Pakhtoonkhwa : A Misnomer
By Dr. Hassan Isfahani • May 28th, 2008 • Category: Politics, Worth A Second Look • (13,676 views) • 26 CommentsWhen the province, which is in the north west of Pakistan and borders with the restive Afghanistan and contains the spotlight of world, which is known as Federally Administered Tribal Areas known to be a safe heaven for the militants and where United States wants to wage a full world with its allies, and which has become the nucleus of war on terror, the issue which the government of this province is giving more attention is the change in the name of this province.
The name given to this province by the British was North West Frontier Province or Sarhad Province. They selected this name just for their ease, and this name stuck and even was taken on after the independence of the Pakistan in 1947. The people of this province has always felt not so good about this name, and different factions of this province have demanded different names.
As the Pushtoons are in the majority in this province, so they demand ethnic names like Pakhtoonkhwa, Pushtoonistan or Afghania. Whereas other ethnic factions such as Hazarawals and others vehemently reject these names. Some sane factions have also come up with the neutral and not-so-ethnic names like Abaseen and Khyber.
The Awami National Party (ANP), which currently rules this province is supporting the government of PPP in center on all issues just on the condition that PPP would support them to have changed the name of province to Pakhtoonkhwa. Due to their expediencies, the PPP has agreed to that and even has shown their commitment by including this name in their upcoming constitutional package. Perhaps PPP also knows that this package isn’t going to see the light of the day and so they would never have to go through the real test of changing the name of the province to Pakhtoonkhwa.
Pushtoons live on a grand scale from some areas of Punjab, majority areas of NWFP, some areas of Balochistan and many areas of Afghanistan. The ancient ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali said that Pakhtoonkhwa was spread from River Jehlum (in the Punjab province of Pakistan) to River Amo (In deep north of Afghanistan). The current leader of Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who is based in Baluchistan calls his part of province, Southern Pakhtoonkhwa. So making NWFP, Pakhtoonkhwa isn’t really is a justified demand.
The name of this province should be changed but only after the rich debate, and the best course of action would be to hold a referendum in the province on the name by giving choices. Then even if Pakhtoonkhwa is selected, then let it be the name of the province. In that case, no one would have the reason to object or protest.
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Dr. Hassan Isfahani
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August 24th, 2008
In today’s age and world we are wise enough to know that naming a region after a majority linguistic or ethnic group makes the minority of the province/ region feel insecure and threatened.
I believe that the way to go would be to
1) Have refrendum in NWFP to choose a name ( we should all move on from this issue once the verdict arrive )
2) Local / Regional language schools should be set up all over pakistan where kids could be imparted
education in their local language.i.e. This would make Seriaki in Punjab and NWFP feel secured about the future of his language in country.
Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan may be named after the dominant ethnic groups in those provinces but it was done hundreds of years ago. I think the people of NWFP will set a forward looking precedence for the entire country by arriving at a general consensus name, but it’s their decision and they have every right to make one that pleases them.
Majority of pakistan’s problems stems from the offical policy of “urduization” of the state of Pakistan. People all over the country are being encouraged to loose their mother tounges in favor of urdu. This policy has had disastrous results so far, many ethnic groups feels that they have been marginalized by the state.
I THINK WE SHOULD ALL PROTECT ALL THE REGIONAL LANGUAGES OF THE PAKISTAN AND BASIC EDUCATION SHOULD BE IMPARTED IN LOCAL AND REGIONAL LANGUAGES. THIS WILL ALSO INCREASE THE LITERACY RATE IN BACKWARD AND FAR FLUNG AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.
July 31st, 2008
Islamic principles…? Islam recognizes no Borders!!!
June 25th, 2008
What’s the big deal if the name is changed.If Panjabis can have Panjab and Sindhis can have Sindh,so on and so forth.Are we still ruled by the British?Wasn’t the city of Lyallpur changed from a name given by British?Anything Pukhtoons demand gets to be a BIG deal.”Us Phees Marneya Tey Baadboo Hi Badboo,Mem Sahib Phees Marniey Tey Khashboo Hi Khashboo!!!”Get a life!!!You people of Punjab.No one has given you the right to decide for the rest of the country.Yes!to be fair I would be fine with “Sarhad”or “Khyber”too.
June 19th, 2008
Wow Yama Pashtun da pashtuna sara sum, I am from “Pakhtoonkwa” myself, but your last comment “Even if we have to destroy Pakistan we will get our name and unite Pashtuns on both side” plays exactly into the hands of our enemies. They must be laughing their asses off as their job I think is done - u have been corrupted! Congrats!
Pakhtoons unite as in one country, taking parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, so then what? Whats the next step? World domination?
June 14th, 2008
Saba Ali,
people of N.W.F.P. have not given any different mandate to A.N.P. than people of other provinces to other parties. Change of the name is ANP’s very own small goal which is why it has been ignored by the most literate people of NWFP for a long time. The fact of the matter is that ANP stands no chance in normal days to govern the province, you know well under what circumstances people have chosen ANP, for now. The Pashtoons I know tell that they are not in a desperate need of the name change but to improve the literacy rate in the province and counter the false image of extremism created by a handful of evildoers who are loyal to no one.
Personally, I don’t mind if Pashtoons want to change the name of N.W.F.P. to something that can represent the province better than N.W.F.P. What’s not right is to hasten and selecting a name that does not satisfy many others living in the province. I can assure you that change of the province’s name is not an issue for any Pakistani trying to end the petty differences and willing to march on, provided that the rationale satisfies the non-pashtoons, at least in the province.
On the other hand, I think that the non-discriminatory names of most of the provinces at present are exemplary. Must we go centuries behind and put our children into “my horse is better than yours”?
“Why you are connecting the problem of Karachi and Mohajirs with Pashtuns and Peshawar?” –M Junaid Khan
Khan saab, neither you are a selfish caveman nor you live in a jungle. You are a good citizen, of Pakistan. While other provinces should not interfere in the provincial name change matter of N.W.F.P. but the matter is connected to other provinces because it can affect them. Tomorrow, if such desires arise in other provinces, it will collectively become a matter of the Federation.
Also, unnecessarily insisting upon provincial autonomy will give everyone the right to develop their provinces as it suits them no matter how many reservoirs they need to build for it. The people crying provincial autonomy today should think twice, and mark my words that tomorrow it will have very good chances to become unstoppable.
The country is yours, so is the decision, make it wisely.
Yama Pashtun da pashtuna sara sum,
You are a lot of work. (And I’m afraid that it will be a bad move to abolish education from the concurrent list at this time. At least some generations should formally learn about Pakistan, its history and the people.) Unfortunately, in the limited time I can mention only few points (based on your comments) to educate you.
“They are very good at divifing passhtuns.”
Evidently, wise man like you seldom needs an extra hand.
“Theyhave no problem giving themself a sikh name which is punjab or following hindu culture.”
First of all, Sikhism is identical to Islamic principles on several topics. Like Islam, Sikhism too doesn’t encourage or promote self-righteousness and extremism–Pretty non-violent, harmless and civilized religion it is.
Secondly, the name Punjab means Land of Five Rivers. The name is many centuries old, well thought, given by non-muslims, and it does not bother Muslim/Non-Muslim Punjabis as it is not based on a primitive tribal leader’s name, language, clan, caste or creed. More or less the same is the case of Sindh. The name is related to Arabian Sea. We tend to be peaceful and stay away from discrimination as much as possible; doesn’t the elimination of feudal system from Punjab in the recent decades speak of something? We are continously working on 100% educated Punjab. We want to help our brothers in other provinces too who have the will.
Please share if there is an event recorded in the history of Pakistan where a Punjabi (be it Christian, Muslim, Sikh) has conspired against the country or have carried out suicidal attacks.
Punjabis strongly condemn mass murders anywhere in the world.
The “Hindu Culture” of the Pakistani Punjabis shall remain intact as long as Punjabis don’t find it contradictory to the Law of the Land, and foremost their beliefs. I need not to mention the Punjabi valour which once made us the warriors of our own kind for we were impatient/weaker back then (at least to me); I do need to mention that much of my culture and pride lies in the sweat of the farmers, and the very bread I eat, and the rest lies in Multan.
Although, Hindu Culture is not the appropriate term for my culture however, I am unable to play tennis with you. I respect your Muslim Culture, you win.
“They have border between afghanistan and pakhtun khwa and they have a green light from the hindu to come to Pakistan.”
There is border between Pakistani and Indian Punjab too, which upon studying Islam seems to be a greater failure of muslims than the border between Afghanistan and N.W.F.P.
“These people are hypocrites …. These punjbis sindhis or balochis tajiks azbeks farsiwal hazara are worse than a jews. they are munafik.”
Aho aho..!!
June 6th, 2008
Hmm I just visited this page and viewed the interesting views by various people. I think as for as I have analyzed this page. I think “Punjabis” are not a concern in this issue and the only concern are the people of NWFP and this regard the people of D.I.Khan which are opposing this name. Hmm I just want to share it with you that I have spent two Years in D.I.Khan during my Masters from Gomal University D.I.Khan and I am confident to say that this city is not purely a seraiki city but its an hybrid city of about seraiki and pushtoons culture.Obviously ANP leaders woulld take into confident leaders of the city to convince for the change of name of the province as it is an important and major city of province.