Ethnicity comes from ethnic,which means "of a racial or tribal group."So ethnicity is a racial or tribal feeling and desire to stay within the race or tribe to which one belongs.It also gives paramount importance to language.We can see for ourselves how much strong ethnic feelings are in almost every corner of Pakistan.The uneducated and uncultured Balochis,Pathans,Sindhis and Punjabis very often think in terms of their races,castes and tribes or clans (large families or groups of related people)
Islam means submission to God, and all Muslims are expected to obey Him in the same way.The entire Muslim community or "ummah" is expected to be one in its religious life.Therefore,Islam does not favor the division of Muslims into racial groups or sects or social divisions on linguistic basis.Let us see how ethnicity and sectarianism have harmed us.
Firstly, extreme ethnic groups limit their attachment or devotion to themselves.They begin thinking, without any real basis, that they are superior to all other groups or communities.In Sindh,the MQM in the cities and the Sindhi nationals in the villages were two prominent ethnic groups in conflict with each other.The Pashtuns in the Khyber Pakhtunkwa from one strong ethnic group, but fortunately,most of them are not so much in conflict with the other ethnic groups of Pathans.The Saraikis around Multan from another powerful ethnic group.The Pashtun,the Balochi and the Brohi are the ethnic groups in Balochistan with their own social attitudes and policies.
The greatest ethnic group in term of money and landed estates is the feudal class.Vast and spread all over the country,it has been regularized or institutionalized nationally.It has been ruling the country through Parliament and has been crushing the total population except the industrial lords,rich merchants,powerful civil servants and military commanders.
Lastly,a general and basic kind of religious education should be provided through the mass media(the radio,TV,the press and Internet) and in schools and colleges.This can negative the effects of ethnicity in some ways instead of accentuating (making more forceful) them in any way.For it is a fact that those who do not or cannot attach themselves to religion or a very healthy national outlook can easily embrace some ethnic group or ethnic interests.
Along with the proliferating violence and mass scale bombing,ethnic groups in Pakistan continue to stroke and force down the people of this country.This has not been an issue that erupted a few decades ago,but had always encompassed this land since its birth.After raising the curtains,ethnicity in Pakistan proves to play a significant role in obliterating the economy and its people.Since the very first human beings placed their steps on earth,people and societies have always become a victim of differentiations and discrimination.
Different ethnic groups can reside in one nation peacefully if there is less discrimination and despising,but if the struggle to win ethnic rights is constantly hampered,it transforms into a movement for an independent nation.In a country like Pakistan,where economical and political instability prevails, ethnic differences augment with a ferocious pace and the consequences can be dreadful,thus preventing measures must always be taken to reduce these conflicts.
