The issue of recognition of various languages as national languages in Pakistan cannot be seen in isolation. The language crisis has a direct link with the politics of ethnicity in Pakistan and fraction of the overall socio-political crisis of the state, which in fact was the outcome of the politics of communalism, the genesis of the freedom and independence. Imposition of Urdu on Bengali and other centuries old languages by the founder of Pakistan, Mr. Jinnah was the first outcome of the politics of communalism, which pushed Bengalis to the wall and finally they went their way.
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” This proverb fits in the national language bill 2010, presented by 22 legislators (MNAs) from PPP and PMLQ in the house, demanding to amend article 251 of the Constitution and declare Balochi, Punjabi, Pushto, Shina/Balti, Sindhi, Siraiki and Urdu as national languages. The bill was presented on private member day by Nawab Yousuf Talpur of PPP with the signatures of 15 PPP legislators followed by 7 PMLQ MNAs.
The bill seeks to replace Article 251 of the constitution that specifies Urdu as the only national language of the country. The proposed replacement reads: “The national languages of Pakistan are Balochi, Punjabi, Pushto, Shina/ Balti, Sindhi, Seraiki and Urdu.”
The bill is referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice, which has already rejected another bill by a majority vote, presented by MNA Marvi Memon, to declare eight provincial and regional languages as national languages. The committee under the chairpersonship of Begum Nasim Akhtar Chaudhry voted against the bill by saying that these were mere dialects and not languages.
by Zulfiqar Halepoto, Courtsey to View Point
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