[DAWN] PAKISTAN'S blistered soul faces challenges from overlapping factors of ideology, language, ethnicity and multi-denominational belief systems. Within this disparateness, the pulpit is a constant that can unite or divide. Right to citizenship by birth and right to citizenship by blood cohabit awkwardly with religious imperatives.Denominations plus ethnic, ideological and language groups constantly seek ascendancy through violence. Their power base is usually religion, a balm to the soul that can also be its bane. Mismanaged hybrid ideologies compound the inherent instability of a young nation. Each group claims to uphold untainted ideals of democracy and social equality.
Language itself is not immune to the onslaught of purity. Urdu, English and Arabic are Pakistain's national, official and religious languages, respectively. Four provincial, five regional and the 60-odd minor languages fight hard to claim purity and disclaim cultural sedition. Fear and frustrated ambition can erupt to the surface and seek single-issue political platforms over a perception of purity.
With eight major and seven minor ethnic groups broadly grouped by language, purity rears its ugly head with the threat of ethnic purification lurking over the horizon.