics.
Categories:
Bacha Khan
Khudai Khidmatgar Movement
Pashtun Nationalism.
PTM
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