‘Punjab’, ‘Mohajirs’ & the President

Monday, April 09, 2012 - In his unique recent visit to Lahore Mr Asaif Ali Zardari speaking to his “Jialas” according to the press reports–which obviously is a summarized version of his “broadside” as Dawn called it, said “ Sharif brothers are themselves “Muhajirs” how they can claim Lahore as theirs, Lahore belongs to Jialayas only” Mr Zardari has used the word Mohajir as a slur on around 20 per cent of population of Pakistan. It should not go without comment. And implies that as a Muhajir Sharif Brothers have no right to claim Lahore as their own that only a non-Mohajir local can be a chief Minister of Punjab. Firstly, I am sure that of the Jiyalas in his gathering about 50%, if not more, were Punjabi Mohajirs that is Mohajirs from East Punjab. In any case, no Muslim should talk insultingly of Hijrat when the Holy Prophet (SAWS) himself. was a Muhajir. Secondly. During the Pakistan Demand the Quaid and Muslim League presented the Pakistan Demand as a Homeland for Muslims of India- not Pakistan as homeland of Muslims in the area they were in majority. Pakistan was an Indian Muslim demand, not regional Muslims demand. Regionalism is revisionist of original Pakistan demand on which Hindustani Musalman voted, over 90 % in 1945 General Elections. Thirdly: It is an unfortunate attempt to inject a “tassub” in Punjab – which is destroying Karachi., even though the attempt to inject it in Punjab is bound to miserably fail since the warm hearted Punjabis are staunch Pakistanis, like the Muhajirs despite atrocities committed on them in Karachi. When the Mohajirs came to Lahore, the locals went out of the way to receive and help them in a manner seldom ever seen in the world any where, and certainly no where equaled in Pakistan in that spontaneous manner. I saw it myself . Overwhelming population of Lahore is Punjabis from East Punjab. Lahore is a citadel of Muslim culture and civilization for centuries Let me add that of the four provincial Government only Punjab under Shabaz Sharif is efficient, if any Government can be compared. It is more efficient than all other three put together.

—Islamabad