KARACHI: With his usual wit and flair, former senator Javed Jabbar highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of Pakistan and Pakistani citizens during a lecture at the Arts Council here on Tuesday. The 31 elements pointed out by him reflect “both the diverse complexity and the unifying singularity of our country which will shape our idea of identity in the coming decades,” he said.

The lecture was organised in collaboration with the council and the Baanhn Beli welfare association to mark the 77th anniversary of the Lahore Resolution and the 70th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence.

The evening began with a verse from the Quran and Gayatri Mantra from the Bhagawad Gita. Arts Council president Mohammad Ahmed Shah and Baanhn Beli president Dr Shankarlal spoke briefly before the former senator took the stage.

Beginning his lecture titled ‘What is Pakistaniat?’, Mr Jabbar delved into what makes Pakistan stand out from other countries. His answers were based on excerpts from his book Pakistan — Unique Origins, Unique Identity, published in 2011. He spoke about the partition of India, the secession of East Pakistan, and the country’s military takeovers. “I was part of one such military intervention and I don’t apologise for it, although I do regret certain actions of former president Pervez Musharraf,” he said without elaborating.

He pointed out the 31 elements that, according to him, make Pakistan what it is today; a complex composite of different elements, some of which are in direct conflict with others. “As I thought of the answers as to what is Pakistaniat back in 2010, I ended up writing a book in which I encountered that very question. I came up with 22 positive answers and nine negative factors that form our nation together. I must add these elements are not based on speculation on my part; rather [they] exist amongst us all,” he said to a diverse audience.

He said Pakistan has four collective identities — individual, collective, evolving and assertive. Being Muslim in a predominantly Muslim country is part of the individual identity of a majority of Muslims who are part of Pakistan today and accept the pre-Muslim heritage of Mehargarh, Moenjodaro, Taxila and Harappa. “Even non-Muslims such as Christians, Zoroastrians, Sikhs and Ahmadis, also take pride in being citizens of this country,” he added.

Speaking about himself, he said: “I’m part of the second group of people, who collectively chose to accept Pakistan and migrated to its cities. My mother was left behind, many others left behind homes and friends. But not once did I ever regret my decision,” he said.

Mr Jabbar counted the late philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi and Dr Adibul Hasan Rizvi’s contributions as what binds Pakistanis together apart from, of course, victories against India in cricket, he added. Those concerned at the country’s growing problems are part of the troubled identity, he added, and those who take pride in the country’s armed forces, “despite their negative impact on the politics of the country”, are part of the group which assertively identifies itself with an “organisation they look up to”, he said. There’s also a tendency in many to be emotional and volatile rather than rational and balanced in their views about religion and Pakistan, he added.

“Apart from all the good that I pointed out, we do have a penchant as Pakistanis to believe in conspiracy theories and unwillingness to accept change. As these contrasts and conflicts reconcile or persist, these elements will probably shape a binding, enduring, Pakistani identity over the next several decades,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2017