Special Rapporteur on Minorities

Mr. Chairman,

Concerning the continuation of the special rapporteur on Minorities it may be appropriate to note one particular case as a subject for further study, i.e the question of provincial autonomy as in Pakistan. In Pakistan we have a conglomeration of various ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious groups which chose to live in a shared geographic entity on the basis of a common historical experience.

The founding fathers of this country showed much pragmatism in determining that it could best function as a state by becoming a federation, rather than a unitary state . In its ideal scheme, the federation was born out of a voluntary cession of powers by the federating units to the centre - the basic concept being to promote unity in diversity, a common milieu of existence and all without sacrificing the typical ethno-linguistic, cultural, national and regional identities of the federating units.

But the federal system in Pakistan has suffered from structural weaknesses and from the aggrandizement of power at the centre at the expense of the federating provinces.

The centre made full use of its authority to gather as much power under its wings as possible.

Aggrandizement of excessive power and its abuse by the centre has been especially injurious, if not fatal, to the Federation in a state like Pakistan with all its too obtrusive fault lines of myriad cultures, languages, sectarian beliefs and economic disparities.

Mr. Chairman, Pakistan is an illustration of a state where Provincial Autonomy would be an answer to some of the Minority Problems. The Special Rapporteur on Minorities should undertake to elucidate such problems where they exist within a state.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.