Punjab University Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS) organised a seminar on "East Pakistan Debacle and Our Contemporary Responsibilities" at the Centre here Saturday. Former Minister of Local Government Punjab Brigadier (Retd) Hamid Saeed Akhtar, Additional Commissioner Inland Revenue Syed Mahmud H. Jaffri and an eminent analyst Farrukh Sohail Govindi were the keynote speakers.
PU Professor Emeritus Dr Khawaja Muhammad Zakaria was the chief guest on the occasion. Brigadier (Retd) Hamid Saeed Akhtar discussed in detail the long-term and short-term historical factors that led to the creation of East Pakistan. He was of the view that unless the feudalism is uprooted, no country can progress. Syed Mahmud Jaffri said the concept of power sharing needs to be understood. The implications of six points of Sheikh Mujeeb-ur-Rehman are important event to this date.
He said that the language controversy (which was started in 1948) played a crucial role in the creation of East Pakistan and apart from this, ethnicity, social and cultural factors have also played a greater role in the separation. Farrukh Sohail Govindi said that we should listen to the problems of Balochis and try to resolve their problems.
Professor Dr Khawaja M Zakaria said that no doubt so many factors led to the debacle of East Pakistan; still it is the need of hour that we as a nation must fully realise our responsibilities and implement the Constitution of 1973 in letter and spirit. He said the political parties should develop a democratic culture with in the parties. It is high time, we should educate our youth in real sense, he said, adding, that youth should become pro-active and do not lose their sense of purpose and faith. He was of the view that youth should be given compulsory military training.