Language controversy played key role

LAHORE - Punjab University Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS) organised a seminar on East Pakistan Debacle and Our Contemporary Responsibilities at the Centre the other day.
Former Punjab minister for local government Brig (R) Hamid Saeed Akhtar, Additional Commissioner Inland Revenue Syed Mahmud H Jaffri and analyst Farrukh Sohail were the key note speakers.
PU Professor Emeritus Dr Khawaja Muhammad Zakaria was the chief guest on the occasion.
CSAS Director Prof Dr Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, while presenting the welcome address, said the Centre has set the tradition of organising regular monthly one-day seminars on contemporary issues.
He said it is the sign of the living nations that they learn lessons from their mistakes and do not repeat them.
Brig (R) Hamid Saeed Akhtar discussed in detail the factors that led to the creation of East Pakistan.
He was of the view that unless the feudalism is rooted out, no country can make progress.
Syed Mahmud Jaffri said that the concept of power sharing needs to be understood.
He said the language controversy (which was started in 1948) played a crucial role in creation of Bangladesh and apart from this, ethnicity, social and cultural factors also played a key role in the separation.
Sohail Govindi while focusing on future said that if we as a nation do not learn lesson from East Pakistan debacle, then God forbid, we will loose Balochistan also.
We should listen to the problems of Balochis and try to solve their differences in order to calm them down.
Prof Dr Khawaja M Zakaria said that no doubt so many factors led to the East Pakistan tragedy, still it is the need of hour that we as a nation must fully realise our responsibilities.
The 1973 Constitution should be implemented in its true letter and spirit and the leaders should be loyal to it.
He said that the political parties should develop a democratic culture within the parties.
It is the high time that we should educate our youth in real sense.
He said that the youth should become pro-active and should not lose their sense of purpose and faith.
He was of the view that youth should be given compulsory military training.
All speakers were of the view that language has played a key role in the creation of East Pakistan.
A large number of faculty members, MPhil and PhD scholars also attended the seminar.
The Nation: Dec 26, 2010