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NWFP is renamed
In my previous article entitled “Renaming NWFP” I endeavored to
justify existing of the same name alive or renaming it ‘Kohistan
Province’ due to its five perennial rivers, five splendid
mountains, five glorious peaks which had great contribution to the
development of the country socially, economically and
strategically. As an example I had given the name of the Punjab
Province which was given after its five immense rivers which
irrigate the whole of Punjab and Sind Province which means stream
or river traces its origin back to Indus valley civilization.
Elaborating the resources hidden in these rivers and mountains I
attempted to persuade our numerous tribes, sub tribes, clans and
sub clans residing in this region to follow examples put by the
hundreds diverse ethnic groups of Punjab and Sind in naming their
beloved provinces unanimously. None of the Sumerian tribes in
Punjab quarreled to show their predominant population in naming
their province. Similarly, not a single tribe in Sind superseded
others in naming its own province. Almost all tribes in both the
provinces acknowledged identity and selfness of each other
maintaining high degree of decorum. My previous article covered
entire resources including forests and valuable minerals containing
different kinds and colors ejected by our mountains and rivers
which are constantly utilized through out Pakistan in construction
purposes, in manufacturing of different kinds of goods, in
fabricating decoration pieces, in making stone jewelry and in
producing items used domestically in a very proper way. The aim of
my lengthy article was to remind our Pakhtun brethren generally and
our leadership particularly to step back from their stand point
keeping in view the identity of hundreds of other tribes living in
this region. Unfortunately, my article remained meaningless and our
vigorous and forceful Pakhtun surpassed others in naming NWFP as,
“Khyber Pakhtun Khawa” putting other tribes in doldrums. Emerging
of a gigantic nation with absolute powers to suppress other
hundreds minor ethnic groups living in a small province like NWFP
where already terrorism is in its climax not a viable initiative.
Political critics and connoisseurs conceive renaming NWFP a severe
blow with disastrous consequences on the ego of hundreds of other
small ethnic groups living in different parts of NWFP. It is a
great catastrophe the province ever realized before. Criticisms,
political statements, inflammatory remarks, shutter down and hue
and cry emerged within the province invite others to join in this
strike. Protest of the frustrated ethnic groups in Hazara was held
and complete shutter down was observed there. They vowed to drive
full fledged campaign till the name for the province is announced
in unanimity. Even the peace loving people of Chitral considered it
a knock on their faces. Intelligentsias of the country assume it as
conflict of interests being played by the political actors within
the country to gain their vested concerns without thinking of its
horrific repercussions. NWFP got a new name in its old age, but its
dwellers seem unhappy with the name prefixed by Khyber.
Inconsistency occurred between Pakhtun themselves just after the
announcement of new name besides emerging of other new forces with
the same demand and same objectives. For example the emotional
people of Hazara expressed great concern over renaming NWF, they
placed their demand to withdraw the order or establish a separate
province for them also. Similarly, Chitral vehemently demands for
its annexure with Northern Areas keeping in view the long
historical, geographical and cultural relations from the
Achemeanian dynasty of Persia to the last Rais and Katur kingdom of
Chitral. Pakhtun think little of Khyber which became the 1st name
without any struggle launched by its people. This innovative name
at its beginning divided Pakhtun which claimed itself the
indivisible nation in the world in to two parts. One section of the
Pakhtun nation pronounced the new name against the wishes of the
people. The second group protested against the name prefixed by
Khyber. They recorded their demand to erase Khyber the 1st name
from Pakhtun Khawa. Actually they demanded a province without
existence of any other nationalities and ethnic groups who share
with them in businesses, work with them in offices, study with them
in schools and colleges, travel with them in buses, etc living in
the same province.
Re-naming NWFP was an easy task, which was done, followed by
celebration of functions with orchestral band in different places
of the Province. About 68% Pakhtun succeeded in bridging the gap
emerged between them and the province submerging the identity of
other 32% minor tribes. But the new province will face great
financial burden in addressing all encompassing issues. When the
Province is already in the grip of inflation, load shedding,
vicious circle of poverty, war against terrorism, suicide attacks
and unemployment, how the expenditures incurred additionally on
creation of new name of the province is met. A very big exchequer
is supposed to be needed in changing the title pages of the
University, Colleges and Schools text books, in modification of
maps, in replacing of all sign boards installed in every office and
in every juncture of roads in the province, in changing the number
plates of all vehicles running through out the province, and in
putting the new name of the province in the national Identity cards
and passports and in other relevant records lying almost in every
office of the government.
Maham Saleem
Chitral.
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