What's new

Pakistan: Redefining Nationhood and concept of 'Citizen'

Desert Fox

ELITE MEMBER
Joined
Jan 16, 2010
Messages
10,584
Reaction score
30
Country
Pakistan
Location
Pakistan
In light of the recent statement by IK of granting citizenship to illegal Bangladeshi migrants and Afghan refugees and the ensuing discussions and debates that took place (on this very forum included) one cannot help but notice that in the minds of many Pakistanis there is a vague and questionable idea of what it means to be a Nation, because what it means to be a Pakistani has not been defined properly. There are only vague definitions, mostly copy-pasted from Western Liberal conceptions of Nationhood and citizenship because apparently by simply being born on its soil one can become a Pakistani citizen if one so chooses, or another ludicrous example is that all it takes to qualify for being a Pakistani citizen is to be a Muslim because Pakistan was "founded on Islam", as if religion is the sole basis of Nationhood. The arguments presented in favor of this conception need to be addressed.

But first we must clarify what it means to be a Nation.


Nation Defined

A Nation is not simply an aggregate of individuals living in the present. A Nation includes all of those who have passed away (its founders) and all of those who have yet to come. The former group, which includes heroes, martyrs, leaders, thinkers, men of culture (poets, writers etc.), etc., is the one which has contributed to the cultural, traditional and thus spiritual development of the Nation, its National consciousness, and thus its unique identity which bonds all members of the Nation together, giving it not only an understanding of its past but also an understanding of its destiny. All succeeding generations must not only cherish this heritage but must also contribute to it's growth and pass it down to those generations succeeding them.

In addition to the above, a Nation is forged through struggle in times of hardship, for it is these trials and tribulations which test the driving idea behind its inception, its unity, and should this Nation withstand and overcome the challenges facing it then it has proven its internal vitality, thus becoming worthy of the title, and out forth will come new heroes and positive role models for succeeding generations, in addition to the ones already known, and thus as a result further increase in cultural vitality and strengthening of the National consciousness of its members.

One can argue that Pakistan is currently comprised of various ethnic groups which are nations in themselves, which is true if one were to single out the individual ethnic groups and focus solely on that fact, however due to the thousands of years of coexistence in close proximity of each other and shared historical experiences, e.g. wars and conquests against a common enemy in the East, being descendants of the many original inhabitants of the Indus region, etc. the differences have been long since reconciled.

This is why, for example, when Pakistan gained its independence in 1947, during the First Kashmir war, Pashtun tribesmen volunteered to go and liberate Kashmir without hesitation or second thought, on the command of Quaid e Azam who was not even an ethnic Pashtun. There was no economic incentive for them to join Pakistan, which according to many wouldn't last long. This particular experience proved the loyalty of Pashtuns to the idea of Pakistan as a Nation for the Muslims of North Indian-Subcontinent and their willingness to commit to its further development.

Same is true for the original Muhajirs from territories in today's India, who left behind all property and familial relations and risked life and limb to make the journey which they were not guaranteed to survive, indeed which many did not survive. What motivated them was their belief not only in their religion but in the idea of a Pakistani Nationhood.

Anyone can immigrate in times of peace and claim citizenship. But it is hardship which is the true test of faith.

On the other hand, Bangladeshis did not identify with the idea of Pakistan and decided to opt out of the union because of their ethnic, geographic and cultural differences with the ethnic groups comprising modern Pakistan. However despite these differences they were lumped with Pakistan because of a misperceived notion that a shared religious faith was sufficient enough to qualify being included within this union and to hold it together. History proved this notion to be incorrect in 1971. Religion alone is not sufficient. Common historical origins, history, struggle, culture, traditions and a common goal etc. are just as important, if not more.

In Pakistan's case it's moments of truth were 1947 and 1971 when those who were devoted to the idea of Pakistan were distinguished from those who doubted it through the sacrifices they were willing to make, first towards its inception at a time when many doubted its existence and then later in 1971 when again it's founding idea was put to the test. It was during these two decisive moments that National unity triumphed over purely religious unity, particularly in 1971 when Bangla Muslims opted out of the union, viewing themselves as a distinct nation incompatible in a union with the Muslims of then West Pakistan.

In light of the above clarification of what a Nation is as holistically understood, let us now tackle the issue of citizenship and the arguments put forth by those favoring Imran Khan's position.


The Four Arguments Presented

Below are the four arguments pertaining to citizenship presented by those in favor of IK's suggestion :


1. Jus Soli argument

First one is the Jus Soli argument (the magic soil theory, that if someone moves to, or is born on a particular parcel of dirt within a given country they magically begin to think and act like the people of that nation and become its loyal citizens, and this is all it takes to qualify for citizenship).

This law exists within Pakistan however as @Nilgiri pointed out it is only valid for those who enter the country legally.

However the obvious problem with this concept is that most people migrate to a given nation (legally or illegally) for economic purposes and not out of love for the cultural, historical or ethnic makeup of that particular Nation. An obvious example of this is people who migrate to Western countries. They don't migrate to the West to study the Magna Carta, or to write a scholarly dissertation on Thomas Jefferson's life. They move to the West for its material benefits. Now of course there might be a very small minority of people who might leave their down trodden village in a third world country to move to America or Britain purely to study the Magna Carta or write a scholarly dissertation on Thomas Jefferson's life, but these people are exceptions to the rule and the exception does not define the rule.

Loyalty to material interests does not translate to loyalty to a Nation. To test this theory just ask any Pakistani in the West that in the hypothetical event that their host country goes to war with Pakistan, who's side will they choose? Will they choose the host nation which provides them material comfort? Or will they choose the homeland in which their forefathers are burried and with which they have a historical, cultural and ethnic connection? For most of us the answer is obvious.

In the case of refugees they migrate to flee danger and seek personal safety, and not to become a part of their host nation out of any genuine interest in the historical forces involved in it's inception or love or admiration for its founding fathers, culture, etc...

Therefore based on the above observable reality Jus Soli is not a valid basis for qualifying for citizenship and should be discarded.


2. The Ummah/religion based argument

The second argument being made was one based on some vague humanist/Ummah sentiment that does not really exist in real life because of its naivety and impracticability, especially considering the well-known historical event pertaining to the creation of Bangladesh as a separate country through a bloody divorce with Pakistan, founded on Bangla Nationalism. If being Muslim alone qualified for being a citizen of Pakistan then Bangladesh would have never separated. But that it did separate goes to show the importance of ethnicity, culture, common history, traditions, etc... Therefore a Nigerian cannot become a Pakistani purely on the basis of his faith when his ethnic/racial, cultural and historical identity lies with Nigeria, just as Bangladeshis strongly identified with Bangla Nationalism and not united Pakistan or its various ethnic groups which historically, ethnically and culturally have more in common with each other than they do with a Bangladeshi or a Nigerian.


3. The "they have been here for three generations" argument:

"They have been here for three generations! Pakistan is the only country they ever knew. Surely by now they must be integrated within Pakistani society?"

They were in Bangladesh for hundreds of generations, yet that didn't stop them from leaving their homeland for economic incentives and coming to Pakistan AFTER 1971, (particularly in the 70's & 80's when Pakistan's economy was league's ahead of that of Bangladesh) whether to stay here or to go further abroad to the West. Three generations is supposed to make them loyal to Pakistan? The same Pakistan which the ethnic government of their motherland taught them raped and killed 3 million of their ethnic kinsmen?

The fact remains these people are Bangladeshis and arrived here for economic incentives, and as long as Bangladesh exists as a symbol of Bangla Nationalism, in the back of their minds they will always identify with Bangla Nationalism because that is their ethnic homeland (land of their heroes, poets, etc.), whereas Pakistanis will always be alien to them and remain the nation which oppressed their people.


4. When all else fails

The last and final argument was nothing but emotional blackmail: "since Pakistanis immigrate to the West and would not like it if the West began to deport and deny citizenships to Muslims & Pakistanis therefore we should shut up and continue to take in the spawns of Sheikh Hasina and Ashraf Ghani."

What other nations do with their internal immigration policy is not our concern. We should be making these important decisions based on what is in the best interest of the Pakistani Nation (Nation in the truest sense of the meaning, as defined above). The fact that this even needs to be explained shows why foreigners have taken our country for a ride for so long and are still doing so as we speak.



Revolutionary Conception of Citizen

It is not enough to point out a problem if one cannot propose a solution or guide in that general direction at the least.

Of the four arguments presented by those in favor of IK's proposal, the Jus Soli argument was the strongest but its obvious flaws have been pointed out above and therefore it is not a viable option.

So logically one would assume that the only other alternative is the concept of Jus Sanguinis, citizenship conferred upon an individual based on the fact that either one or both parents are citizens of that particular state. However this concept too is flawed for the very reason that being born to parent(s) who are already citizens doesn't necessarily mean that one will be loyal to his/her Nation. As Pakistanis we know this better than anyone considering that we have no shortage of disloyal individuals in positions of power despite them being born within this nation to citizen parents.


Citizens, Subjects & Foreigners

In place of the above two conceptions, both of which are flawed in one way or another, we offer a radically different conception of the citizen based on a hierarchical order of the inhabitants of society into three categories: citizens, subjects and foreigners.

NOTE: As an important side note, this concept of citizen, subject and foreigner is not originally my own idea. I have gotten this from another source who's name i cannot remember at this moment. Within this essay i have added a few of my own modifications here and there to the original concept in my attempt to tailor it to the unique requirements of the Pakistani Nation.

The subject is anyone born to parents who are either subjects themselves or are citizens of the state.

The foreigner is anyone who is a subject or subject equivalent of a foreign state (tourists, foreign diplomats, dignitaries, etc.).

What differentiates the subject from the citizen is that the former does not possess the privilege of participating in major decision making processes on the political level nor can they hold any public office.

In order for a subject to transition to the status of a citizen they would have to go through several phases which includes an obligatory patriotic education teaching them the importance of their heritage and National identity along with virtues like honesty, commitment, persistence, discipline, in addition to the regular subjects like math, science, and language along with physical education pertaining to fitness and physical health. The subject of history should be a patriotic National history. World history should only be optional for those who wish to pursue further studies in this field.

For the male subject, the final phase to go through in order to obtain the status of citizen is voluntary military service. Because it is voluntary it will naturally weed out those who are truly committed to the well-being of the nation, and thus are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, from those who are not.

The military in this regard will play a very important role because unlike civilian institutions, especially of the Liberal type, a military will always be patriotic because by its nature it must be, otherwise it would be nothing but a glorified police organization (current German Bundeswehr is an example).

Unlike Democratic civilian institutions which are full of humanitarians and blind sentimentalists, the military cannot spare the resources of its own troops to armies of adversaries. Whereas a Democrat will welcome the very enemies of his nation into his arms, an officer of the military cannot open his barracks to enemy troops, if he does he is considered a traitor (need i mention the fate of traitors in all militaries?). The lines are drawn and the distinctions are made. A soldier thinks for the long term (necessary for formulating strategies and tactics) whereas a Democrat only thinks for the next election cycle.

The hard life of a soldier will further inculcate necessary virtues within the subject which are unique to the military 'culture'; discipline, loyalty, obedience to authority, importance of hierarchy, merit, individual initiative in service of ones unit etc. Without these no military worth its salt can exist.


elite-pakistani-cadets-vie-for-admission-to-prestigious-us-military-academies-c8c1d408df8637df9461c0d47a94ae18.jpg

Image courtesy of: Source


Once the male subject has completed his voluntary military service he has now obtained the right of citizenship and can now return to civilian life.

For the female subject in order to transition to the status of a citizen she must get married and have at least one child with her husband with three being the maximum recommended limit. If the female subject happens to divorce her husband she loses her citizenship status. This is the case because women who are married and have at least one child think and make decisions for the long term because their children's well-being is intertwined with the Nations well-being since they now have a steak in it's future, whereas single women and single mothers vote differently. There are studies that indicate this and which can be searched on google.

The status of citizen comes with privileges but also obligations. The individual without honor or character, the common criminal, the traitor to the Nation, whether man or woman, will be deprived of their citizenship status and thus again becomes a subject.


Special Cases

But what of those who are born of a parent, either citizen or subject of the state, and a foreign national, say for example a Pakistani father and a Indian mother (or Pakistani mother and Indian father)? In that case such a person can never become a citizen of the state due to questionable loyalties, particularly within the Indo-Pak context, and the parent, should they be a citizen, will be deprived of their citizenship status. Such unions would be discouraged to begin with through the educational process as well as the phase of obtaining citizenship.

And what of those who are born of a parent, either citizen or subject of the state, and a foreign national not from the subcontinent, say for example a Nigerian? In that case too such a person can never become a citizen due to the identity issues that bi-racial persons experience which causes resentment towards those who have a coherent & mono-racial identity, and thus will not be able to make decisions in the interests of the Nation with whom they cannot relate with due to the incoherence of their own personal identity.


Quality Population over Quantity

So earlier i mentioned children being one of the pre-conditions for a female subject to qualify for the status of citizenship. I'm aware that currently there is an overpopulation crises in Pakistan and family planning is necessary. For this reason a quality population is preferred over a quantity population. Thus the maximum recommended limit for children will be three and not more which is enough to cover replacement levels for aging population while also maintaining a surplus young population to prevent an aging crises like the one faced by the Chinese as a result of their One Child policy. Also should a war break out a surplus young population is necessary.


Concluding Thoughts

Defining the concept of Nation and what it means to be the members (citizens) of this Nation is an issue of national importance and thus must be confronted with the best of interests at heart for the Nation and its future well-being. This is just my suggestion. Obviously theory on paper and theory in practice are two different things. Perhaps some things might need to be modified. I am open to productive criticism and counter suggestions.

@Psychic @Indus Pakistan @Taimur Khurram @Maarkhoor


 
Last edited:
. .
Lets ask one of our newest members of The Sindh Parliament what does it mean to be Pakistani.
Tanzeela Qambrani
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45099970

To the author of this article, I ask if he has studied studied the history of the subcontinent? Many of us Pakistanis claim Arab descent, but if we try to go to Saudi Arabia or Dubai would we be accepted as Arabs. I have meet a group of Saudi Students who upon first glance believed me to be Arab, but would not say I was Arab after learning I was a Pakistani.
 
. .
Khan didn't say he will give immigration to illegal immigrants... rather Afghan and Bengali ethnicities born in Pakistan
 
. .
Citizens, Subjects & Foreigners

Sounds fair and well balanced.
Conditions like patriotism and association with this land must be fulfilled before award of citizenship. It can only be awarded to a select few and not distributed like candies.
Others who are refugees, and are loyal to their own country, they can continue living as refugees.
 
.
Khan didn't say he will give immigration to illegal immigrants... rather Afghan and Bengali ethnicities born in Pakistan

Afghans born in Pakistan or not..........They MUST NOT be provided any citizenship.

Afghans, regardless of their status HATE you.

Stop appeasing and become strong, Pakistan
 
.
Nice job bro. Wish I could give a positive rating for it.
Thanks! Though I just realized I posted it in the wrong section. Should have posted it in Social and Current events section.

@waz or @WebMaster please move it to Social and Current events section

Sounds fair and well balanced.
Conditions like patriotism and association with this land must be fulfilled before award of citizenship. It can only be awarded to a select few and not distributed like candies.
Others who are refugees, and are loyal to their own country, they can continue living as refugees.
Precisely. Ultimately refugees need to return to their own homelands and develop them.
 
.
Afghans, regardless of their status HATE you.

Stop appeasing and become strong, Pakistan

This statement is no different from what Pakistani/Muslims hear in the west. "They hate us".

How can you say all Afghani's hate us? Even if they are third generation in Pakistan? They identify as Pakistanis rather than Afghani's.

Also giving nationality to people born in Pakistan is not appeasement, it Law of the land. If people don't like it, they can change it. But for now, each and every person born in Pakistan is a Pakistani by Law
 
. . .
@Desert Fox Superb post Sir virtually concur with everything you eloquently stated, I will ponder on to one point that generally on PDF the concept of "Ummah" to most Pakistanis is underestimated, if their was no concept of Ummah (on a individual level) then no Afghan would have been permitted to settle here when they were in a dire situation due to the Soviet intervention, without doubt if these folks were Ram Lals/Atheists NO ONE would have opened their homes, villages and workplaces to them, in fact I believe the then government would never have let them in, have these folks reciprocated our generosity, for the most part absolutely NO, yet if today another calamity of the same magnitude occurred (No the Yanks never carpet bombed Afghanistan) I suspect folks will once again open their arms out (half-heartedly I admit) to the Afghans as the spirit of Islamic principles (which defy materialistic capitalistic principles) has tended to heavily shape most of our values ever since the faith was embraced by our forefathers (primarily due to Naqashbandi Saints), in the situation of the Afghans the poor folk of Pakistan tolerated them due to the brutal atheistic occupation of the USSR however when it comes to these Benglerdeshis, virtually every Pakistani has nothing but SHEER and UTTER CONTEMPT for these losers for being here in the first place, these folks are mere "chancers" who have abandoned their own heritage for the Pakistani rupee, nothing more nothing less and any attempt to give citizenship to these folk will prove to be a calamity from which Sindh may never ever recover,,,,,,,I can totally understand your views on conscription however I adamantly believe that soldiering is not just a job but a profession, we need to maintain a strong disciplined professional army only made up of volunteers unless some Herculean calamity arises which requires every man of fighting age to enlist for the defence of the fatherland.Kudos bhai

In light of the recent statement by IK of granting citizenship to illegal Bangladeshi migrants and Afghan refugees and the ensuing discussions and debates that took place (on this very forum included) one cannot help but notice that in the minds of many Pakistanis there is a vague and questionable idea of what it means to be a Nation, because what it means to be a Pakistani has not been defined properly. There are only vague definitions, mostly copy-pasted from Western Liberal conceptions of Nationhood and citizenship because apparently by simply being born on its soil one can become a Pakistani citizen if one so chooses, or another ludicrous example is that all it takes to qualify for being a Pakistani citizen is to be a Muslim because Pakistan was "founded on Islam", as if religion is the sole basis of Nationhood. The arguments presented in favor of this conception need to be addressed.

But first we must clarify what it means to be a Nation.


Nation Defined

A Nation is not simply an aggregate of individuals living in the present. A Nation includes all of those who have passed away (its founders) and all of those who have yet to come. The former group, which includes heroes, martyrs, leaders, thinkers, men of culture (poets, writers etc.), etc., is the one which has contributed to the cultural, traditional and thus spiritual development of the Nation, its National consciousness, and thus its unique identity which bonds all members of the Nation together, giving it not only an understanding of its past but also an understanding of its destiny. All succeeding generations must not only cherish this heritage but must also contribute to it's growth and pass it down to those generations succeeding them.

In addition to the above, a Nation is forged through struggle in times of hardship, for it is these trials and tribulations which test the driving idea behind its inception, its unity, and should this Nation withstand and overcome the challenges facing it then it has proven its internal vitality, thus becoming worthy of the title, and out forth will come new heroes and positive role models for succeeding generations, in addition to the ones already known, and thus as a result further increase in cultural vitality and strengthening of the National consciousness of its members.

One can argue that Pakistan is currently comprised of various ethnic groups which are nations in themselves, which is true if one were to single out the individual ethnic groups and focus solely on that fact, however due to the thousands of years of coexistence in close proximity of each other and shared historical experiences, e.g. wars and conquests against a common enemy in the East, being descendants of the many original inhabitants of the Indus region, etc. the differences have been long since reconciled.

This is why, for example, when Pakistan gained its independence in 1947, during the First Kashmir war, Pashtun tribesmen volunteered to go and liberate Kashmir without hesitation or second thought, on the command of Quaid e Azam who was not even an ethnic Pashtun. There was no economic incentive for them to join Pakistan, which according to many wouldn't last long. This particular experience proved the loyalty of Pashtuns to the idea of Pakistan as a Nation for the Muslims of North Indian-Subcontinent and their willingness to commit to its further development.

Same is true for the original Muhajirs from territories in today's India, who left behind all property and familial relations and risked life and limb to make the journey which they were not guaranteed to survive, indeed which many did not survive. What motivated them was their belief not only in their religion but in the idea of a Pakistani Nationhood.

Anyone can immigrate in times of peace and claim citizenship. But it is hardship which is the true test of faith.

On the other hand, Bangladeshis did not identify with the idea of Pakistan and decided to opt out of the union because of their ethnic, geographic and cultural differences with the ethnic groups comprising modern Pakistan. However despite these differences they were lumped with Pakistan because of a misperceived notion that a shared religious faith was sufficient enough to qualify being included within this union and to hold it together. History proved this notion to be incorrect in 1971. Religion alone is not sufficient. Common historical origins, history, struggle, culture, traditions and a common goal etc. are just as important, if not more.

In Pakistan's case it's moments of truth were 1947 and 1971 when those who were devoted to the idea of Pakistan were distinguished from those who doubted it through the sacrifices they were willing to make, first towards its inception at a time when many doubted its existence and then later in 1971 when again it's founding idea was put to the test. It was during these two decisive moments that National unity triumphed over purely religious unity, particularly in 1971 when Bangla Muslims opted out of the union, viewing themselves as a distinct nation incompatible in a union with the Muslims of then West Pakistan.

In light of the above clarification of what a Nation is as holistically understood, let us now tackle the issue of citizenship and the arguments put forth by those favoring Imran Khan's position.


The Four Arguments Presented

Below are the four arguments pertaining to citizenship presented by those in favor of IK's suggestion :


1. Jus Soli argument

First one is the Jus Soli argument (the magic soil theory, that if someone moves to, or is born on a particular parcel of dirt within a given country they magically begin to think and act like the people of that nation and become its loyal citizens, and this is all it takes to qualify for citizenship).

This law exists within Pakistan however as @Nilgiri pointed out it is only valid for those who enter the country legally.

However the obvious problem with this concept is that most people migrate to a given nation (legally or illegally) for economic purposes and not out of love for the cultural, historical or ethnic makeup of that particular Nation. An obvious example of this is people who migrate to Western countries. They don't migrate to the West to study the Magna Carta, or to write a scholarly dissertation on Thomas Jefferson's life. They move to the West for its material benefits. Now of course there might be a very small minority of people who might leave their down trodden village in a third world country to move to America or Britain purely to study the Magna Carta or write a scholarly dissertation on Thomas Jefferson's life, but these people are exceptions to the rule and the exception does not define the rule.

Loyalty to material interests does not translate to loyalty to a Nation. To test this theory just ask any Pakistani in the West that in the hypothetical event that their host country goes to war with Pakistan, who's side will they choose? Will they choose the host nation which provides them material comfort? Or will they choose the homeland in which their forefathers are burried and with which they have a historical, cultural and ethnic connection? For most of us the answer is obvious.

In the case of refugees they migrate to flee danger and seek personal safety, and not to become a part of their host nation out of any genuine interest in the historical forces involved in it's inception or love or admiration for its founding fathers, culture, etc...

Therefore based on the above observable reality Jus Soli is not a valid basis for qualifying for citizenship and should be discarded.


2. The Ummah/religion based argument

The second argument being made was one based on some vague humanist/Ummah sentiment that does not really exist in real life because of its naivety and impracticability, especially considering the well-known historical event pertaining to the creation of Bangladesh as a separate country through a bloody divorce with Pakistan, founded on Bangla Nationalism. If being Muslim alone qualified for being a citizen of Pakistan then Bangladesh would have never separated. But that it did separate goes to show the importance of ethnicity, culture, common history, traditions, etc... Therefore a Nigerian cannot become a Pakistani purely on the basis of his faith when his ethnic/racial, cultural and historical identity lies with Nigeria, just as Bangladeshis strongly identified with Bangla Nationalism and not united Pakistan or its various ethnic groups which historically, ethnically and culturally have more in common with each other than they do with a Bangladeshi or a Nigerian.


3. The "they have been here for three generations" argument:

"They have been here for three generations! Pakistan is the only country they ever knew. Surely by now they must be integrated within Pakistani society?"

They were in Bangladesh for hundreds of generations, yet that didn't stop them from leaving their homeland for economic incentives and coming to Pakistan AFTER 1971, (particularly in the 70's & 80's when Pakistan's economy was league's ahead of that of Bangladesh) whether to stay here or to go further abroad to the West. Three generations is supposed to make them loyal to Pakistan? The same Pakistan which the ethnic government of their motherland taught them raped and killed 3 million of their ethnic kinsmen?

The fact remains these people are Bangladeshis and arrived here for economic incentives, and as long as Bangladesh exists as a symbol of Bangla Nationalism, in the back of their minds they will always identify with Bangla Nationalism because that is their ethnic homeland (land of their heroes, poets, etc.), whereas Pakistanis will always be alien to them and remain the nation which oppressed their people.


4. When all else fails

The last and final argument was nothing but emotional blackmail: "since Pakistanis immigrate to the West and would not like it if the West began to deport and deny citizenships to Muslims & Pakistanis therefore we should shut up and continue to take in the spawns of Sheikh Hasina and Ashraf Ghani."

What other nations do with their internal immigration policy is not our concern. We should be making these important decisions based on what is in the best interest of the Pakistani Nation (Nation in the truest sense of the meaning, as defined above). The fact that this even needs to be explained shows why foreigners have taken our country for a ride for so long and are still doing so as we speak.



Revolutionary Conception of Citizen

It is not enough to point out a problem if one cannot propose a solution or guide in that general direction at the least.

Of the four arguments presented by those in favor of IK's proposal, the Jus Soli argument was the strongest but its obvious flaws have been pointed out above and therefore it is not a viable option.

So logically one would assume that the only other alternative is the concept of Jus Sanguinis, citizenship conferred upon an individual based on the fact that either one or both parents are citizens of that particular state. However this concept too is flawed for the very reason that being born to parent(s) who are already citizens doesn't necessarily mean that one will be loyal to his/her Nation. As Pakistanis we know this better than anyone considering that we have no shortage of disloyal individuals in positions of power despite them being born within this nation to citizen parents.


Citizens, Subjects & Foreigners

In place of the above two conceptions, both of which are flawed in one way or another, we offer a radically different conception of the citizen based on a hierarchical order of the inhabitants of society into three categories: citizens, subjects and foreigners.

NOTE: As an important side note, this concept of citizen, subject and foreigner is not originally my own idea. I have gotten this from another source who's name i cannot remember at this moment. Within this essay i have added a few of my own modifications here and there to the original concept in my attempt to tailor it to the unique requirements of the Pakistani Nation.

The subject is anyone born to parents who are either subjects themselves or are citizens of the state.

The foreigner is anyone who is a subject or subject equivalent of a foreign state (tourists, foreign diplomats, dignitaries, etc.).

What differentiates the subject from the citizen is that the former does not possess the privilege of participating in major decision making processes on the political level nor can they hold any public office.

In order for a subject to transition to the status of a citizen they would have to go through several phases which includes an obligatory patriotic education teaching them the importance of their heritage and National identity along with virtues like honesty, commitment, persistence, discipline, in addition to the regular subjects like math, science, and language along with physical education pertaining to fitness and physical health. The subject of history should be a patriotic National history. World history should only be optional for those who wish to pursue further studies in this field.

For the male subject, the final phase to go through in order to obtain the status of citizen is voluntary military service. Because it is voluntary it will naturally weed out those who are truly committed to the well-being of the nation, and thus are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, from those who are not.

The military in this regard will play a very important role because unlike civilian institutions, especially of the Liberal type, a military will always be patriotic because by its nature it must be, otherwise it would be nothing but a glorified police organization (current German Bundeswehr is an example).

Unlike Democratic civilian institutions which are full of humanitarians and blind sentimentalists, the military cannot spare the resources of its own troops to armies of adversaries. Whereas a Democrat will welcome the very enemies of his nation into his arms, an officer of the military cannot open his barracks to enemy troops, if he does he is considered a traitor (need i mention the fate of traitors in all militaries?). The lines are drawn and the distinctions are made. A soldier thinks for the long term (necessary for formulating strategies and tactics) whereas a Democrat only thinks for the next election cycle.

The hard life of a soldier will further inculcate necessary virtues within the subject which are unique to the military 'culture'; discipline, loyalty, obedience to authority, importance of hierarchy, merit, individual initiative in service of ones unit etc. Without these no military worth its salt can exist.


elite-pakistani-cadets-vie-for-admission-to-prestigious-us-military-academies-c8c1d408df8637df9461c0d47a94ae18.jpg

Image courtesy of: Source


Once the male subject has completed his voluntary military service he has now obtained the right of citizenship and can now return to civilian life.

For the female subject in order to transition to the status of a citizen she must get married and have at least one child with her husband with three being the maximum recommended limit. If the female subject happens to divorce her husband she loses her citizenship status. This is the case because women who are married and have at least one child think and make decisions for the long term because their children's well-being is intertwined with the Nations well-being since they now have a steak in it's future, whereas single women and single mothers vote differently. There are studies that indicate this and which can be searched on google.

The status of citizen comes with privileges but also obligations. The individual without honor or character, the common criminal, the traitor to the Nation, whether man or woman, will be deprived of their citizenship status and thus again becomes a subject.


Special Cases

But what of those who are born of a parent, either citizen or subject of the state, and a foreign national, say for example a Pakistani father and a Indian mother (or Pakistani mother and Indian father)? In that case such a person can never become a citizen of the state due to questionable loyalties, particularly within the Indo-Pak context, and the parent, should they be a citizen, will be deprived of their citizenship status. Such unions would be discouraged to begin with through the educational process as well as the phase of obtaining citizenship.

And what of those who are born of a parent, either citizen or subject of the state, and a foreign national not from the subcontinent, say for example a Nigerian? In that case too such a person can never become a citizen due to the identity issues that bi-racial persons experience which causes resentment towards those who have a coherent & mono-racial identity, and thus will not be able to make decisions in the interests of the Nation with whom they cannot relate with due to the incoherence of their own personal identity.


Quality Population over Quantity

So earlier i mentioned children being one of the pre-conditions for a female subject to qualify for the status of citizenship. I'm aware that currently there is an overpopulation crises in Pakistan and family planning is necessary. For this reason a quality population is preferred over a quantity population. Thus the maximum recommended limit for children will be three and not more which is enough to cover replacement levels for aging population while also maintaining a surplus young population to prevent an aging crises like the one faced by the Chinese as a result of their One Child policy. Also should a war break out a surplus young population is necessary.


Concluding Thoughts

Defining the concept of Nation and what it means to be the members (citizens) of this Nation is an issue of national importance and thus must be confronted with the best of interests at heart for the Nation and its future well-being. This is just my suggestion. Obviously theory on paper and theory in practice are two different things. Perhaps some things might need to be modified. I am open to productive criticism and counter suggestions.

@Psychic @Indus Pakistan @Taimur Khurram @Maarkhoor


@Moonlight
 
.
In light of the recent statement by IK of granting citizenship to illegal Bangladeshi migrants and Afghan refugees and the ensuing discussions and debates that took place (on this very forum included) one cannot help but notice that in the minds of many Pakistanis there is a vague and questionable idea of what it means to be a Nation, because what it means to be a Pakistani has not been defined properly. There are only vague definitions, mostly copy-pasted from Western Liberal conceptions of Nationhood and citizenship because apparently by simply being born on its soil one can become a Pakistani citizen if one so chooses, or another ludicrous example is that all it takes to qualify for being a Pakistani citizen is to be a Muslim because Pakistan was "founded on Islam", as if religion is the sole basis of Nationhood. The arguments presented in favor of this conception need to be addressed.
You sound as though citizenship is being forced upon these refugee...I hope in near future you never have to label yourself or your descendants as refugee...The label itself is derogatory...it strips rights off the people and makes them a mass/ bunch of nobodies! The refugees (if you have even taken 1 course on studies related to people on conflict land you would learn a lot!) are not willingly on our land and the reason for a refugee is a temporary asylum/ protection (which Islam itself also dictates).....But the war in Afghanistan has crossed generations! This word doesnt fit them any longer....Like frustrated Pakistanis there are an ever growing frustrated Afghanistanis....

As for defining Nation is tough in Pakistan...Its 70+ yrs old and people will no sooner call themselves Punjabi, Balouchi, Sindhi, Pukhtoon than to call themselves Pakistani....They have an attachment to a limited part of Pakistan and MANY cant seem to see any link between themselves and the "others"....THIS IS A PROBLEM! A problem that arises as embarassment for 2 Ramadan dates, 2 Eid-ul-Fitr, 2 Eid-Ul-Adha....and by extension the same people who live in the west instead of following their moon/ council will follow the decision of that back home making sure the split is across oceans!

What defines a Nation was already stated when Pakistan was born now if people cant digest that 70+ yrs on then THERE REALLY IS A PROBLEM! This problem is the reason we are not united....The same problem was apparent when a Khan was to be PM? I literally heard many people stating how can we vote for a Pakhtoon...He was seen as a Pakhtoon first before a Pakistani and his philanthropist side was ignored altogether.

You want to know what makes a Nation? Ask those who dont have a country to go to (Palestinians) or one who is beaten on their own land (Kashmiri) or people who are denied rights based on their colour no matter what they do (American Africans). Ask people who had to struggle for the word Nation not people who got it free as a birth right!

the differences have been long since reconciled.
I beg to differ on this part....If the differences had been reconciled...then why in Karachi a Sindhi will blame a Pukhtoon for taking his job while a Pukhtoon will blame a Punjabi for killing his xyz relative? The blame game is incredible!

If differences were reconciled why was it hard for many Punjabis to understand Khan a pukhtoon had won elections?

I can also give you examples in academia in famous universities where Professor level people literally claim words like we dont allow Pukhtoon in our department or "thank god we dont have Sindhi".....generalizing insults for whole communities and "nations" still happens at the highest of levels so what can one expect from the average Joe in Pakistan?

Therefore based on the above observable reality Jus Soli is not a valid basis for qualifying for citizenship and should be discarded.
Your point is flawed....Based on military alone you cant judge anything! I mean we have Durrani ex ISI leader who was born and bred on this land/ was a citizen and worked his way up the ranks and still chose to turn his back on us.....We have plenty of these kinds....So asking who will fight for which land really isnt a criteria of any form to judge anything! Coz if it was none of those who are in security positions - retired generals/ ISI related people/ politicians would back-stab us coz after all by your definition they passed the test of loyalty when they were in uniform, right?

The second argument being made was one based on some vague humanist/Ummah sentiment that does not really exist in real life because of its naivety and impracticability, especially considering the well-known historical event pertaining to the creation of Bangladesh as a separate country through a bloody divorce with Pakistan, founded on Bangla Nationalism. If being Muslim alone qualified for being a citizen of Pakistan then Bangladesh would have never separated. But that it did separate goes to show the importance of ethnicity, culture, common history, traditions, etc... Therefore a Nigerian cannot become a Pakistani purely on the basis of his faith when his ethnic/racial, cultural and historical identity lies with Nigeria, just as Bangladeshis strongly identified with Bangla Nationalism and not united Pakistan or its various ethnic groups which historically, ethnically and culturally have more in common with each other than they do with a Bangladeshi or a Nigerian.
Ummah is not synonym to same land nor synonym to 1 country.....Ummah is larger than that...it is not material like land/ country....it is a feeling of belonging or like minds... Under the Ummah banner 5-6 countries of different backgrounds can be closely knit based on a common goal say Islam...In the WEST it was Anti USSR/ Pro America...When you come together coz of Islam you are Ummah when you dont see eye to eye doesnt make you less part of anything....Just coz Bangladesh chose to become another country it is not failure of Ummah or anything but a choice...Ummah doesnt diminish such choices nor does it dictate joint at the hip!

Historical identity would make sense if one knew their history and didnt always claim to be from Arab or Iran and always deny their own Hindu ancestors! In Pakistan one would deny their Indian ancestor to be part of this Nation...But DNA doesnt lie...I am not saying EVERYONE...but SOME! It seems to have become a calling card to reject Indian ancestry.....

Three generations is supposed to make them loyal to Pakistan? The same Pakistan which the ethnic government of their motherland taught them raped and killed 3 million of their ethnic kinsmen?
No 3 generations makes them belong.....3 generations in UK and the 3rd generation calls him/herself as British Pakistani not just Pakistani ....the same 3rd generation ALSO gets the shock of their lives when they are married in Pakistan to a Pakistani from Pakistan....

As for the rape and kill....To my understanding in state of war a lot of shit goes down and we all know no one is an angel...blaming 1 side is disturbing! I know Bangladeshi families who migrated to West Pakistan when Bangladesh got independence...Imagine, being Eastern Pakistani with different identity their whole lives and they were Pakistani overnight! So 3rd generation of being in Pakistan....they def deserve more...

Did these 3rd generation do that crime? If they didnt why put it on them? Or ask them to speak for crimes they didnt commit nor were born when happened?! It is like asking you about Adam AS's "apple eating" mistake...you werent present! Or Nabi yusuf's choice to run away from his task and end up in the belly of the fish? Or ask you about what some Khalifah were thinking when they were building castles and keeping concubines which was against Islam? Any of these got anything to do with you? No...Were you asked when these blunder were committed? No! Then how can you lay this upon them?

in the back of their minds
You dont know their minds... You cant speak on their behalf! Citizenship is a choice...not a forced identity! If that is in their mind they wont go for citizenship, but you assuming so much is really showing more about you than them!

What other nations do with their internal immigration policy is not our concern. We should be making these important decisions based on what is in the best interest of the Pakistani Nation (Nation in the truest sense of the meaning, as defined above). The fact that this even needs to be explained shows why foreigners have taken our country for a ride for so long and are still doing so as we speak.
Sure how is it of the Nation's interest to look like a tyrant? How is it the Nation's interest to soil our image? This nation has not had a proper policy that it has followed, not our foreign policy where we bend it to fit America, not our internal policies where law and order is a myth so what kind of policy are you addressing for this?

What differentiates the subject from the citizen is that the former does not possess the privilege of participating in major decision making processes on the political level nor can they hold any public office.
We do have a word for it...We attribute it to the West...it is called 3rd class citizen...where you are a Muslim but not allowed to practice it openly ;)

In order for a subject to transition to the status of a citizen they would have to go through several phases which includes an obligatory patriotic education teaching them the importance of their heritage and National identity along with virtues like honesty, commitment, persistence, discipline, in addition to the regular subjects like math, science, and language along with physical education pertaining to fitness and physical health. The subject of history should be a patriotic National history. World history should only be optional for those who wish to pursue further studies in this field.
I would suggest first teaching our own "citizens" the meaning of cleanliness and that SHOULD be a part of our national identity!

For the male subject, the final phase to go through in order to obtain the status of citizen is voluntary military service. Because it is voluntary it will naturally weed out those who are truly committed to the well-being of the nation, and thus are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, from those who are not.

The military in this regard will play a very important role because unlike civilian institutions, especially of the Liberal type, a military will always be patriotic because by its nature it must be, otherwise it would be nothing but a glorified police organization (current German Bundeswehr is an example).

Unlike Democratic civilian institutions which are full of humanitarians and blind sentimentalists, the military cannot spare the resources of its own troops to armies of adversaries. Whereas a Democrat will welcome the very enemies of his nation into his arms, an officer of the military cannot open his barracks to enemy troops, if he does he is considered a traitor (need i mention the fate of traitors in all militaries?). The lines are drawn and the distinctions are made. A soldier thinks for the long term (necessary for formulating strategies and tactics) whereas a Democrat only thinks for the next election cycle.

The hard life of a soldier will further inculcate necessary virtues within the subject which are unique to the military 'culture'; discipline, loyalty, obedience to authority, importance of hierarchy, merit, individual initiative in service of ones unit etc. Without these no military worth its salt can exist.
This is good in theory but not in practice...Our own general is sitting in exile...We have Durrani from ex ISI who is running away from justice....So far military didnt teach these kinds how to own what wrong they did so how can you assure that a refugee who has seen enough turmoil his whole life hasnt already gone through something similar?

For the female subject in order to transition to the status of a citizen she must get married and have at least one child with her husband with three being the maximum recommended limit. If the female subject happens to divorce her husband she loses her citizenship status. This is the case because women who are married and have at least one child think and make decisions for the long term because their children's well-being is intertwined with the Nations well-being since they now have a steak in it's future, whereas single women and single mothers vote differently. There are studies that indicate this and which can be searched on google.
Ohh I didnt know we had angels in Pakistan...I mean every Pakistani isnt an abuser no all are lovely men who never beat their wives or cause them harm...Poor lady would have live with a total asshole just to prove she is loyal? WOW! That sure isnt Pakistan but some crooked fantasy of yours I bet!

The status of citizen comes with privileges but also obligations.
And where is the obligations for the citizens who leave trash in touristic places or even a simple park? Who is tracking that?

Such unions would be discouraged to begin with through the educational process as well as the phase of obtaining citizenship.
This is becoming absurd!
I dont think we have any clause in the constitution that checks on who your spouse is!

Quality Population over Quantity
If that is what you want, get the courts in order...Because there is a lot of quality controlling that needs to be done!
 
.
In light of the recent statement by IK of granting citizenship to illegal Bangladeshi migrants and Afghan refugees and the ensuing discussions and debates that took place (on this very forum included) one cannot help but notice that in the minds of many Pakistanis there is a vague and questionable idea of what it means to be a Nation, because what it means to be a Pakistani has not been defined properly. There are only vague definitions, mostly copy-pasted from Western Liberal conceptions of Nationhood and citizenship because apparently by simply being born on its soil one can become a Pakistani citizen if one so chooses, or another ludicrous example is that all it takes to qualify for being a Pakistani citizen is to be a Muslim because Pakistan was "founded on Islam", as if religion is the sole basis of Nationhood. The arguments presented in favor of this conception need to be addressed.

But first we must clarify what it means to be a Nation.


Nation Defined

A Nation is not simply an aggregate of individuals living in the present. A Nation includes all of those who have passed away (its founders) and all of those who have yet to come. The former group, which includes heroes, martyrs, leaders, thinkers, men of culture (poets, writers etc.), etc., is the one which has contributed to the cultural, traditional and thus spiritual development of the Nation, its National consciousness, and thus its unique identity which bonds all members of the Nation together, giving it not only an understanding of its past but also an understanding of its destiny. All succeeding generations must not only cherish this heritage but must also contribute to it's growth and pass it down to those generations succeeding them.

In addition to the above, a Nation is forged through struggle in times of hardship, for it is these trials and tribulations which test the driving idea behind its inception, its unity, and should this Nation withstand and overcome the challenges facing it then it has proven its internal vitality, thus becoming worthy of the title, and out forth will come new heroes and positive role models for succeeding generations, in addition to the ones already known, and thus as a result further increase in cultural vitality and strengthening of the National consciousness of its members.

One can argue that Pakistan is currently comprised of various ethnic groups which are nations in themselves, which is true if one were to single out the individual ethnic groups and focus solely on that fact, however due to the thousands of years of coexistence in close proximity of each other and shared historical experiences, e.g. wars and conquests against a common enemy in the East, being descendants of the many original inhabitants of the Indus region, etc. the differences have been long since reconciled.

This is why, for example, when Pakistan gained its independence in 1947, during the First Kashmir war, Pashtun tribesmen volunteered to go and liberate Kashmir without hesitation or second thought, on the command of Quaid e Azam who was not even an ethnic Pashtun. There was no economic incentive for them to join Pakistan, which according to many wouldn't last long. This particular experience proved the loyalty of Pashtuns to the idea of Pakistan as a Nation for the Muslims of North Indian-Subcontinent and their willingness to commit to its further development.

Same is true for the original Muhajirs from territories in today's India, who left behind all property and familial relations and risked life and limb to make the journey which they were not guaranteed to survive, indeed which many did not survive. What motivated them was their belief not only in their religion but in the idea of a Pakistani Nationhood.

Anyone can immigrate in times of peace and claim citizenship. But it is hardship which is the true test of faith.

On the other hand, Bangladeshis did not identify with the idea of Pakistan and decided to opt out of the union because of their ethnic, geographic and cultural differences with the ethnic groups comprising modern Pakistan. However despite these differences they were lumped with Pakistan because of a misperceived notion that a shared religious faith was sufficient enough to qualify being included within this union and to hold it together. History proved this notion to be incorrect in 1971. Religion alone is not sufficient. Common historical origins, history, struggle, culture, traditions and a common goal etc. are just as important, if not more.

In Pakistan's case it's moments of truth were 1947 and 1971 when those who were devoted to the idea of Pakistan were distinguished from those who doubted it through the sacrifices they were willing to make, first towards its inception at a time when many doubted its existence and then later in 1971 when again it's founding idea was put to the test. It was during these two decisive moments that National unity triumphed over purely religious unity, particularly in 1971 when Bangla Muslims opted out of the union, viewing themselves as a distinct nation incompatible in a union with the Muslims of then West Pakistan.

In light of the above clarification of what a Nation is as holistically understood, let us now tackle the issue of citizenship and the arguments put forth by those favoring Imran Khan's position.


The Four Arguments Presented

Below are the four arguments pertaining to citizenship presented by those in favor of IK's suggestion :


1. Jus Soli argument

First one is the Jus Soli argument (the magic soil theory, that if someone moves to, or is born on a particular parcel of dirt within a given country they magically begin to think and act like the people of that nation and become its loyal citizens, and this is all it takes to qualify for citizenship).

This law exists within Pakistan however as @Nilgiri pointed out it is only valid for those who enter the country legally.

However the obvious problem with this concept is that most people migrate to a given nation (legally or illegally) for economic purposes and not out of love for the cultural, historical or ethnic makeup of that particular Nation. An obvious example of this is people who migrate to Western countries. They don't migrate to the West to study the Magna Carta, or to write a scholarly dissertation on Thomas Jefferson's life. They move to the West for its material benefits. Now of course there might be a very small minority of people who might leave their down trodden village in a third world country to move to America or Britain purely to study the Magna Carta or write a scholarly dissertation on Thomas Jefferson's life, but these people are exceptions to the rule and the exception does not define the rule.

Loyalty to material interests does not translate to loyalty to a Nation. To test this theory just ask any Pakistani in the West that in the hypothetical event that their host country goes to war with Pakistan, who's side will they choose? Will they choose the host nation which provides them material comfort? Or will they choose the homeland in which their forefathers are burried and with which they have a historical, cultural and ethnic connection? For most of us the answer is obvious.

In the case of refugees they migrate to flee danger and seek personal safety, and not to become a part of their host nation out of any genuine interest in the historical forces involved in it's inception or love or admiration for its founding fathers, culture, etc...

Therefore based on the above observable reality Jus Soli is not a valid basis for qualifying for citizenship and should be discarded.


2. The Ummah/religion based argument

The second argument being made was one based on some vague humanist/Ummah sentiment that does not really exist in real life because of its naivety and impracticability, especially considering the well-known historical event pertaining to the creation of Bangladesh as a separate country through a bloody divorce with Pakistan, founded on Bangla Nationalism. If being Muslim alone qualified for being a citizen of Pakistan then Bangladesh would have never separated. But that it did separate goes to show the importance of ethnicity, culture, common history, traditions, etc... Therefore a Nigerian cannot become a Pakistani purely on the basis of his faith when his ethnic/racial, cultural and historical identity lies with Nigeria, just as Bangladeshis strongly identified with Bangla Nationalism and not united Pakistan or its various ethnic groups which historically, ethnically and culturally have more in common with each other than they do with a Bangladeshi or a Nigerian.


3. The "they have been here for three generations" argument:

"They have been here for three generations! Pakistan is the only country they ever knew. Surely by now they must be integrated within Pakistani society?"

They were in Bangladesh for hundreds of generations, yet that didn't stop them from leaving their homeland for economic incentives and coming to Pakistan AFTER 1971, (particularly in the 70's & 80's when Pakistan's economy was league's ahead of that of Bangladesh) whether to stay here or to go further abroad to the West. Three generations is supposed to make them loyal to Pakistan? The same Pakistan which the ethnic government of their motherland taught them raped and killed 3 million of their ethnic kinsmen?

The fact remains these people are Bangladeshis and arrived here for economic incentives, and as long as Bangladesh exists as a symbol of Bangla Nationalism, in the back of their minds they will always identify with Bangla Nationalism because that is their ethnic homeland (land of their heroes, poets, etc.), whereas Pakistanis will always be alien to them and remain the nation which oppressed their people.


4. When all else fails

The last and final argument was nothing but emotional blackmail: "since Pakistanis immigrate to the West and would not like it if the West began to deport and deny citizenships to Muslims & Pakistanis therefore we should shut up and continue to take in the spawns of Sheikh Hasina and Ashraf Ghani."

What other nations do with their internal immigration policy is not our concern. We should be making these important decisions based on what is in the best interest of the Pakistani Nation (Nation in the truest sense of the meaning, as defined above). The fact that this even needs to be explained shows why foreigners have taken our country for a ride for so long and are still doing so as we speak.



Revolutionary Conception of Citizen

It is not enough to point out a problem if one cannot propose a solution or guide in that general direction at the least.

Of the four arguments presented by those in favor of IK's proposal, the Jus Soli argument was the strongest but its obvious flaws have been pointed out above and therefore it is not a viable option.

So logically one would assume that the only other alternative is the concept of Jus Sanguinis, citizenship conferred upon an individual based on the fact that either one or both parents are citizens of that particular state. However this concept too is flawed for the very reason that being born to parent(s) who are already citizens doesn't necessarily mean that one will be loyal to his/her Nation. As Pakistanis we know this better than anyone considering that we have no shortage of disloyal individuals in positions of power despite them being born within this nation to citizen parents.


Citizens, Subjects & Foreigners

In place of the above two conceptions, both of which are flawed in one way or another, we offer a radically different conception of the citizen based on a hierarchical order of the inhabitants of society into three categories: citizens, subjects and foreigners.

NOTE: As an important side note, this concept of citizen, subject and foreigner is not originally my own idea. I have gotten this from another source who's name i cannot remember at this moment. Within this essay i have added a few of my own modifications here and there to the original concept in my attempt to tailor it to the unique requirements of the Pakistani Nation.

The subject is anyone born to parents who are either subjects themselves or are citizens of the state.

The foreigner is anyone who is a subject or subject equivalent of a foreign state (tourists, foreign diplomats, dignitaries, etc.).

What differentiates the subject from the citizen is that the former does not possess the privilege of participating in major decision making processes on the political level nor can they hold any public office.

In order for a subject to transition to the status of a citizen they would have to go through several phases which includes an obligatory patriotic education teaching them the importance of their heritage and National identity along with virtues like honesty, commitment, persistence, discipline, in addition to the regular subjects like math, science, and language along with physical education pertaining to fitness and physical health. The subject of history should be a patriotic National history. World history should only be optional for those who wish to pursue further studies in this field.

For the male subject, the final phase to go through in order to obtain the status of citizen is voluntary military service. Because it is voluntary it will naturally weed out those who are truly committed to the well-being of the nation, and thus are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, from those who are not.

The military in this regard will play a very important role because unlike civilian institutions, especially of the Liberal type, a military will always be patriotic because by its nature it must be, otherwise it would be nothing but a glorified police organization (current German Bundeswehr is an example).

Unlike Democratic civilian institutions which are full of humanitarians and blind sentimentalists, the military cannot spare the resources of its own troops to armies of adversaries. Whereas a Democrat will welcome the very enemies of his nation into his arms, an officer of the military cannot open his barracks to enemy troops, if he does he is considered a traitor (need i mention the fate of traitors in all militaries?). The lines are drawn and the distinctions are made. A soldier thinks for the long term (necessary for formulating strategies and tactics) whereas a Democrat only thinks for the next election cycle.

The hard life of a soldier will further inculcate necessary virtues within the subject which are unique to the military 'culture'; discipline, loyalty, obedience to authority, importance of hierarchy, merit, individual initiative in service of ones unit etc. Without these no military worth its salt can exist.


elite-pakistani-cadets-vie-for-admission-to-prestigious-us-military-academies-c8c1d408df8637df9461c0d47a94ae18.jpg

Image courtesy of: Source


Once the male subject has completed his voluntary military service he has now obtained the right of citizenship and can now return to civilian life.

For the female subject in order to transition to the status of a citizen she must get married and have at least one child with her husband with three being the maximum recommended limit. If the female subject happens to divorce her husband she loses her citizenship status. This is the case because women who are married and have at least one child think and make decisions for the long term because their children's well-being is intertwined with the Nations well-being since they now have a steak in it's future, whereas single women and single mothers vote differently. There are studies that indicate this and which can be searched on google.

The status of citizen comes with privileges but also obligations. The individual without honor or character, the common criminal, the traitor to the Nation, whether man or woman, will be deprived of their citizenship status and thus again becomes a subject.


Special Cases

But what of those who are born of a parent, either citizen or subject of the state, and a foreign national, say for example a Pakistani father and a Indian mother (or Pakistani mother and Indian father)? In that case such a person can never become a citizen of the state due to questionable loyalties, particularly within the Indo-Pak context, and the parent, should they be a citizen, will be deprived of their citizenship status. Such unions would be discouraged to begin with through the educational process as well as the phase of obtaining citizenship.

And what of those who are born of a parent, either citizen or subject of the state, and a foreign national not from the subcontinent, say for example a Nigerian? In that case too such a person can never become a citizen due to the identity issues that bi-racial persons experience which causes resentment towards those who have a coherent & mono-racial identity, and thus will not be able to make decisions in the interests of the Nation with whom they cannot relate with due to the incoherence of their own personal identity.


Quality Population over Quantity

So earlier i mentioned children being one of the pre-conditions for a female subject to qualify for the status of citizenship. I'm aware that currently there is an overpopulation crises in Pakistan and family planning is necessary. For this reason a quality population is preferred over a quantity population. Thus the maximum recommended limit for children will be three and not more which is enough to cover replacement levels for aging population while also maintaining a surplus young population to prevent an aging crises like the one faced by the Chinese as a result of their One Child policy. Also should a war break out a surplus young population is necessary.


Concluding Thoughts

Defining the concept of Nation and what it means to be the members (citizens) of this Nation is an issue of national importance and thus must be confronted with the best of interests at heart for the Nation and its future well-being. This is just my suggestion. Obviously theory on paper and theory in practice are two different things. Perhaps some things might need to be modified. I am open to productive criticism and counter suggestions.

@Psychic @Indus Pakistan @Taimur Khurram @Maarkhoor


Excellent piece of writing.This is just an explained version of the thread i opened few days ago.I just wrote things briefly.
The west welcomed plenty of immigrants from all over the globe because they had an aging crisis ans shortage of labour.They did that for their own economic survival.But now when there is sufficient supply of labour things are very different.
According to me and what is also happening in the west these days loyalty and the spirit of nationalism are the most important requirements of citizenship and the nation in incomplete without these two requirements.Those who possess these two traits can sacrify themselves for their nation regardless of low satisfied or dissatisfied they are materially.
 
.

Latest posts

Pakistan Defence Latest Posts

Back
Top Bottom