Caste discrimination in Pakistan
June 19, 2014
Caste system means a social setup in which classes are determined by inheritance. Caste is a permanent factor which is ascribed at the time of birth of any person. Pakistan is known for its people having a strong belief in the caste system. Society in Pakistan is divided into subclasses where individuals are not allowed to marry a person out of their caste, race or religion in most cases.
A 20-year-old woman from Peshawar was murdered by her brothers and father for attempting to marry a man outside her biradari and for bringing shame to the family. Mukhtaran Mai, a victim of gang-rape, is known for launching a bold public campaign for justice. Mai had to suffer ruthlessness at the hands of male-dominated society, as her younger brother had been blamed for speaking to a “higher caste” woman in her village. What is often reported, but never analysed, is the fact that Mai and her brother are from a “lower caste”.
Such practices are ritual-based system of social stratification. In Pakistan, some castes are considered highly respectable while some disrespectable. Lower castes are often persecuted by the upper castes.
People in Pakistan face greater discrimination just because of coming from lower castes. Pakistan’s actual culture has also been divided into different subcultures. Lower-caste people are unable to access schools and get jobs in urban areas as compared to rural regions, where discrimination is far higher. The caste system is dominant in the rural areas of Pakistan and is predominantly visible in the largest province of the country, Punjab. Political system emerging in this province is based mainly on the biradari system.
The inequality due to this caste system is severe and prevalent in parts of the country. People recognise each other on the basis of their caste. There should be only one lifestyle and people should believe in their one identification i.e. Muslims or Pakistanis. By focusing more on castes, people are losing the value of “one nation”.
Caste system in Pakistan is destroying our unity. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had told people in his address that there should be no distinction and discrimination on the basis of any caste and creed. He said that we should star with this fundamental principle that we are all equal citizens of one state, Pakistan. —Kinza Rafique
A 20-year-old woman from Peshawar was murdered by her brothers and father for attempting to marry a man outside her biradari and for bringing shame to the family. Mukhtaran Mai, a victim of gang-rape, is known for launching a bold public campaign for justice. Mai had to suffer ruthlessness at the hands of male-dominated society, as her younger brother had been blamed for speaking to a “higher caste” woman in her village. What is often reported, but never analysed, is the fact that Mai and her brother are from a “lower caste”.
Such practices are ritual-based system of social stratification. In Pakistan, some castes are considered highly respectable while some disrespectable. Lower castes are often persecuted by the upper castes.
People in Pakistan face greater discrimination just because of coming from lower castes. Pakistan’s actual culture has also been divided into different subcultures. Lower-caste people are unable to access schools and get jobs in urban areas as compared to rural regions, where discrimination is far higher. The caste system is dominant in the rural areas of Pakistan and is predominantly visible in the largest province of the country, Punjab. Political system emerging in this province is based mainly on the biradari system.
The inequality due to this caste system is severe and prevalent in parts of the country. People recognise each other on the basis of their caste. There should be only one lifestyle and people should believe in their one identification i.e. Muslims or Pakistanis. By focusing more on castes, people are losing the value of “one nation”.
Caste system in Pakistan is destroying our unity. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had told people in his address that there should be no distinction and discrimination on the basis of any caste and creed. He said that we should star with this fundamental principle that we are all equal citizens of one state, Pakistan. —Kinza Rafique
