Building language, building province: Civil society and ethnic nationalism in Pakistan

ABSTRACT The Siraiki ethnic movement in Pakistan has gained prominence since the 2000s through its demand for the creation of a new province in the southern districts of Punjab. This article examines the crucial role played by civil society in the growth of Siraiki nationalism. Starting from the 1960s, the Siraiki intelligentsia engaged in identity construction through an emphasis on recognition of Siraiki as a language separate from Punjabi. Having achieved this goal in 1981, the Siraiki movement quickly moved towards territorial ambitions with the adoption of the demand for creation of a Siraiki province in south Punjab. This claim gained momentum after the 18th Amendment to the Pakistan constitution in 2010 that gave rise to the demand for new provinces from ethnic minorities. The question of a south Punjab province became part of mainstream politics when it was adopted by the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the 2013 and 2018 elections, respectively. Throughout the evolution of the Siraiki movement towards the agenda of a new province, civil society acted as the prime agency for ethnic mobilization.