OUR state is a delicate structure consisting of diverse ethnicities and provinces that preceded its creation. They elected to join, in fact create, Pakistan in 1947. A reflection, though under different circumstances, can be found in the 13 colonies, that having gained independence, united under the American constitution in the late 18th century. Accepting the primacy of states, the US constitution gives the centre limited powers. The 1940 Lahore Resolution, too, promised democratic devolution, regardless of its legal shape (which it didn’t define), with matters of autonomy left for later. But this promise wasn’t kept despite our need for it.
New countries thrive on the strength of four foundational traits: state
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