Professional Documents
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Ethnic Violence
It is shape of conflict in which objective of at least one party is defined on ethnic
lines. However, ethnic conflict is usually not about differences but political,
economic and cultures, or territorial matters.
One can define that ethnicity is a group of individuals living side by side but not intermingling with each
other. These people grouped together on the basis of territory, professions, languages, geography without
conflicting with each other until and unless they are triggered to do so. Ethnicity itself is not harmful for
the existence of any state. The intensity of different variables creates contradictory point of view and
hostile environment within the territory of any state. For example in Balochistan Baloch do not feel
comfortable with other ethnic identities because they feel that outsiders are a major source to deprive
them from different economic social and political advantages. Baloch often come into conflict with other
ethnic identities.
Ethnic conflict is particularly likely in states where ethnic groups lack sufficient representation in
public and political institutions. Authoritarian one-party regimes with discriminatory legislation
and a lack of opportunities for ethnic groups to participate in state decision-making processes are
particularly prone to ethnic conflict. Liberal democracies that focus on the ideals of inclusion,
political debate, and the attempt to reach consensus among all participants in the political process
facilitate nonviolent ethnopolitical action and are thus less likely to experience rebellion or
uprisings.
Exclusionary national ideologies may also serve as a source of conflict. Nationalism and, in an
increased form, citizenship based on ethnic distinctions are especially dangerous because such
ideologies tend to flourish in situations of political uncertainty and economic collapse. Other
forms of exclusionary national ideologies include religious fundamentalism and supremacist
fascist expressions.
The existence, or lack of existence, of stable domestic intergroup relations can also have a
bearing on whether violent ethnic conflict is likely to occur. Violent conflict is particularly
probable if the claims of the various ethnic groups are incongruous, if groups have strength and
are organized, if it is possible for groups to take action, if success is a feasible outcome, and if
there is a tangible fear of suppression and discrimination on the basis of ethnicity.
The tactics that may be utilized by leaders and elites during political turmoil also affect the
likelihood of violent ethnic conflict. Scapegoating, hate speech, and manipulation of the mass
media are means that have the potential to heighten existing discord between ethnic groups
Pakistani Experience
First major activity related to Hazara Province was seen in early 1980 when Qazi
Azher along with group of friends founded Hazara Student Federation in Karachi.
When the 18th
amendment bill renamed NWFP as KPK
in 2010 and 20th amendment bill submitted in the National Assembly by MQM
in January 2012 to create Seraiki and Hazara provinces in the National
Assembly was presented, the Hazara movement got an impetus. But
surprisingly, all the four groups representing the cause for Hazara province
failed to get an electoral mandate in May 11, 2013 general elections because
they were unable to contest polls under a single platform.
Different stakeholders representing the Hindko speaking population in Hazara
division sometimes followed an aggressive and sometimes conciliatory
approach in their demand to create a separate province for Hazara. For
instance. speaking at a press conference on August 5, 2011, Shahjahan
Khan, the ex-president for Hazara Mansehra District Bar Association said that,
if the prime minister can announce the creation of Seraiki province then he
can also make a declaration for Hazara province
According to former minister of state for finance and sitting chairman of the National Assembly
standing committee on finance, MNA Omar Ayub Khan, the economic activity in Hazara
division would grow immensely thanks to its location in the Pakistan-China trade zone.
According to him, existing trade via the Karakoram Highway is $2 billion despite poor road
infrastructure. He claims it would increase to $10 billion within the next five years. With regards
to revenue, Khan said the new province would earn a substantial amount from its natural
resources, such as water. Under the Constitution, Hazara would receive partial royalties from
power generated through major projects like Tarbela Dam and Ghazi Barotha Power Project. The
latter would be shared with K-P and Punjab as units were located in all three areas, but billions of
rupees would come from about a dozen other hydropower projects, which function exclusively in
Hazara division.
By Khans calculations, the new province has GDP potential of over Rs100 billion and based on
population estimates of 8 million, the per capita development expenditure would be at least
Rs13,000.
Recent Developments
Awami National Party (ANP) President for Haripur, Shaukat Mishwani, says the Hazara
movement is a conspiracy against the Pukhtuns, adding that those (political parties) favouring
a separate province are only doing so for political gains. Responding to claims that the former
ANP-led government discriminated against Hazara districts, he said his party had appointed a
chief minister from the division three times, adding it was treated the same as other districts.
When K-P passed the Hazara province resolution inin March 2014, local leaders and workers of
ANP, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) came out on the streets
in DI Khan to protest against the resolution.
We will not let them divide Pukhtun land and we will also not allow the changing of the name
of K-P, said Muhammad Ali Wazir, a local leader. The K-P government simultaneously passed a
resolution last month to change the provinces name to Hazara Pakhtunkhwa.
A few days later, workers of National Youth Organisation (NYO), the youth wing of ANP, staged
a similar demonstration in Swabi.
Our leadership has opposed the tactics of the ruling party. The PTI leadership should implement
its manifesto instead of creating an environment of hatred and disunity in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa,
said Azeem Khan Yousafzai, NYO district president.
There were widespread talks about passing the resolution on creation of Hazara Province last
year when federal minister of PML(N) announced that they are preparing draft for tabling a
resolution following provincial assembly of KPK. However, assumed resolution is still underway
to pass.
Mr Zaman criticised all the elected representatives from Hazara division, especially those of PTI
and PML-N for deviating from their election promises on the issue of Hazara province. He
claimed that leaders of the two parties made it to the assemblies by using the name of Suba
Hazara.
He also slammed federal minister Sardar Yousuf, who was leading the movement for Hazara
province and later joined PML-N with the promise to get support of Mian Nawaz Sharif for
Hazara province.
In the press club, PTI Hazara leadership, including ministers, lashed out at the PML-N leadership
from Hazara, including Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, for not fulfilling their
commitments to get the Hazara province resolution passed from the National Assembly. They
said that PTI had completed its task by getting the approval of Hazara Suba resolution from the
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
Most recently, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, federal minister for religious affair chaired meeting of
all representatives of Hazara Division. He pledged to resolve hazara movement and discussed the
roadmap for completion of this task. He said seven people opposing the renaming of NWFP
sacrificed their lives on April 12, 2010 and around 200 were injured when the anti-riot police
fired on a procession.
Yousaf added the participants demanded an FIR be registered against those responsible for firing
that day in light of the report by Riaz Fatyana, the then chairman of the National Assembly
Standing Committee on Human Rights.
References
The Express Tribune
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Amin, T. (1991).
Ethno-Nationalist Movements in Pakistan.
Islamabad:
Institute of Policy Studies.
ANP Offer Talks to Hazara Tehrik. (2012, 04 23).
Daily Dawn
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Bill for New Province Tabled n Senate. (2013, 02 09).
Daily Dawn
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Butt, T. (2012, 08 19). "NA commission to create new Provinces cannot
Deliver".
The News International
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Carment, D., & Schnable, A. (2003).
Conflict Prevention: Path to Peace or
Grand Illusion.
New York: United Nations University.
CM asked to back resolution on Hazara Province. (2011, 09 20).
The News
International
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Deputy PM Promises Status to Hazara. (2012, 12 03).
Daily Dawn
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Griffiths, M., & Callaghan, T. O. (2004).