Difference between revisions of "Pakistan"
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| − | '''Pakistan''' is a country | + | The '''Islamic Republic of Pakistan''' is a country of south [[Asia]] created in 1947 as a state for [[Muslim]]s on August 14, 1947. It is bordered by [[Iran]], [[Afghanistan]], [[India]] and [[China]], and has a coastline on the [[Arabian Sea]]. Its capital is [[Islamabad]]; other major centres include [[Karachi]], [[Lahore]] and [[Peshawar]]. The nation is about 97% Muslim <ref>http://www.uh.edu/~sriaz/religion/index.html</ref>. |
| − | It was also interpreted as an abbreviation of | + | |
| + | The meaning of Pakistan is "Land of the pure". It was also interpreted as an abbreviation of the names ''P''unjab, ''A''fghana, ''K''ashmir, ''I''ran, ''S''indh, ''T''ukharistan, ''A''fghanistan, Baluchista''n''. At its creation in 1947 Pakistan was divided into two sections: West Pakistan (modern-day Pakistan) and East Pakistan (modern day [[Bangladesh]]}. West Pakistani oppression of the more populous east led to a rebellion in the east in 1970 under the Awami League of Sheik [[Mujib ur-Rahman]] (which had had electoral success, subsequently suppressed by west Pakistani troops). Indian military intervention in the conflict brought about the establishment of the state of Bangladesh. | ||
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| + | The primary founder of Pakistan was [[Mohammad Ali Jinnah]], inspired by the ideology of the Muslim poet Muhammad Iqbal. | ||
It has a film industry named Lollywood which is a copy of "Hollywood" and which is based in Lahore. Its current president is the military dictator General Pervez Musharraf who overthrew the previous president Nawaz Sharif after the Kargil War with India in 1999. It has nuclear weapons. Urdu is the national language of Pakistan with English being the official language used in the constituition. Pakistan is a multi-ethnic state with the majority being Punjabis (of the Pakistani province of Pakistani Punjab, ethnically related to the Punjabis of India) and with Sindhi (of the Pakistani province of Sindh, ethnically related to the Sindhi diaspora in India), Pukhtun, Muhajir (migrants from India who went to Pakistan during the formation of the state) and Baluch (ethnic Iranians) identity. | It has a film industry named Lollywood which is a copy of "Hollywood" and which is based in Lahore. Its current president is the military dictator General Pervez Musharraf who overthrew the previous president Nawaz Sharif after the Kargil War with India in 1999. It has nuclear weapons. Urdu is the national language of Pakistan with English being the official language used in the constituition. Pakistan is a multi-ethnic state with the majority being Punjabis (of the Pakistani province of Pakistani Punjab, ethnically related to the Punjabis of India) and with Sindhi (of the Pakistani province of Sindh, ethnically related to the Sindhi diaspora in India), Pukhtun, Muhajir (migrants from India who went to Pakistan during the formation of the state) and Baluch (ethnic Iranians) identity. | ||
Revision as of 09:47, August 31, 2007
| Pakistan | |
|---|---|
| Flag | |
| Language | English (official) |
| President | Pervez Musharraf |
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a country of south Asia created in 1947 as a state for Muslims on August 14, 1947. It is bordered by Iran, Afghanistan, India and China, and has a coastline on the Arabian Sea. Its capital is Islamabad; other major centres include Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar. The nation is about 97% Muslim [1].
The meaning of Pakistan is "Land of the pure". It was also interpreted as an abbreviation of the names Punjab, Afghana, Kashmir, Iran, Sindh, Tukharistan, Afghanistan, Baluchistan. At its creation in 1947 Pakistan was divided into two sections: West Pakistan (modern-day Pakistan) and East Pakistan (modern day Bangladesh}. West Pakistani oppression of the more populous east led to a rebellion in the east in 1970 under the Awami League of Sheik Mujib ur-Rahman (which had had electoral success, subsequently suppressed by west Pakistani troops). Indian military intervention in the conflict brought about the establishment of the state of Bangladesh.
The primary founder of Pakistan was Mohammad Ali Jinnah, inspired by the ideology of the Muslim poet Muhammad Iqbal.
It has a film industry named Lollywood which is a copy of "Hollywood" and which is based in Lahore. Its current president is the military dictator General Pervez Musharraf who overthrew the previous president Nawaz Sharif after the Kargil War with India in 1999. It has nuclear weapons. Urdu is the national language of Pakistan with English being the official language used in the constituition. Pakistan is a multi-ethnic state with the majority being Punjabis (of the Pakistani province of Pakistani Punjab, ethnically related to the Punjabis of India) and with Sindhi (of the Pakistani province of Sindh, ethnically related to the Sindhi diaspora in India), Pukhtun, Muhajir (migrants from India who went to Pakistan during the formation of the state) and Baluch (ethnic Iranians) identity.
Pakistan is divided into four main provinces, Pakistani Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and the North Western Frontier Provinces. Massive separatist movements are presently underway in the last two, and insurgents in Balochistan and Waziristan (in the N.W.F.P) have achieved significant success in recent years against the military dictatorship of Pakistan.
Pakistan is a country with very poor human rights record, particularly against minorities such as Christians, Hindus, Jews, Ahmadiyya Muslims and the Muhajir Urdu [2][3][4] [5] [6][7] [8]
References
Further reading
- Pakistan Christians demand help, BBC News, 16 May 2007.
- Christian sentenced to death for blasphemy, By Michael Ireland, WorldNetDaily,com, June 2, 2007.
