Suchergebnisse

Pakistan's national identity has been a contested subject since the conception of the country in 1947. This article examines Pakistan's struggle to create a coherent national identity, which has led to major identity crises caused by the conflict between the nation's markers of identity, including religion, ethnicity, language, culture and historical reminiscences. While employing Benedict Anderson's concept of nationalism, the article explores the perceptions of Pakistanis asking what should be the principal underpinning for defining Pakistani identity. In-depth interviews were used as the main qualitative method for the data collection. In order to conduct in-depth interviews, 47 residents of Rawalpindi, both males and females belonging to diverse sociocultural, political and educational backgrounds were selected through purposive sampling technique to ensure a variety of perspectives. The findings suggest that religion, ethnicity, language and patriotism emerged as major markers of Pakistani identity while the dissension between these indicators persistently exacerbates identity crises and undermines the values of religious and cultural pluralism.

Pakistan's national identity has been a contested subject since the conception of the country in 1947. This article examines Pakistan's struggle to create a coherent national identity, which has led to major identity crises caused by the conflict between the nation's markers of identity, including religion, ethnicity, language, culture and historical reminiscences. While employing Benedict Anderson's concept of nationalism, the article explores the perceptions of Pakistanis asking what should be the principal underpinning for defining Pakistani identity. In-depth interviews were used as the main qualitative method for the data collection. In order to conduct in-depth interviews, 47 residents of Rawalpindi, both males and females belonging to diverse sociocultural, political and educational backgrounds were selected through purposive sampling technique to ensure a variety of perspectives. The findings suggest that religion, ethnicity, language and patriotism emerged as major markers of Pakistani identity while the dissension between these indicators persistently exacerbates identity crises and undermines the values of religious and cultural pluralism.

In the post-9/11 period, while the rise of the Taliban and their alliance with Al-Qaeda accelerated radicalism in Pakistan, Sufism and Sufi shrines have been awarded the status of an antidote to counter the extremist propensities of orthodox Islam typically associated with mosques and madrasas. Nevertheless, contrary to popular belief, sectarian schism, loathing and violence have also been witnessed at several Sufi shrines across Pakistan. The article explores the dynamics of power struggle at the shrine of Bari Imam in Islamabad, Pakistan, while examining the role of sectarian conflicts and violence in achieving the desire for social and economic hegemony. Ethnographic research design was employed, involving participant observation while partaking in different activities of the shrine. Also, respondents including members of the Auqaf Department, pilgrims, caretaker(s) of the Bari Imam shrine and inhabitants of the area were interviewed. The respondents include both males and females of diverse age groups belonging to various socio-economic statuses, sectarian affiliation and educational backgrounds. The findings propose that regardless of the spiritual character of the Bari Imam shrine, it has become a pivot of economic and political power struggle, eventually engendering and escalating sectarian discord, violence and detestation.