I am glad
@rockstar08 has softened his stance. Otherwise pressed this way by Runa he would be abusing Punjabis and others. Rockstar it will come slowly but I believe there is much in our ethnic identity that is wrong or suspect. Bro what is muhajirs? All that we have in common is that we moved from some part occupied by India. Not even all muhajirs speak urdu. If moving from one place or the other makes us muhajir then why do we not accept pashtuns in Karachi and Punjabis in Hyderabad as muhajir?
I think ethnic identity is not the start and the end. All that is its use is the protection of culture, identity, fashion, arts, language. If we keep it restricted to that and don't use it to vote it can greatly help us in building a Pakistan that is equal. But on average we don't actually think beyond ethnicity-partly why any debate on muhajir identity makes us feel threatened. Of course said identity has been used for at least 30 years if not 40 so its hard to get rid of it. But some points to ponder:
1) Has formation of MQM caused more problems for us or eased things for us. The way I see it people insult us more now. (Ie Zulfiqar Mirza, Shahi Syed) We also have a reputation now as not aap janab waley good natured people but gangsters.
2) Moving from place to place does not make anyone muhajir. We should rather call ourselves by our real identity. What is the real identity? It is Lucknowi for me-you never told me where you are from buddy. But others have the identity bihari, madrasi, gujrati.Identifying this, our real identity will help us promote our real culture.
3) We can merge with Madrasis who us north indians have no cultural affinity with but we find it hard to call a Punjabi or Sindhi our brother? I'd rather call him my brother than a person I barely have any link with. How come a Madrasi and Lucknowi are both muhajir but the punjabi an enemy?
4) We tend to hate Pashtuns thanks to the MQM but do you know that at least 10% of us, possibly more have pathan roots? The only difference is we forgot pashto. Even I have some links to Pashtuns though they are suspect and unproven. Do study the rohillas some time. Btw saulat mirza was actually a yousufzai settled in UP.
5) Another commonality among us is supposed to be urdu. But you will notice that urdu is not the only tongue of migrants. We also speak gujarati, marwari and other languages. So even urdu speaker is an incorrect term used to refer to us.
6) Muhajir is an insulting word we use for ourselves. Muhajir means migrant. We are settled in cities, are not nomads. So why this term for us? Why are MQM and other champions of muhajir rights intent on maintaining said identity. Simple. It gets them votes.
I will bring forth more points later.
@Patriots have a look.
@Waffen SS too. If you can reply point by point then it will be good debate.
