Two-Nation
Theory is Dead, Long Live Pakistan
By S.A. Rai
CA
Mr.
Babar Khan Ghauri, Federal Minister for Ports
& Shipping, declared at a community meeting
in Fullerton, California on December 26 that ‘the
two-nation theory is dead’. This he stated
while answering a question regarding similar remarks
made by Mr. Altaf Husain in New Delhi on November
6.
Elaborating on these assertions, Mr Ghauri said
the two-nation theory that constituted the basis
for the creation of Pakistan has died twice over:
first, when Pakistan decided not to let the Indian
Muslims migrate to Pakistan freely; second, with
the separation of the more populous Eastern wing
of the country. After pronouncing the very raison
d'etre (the two-nation theory) dead, Mr. Ghauri
had the cheek to raise the slogan “Pakistan
Zindabad”.
There was some excuse to pretend that whatever
Mr. Altaf Hussain said in New Delhi was not the
official policy of the present Government of Pakistan.
Now when similar remarks have been repeated by
a sitting federal minister of the government is
it fair to conclude that this is the official
position of the government of General Musharraf
and Mr. Shaukat Aziz?
If not, where do the minister’s and views
of his party stand in the state structure of Pakistan?
I hope new school textbooks have been ordered
to suit the ‘new vision’ or should
I say the ‘new revision’ of the history
of Pakistan, duly approved by the powers that
be.
And last, please advise me what shall I tell my
children about the Pakistan Movement, its creation
and political history?
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