International Journal of Educational

Science and Research (IJESR)

ISSN 2249-6947
Vol. 3, Issue 2, Jun 2013, 69-74
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

IMPACT OF URBANIZATION ON POLITICAL CULTURE A CASE STUDY OF

FAISALABAD CITY
MUGHEES AHMED1 & RAHEELAASFA2
1

Chairman/Associate Professor, Department of Political Science & International Relations, Government College
University Faisalabad, Pakistan
2

Lecturer, Department of Political Science & International Relations, Government College University, Faisalabad,
Pakistan

ABSTRACT
This study proposed a model of individual voter behavior that can be applied to aggregate data at the urban area
levels while accounting for differences in political preferences across rural, regions and across voters within each district.
How political preferences in Faisalabad deviate from the average voterand how each candidate outfits to average voter
preferences withindistrict. The voter first evaluates the candidatesto decide whether or not to cast his vote, and then
choosesthe candidate who provides him with the highest value. Unobservable voters within each urban and rural area may
be observed through the study of their voting behavior. In this study impact of urbanization on voting behavior of the
voters of district Faisalabad is discussed. Analytical and behavioral approach is adopted in this piece of work

KEYWORDS: Analytical and Behavioral Approach, Sandhilianwali, Arab Baddu Race

INTRODUCTION
Settlement
Faisalabad is situated in central Punjab.This district consists of six sub-divisions. The people of Sandal Bar
(Before1891 this area was vast tropical forest called Sandal bar) belonged to Arab Baddu race. According to census of
1891 its population was 64,610.1 The real work of colonization began in February 1892. In a letter No. 327 of 22 nd July
1891, from the Revenue Secretary, Punjab Government explained as follows the principles for the distribution of the land.
It seemed essential to preserve the tradition of Punjab. No other general frame of society is at present either possible or
desirable in the Province. An area has been reserved for capitalists. Capitalist forming in general is not a system suitable to
the Punjab. But a moderate infusion of the capitalist element is not without advantages. It supplies natural-leaders for the
new society. It gives opportunity to Government to reward its well-deserving servants.2
In 1892 the settlers on waste land were from all over the Punjab and belonged to cultivator families settled. Under
the system followed for the colonization of the area and the considerations which weighed with the colonists actually
determined the composition and character of the later days inhabitants of this colony who laid the foundation of a stable
and prosperous rural society. 3 The local people were annoyed on this settlement. They detested the interference in their
liberty and frightened the settler. Locals were in outer circle while Muslim settlers were in the middle and Hindus and

Gazetteer of the Chenab Colony 1904,(1996) Lahore, Sang-e-Meel Publications, pp14-17.

Ibid. p.29.

Pasha, MuhammedZagham$ Shahi,Shaukat Ali(1996) History of Lyallpur nowFaisalabad, Faisalabad, KitabMarkaz, p.126

70

Mughees Ahmed & Raheelaasfa

Sikhs were settled in inner circle.4

Sketch of colonization scheme of Sandal Bar (Faisalabad)

Circle 1: Faisalabad city and surroundings

Circle 2: Toba, Sumandari, Sahianwala, Barnala, Aminpur, Nawan Lahore, Gojra.,
Locals are in circle 3. This area is including. Sandhilianwali, Kamalia, Tandla, KunjwaniSatyana, Jhamara,
Jarranwala, Chiniot, Mochiwala(Jhang)
Division of immigrants by district
Table 1: Population of Immigrants
District
Population Biradari Persons Muslims
Sialkot
103,390
Jatt
230,250 150,602
Amritsar
67,963
Arain
70,246
70,234
Jallandhar
43,593
Rajput
43,935
40,120
Gurdaspur
43,593
Gujjar
6,580
6,402
Hoshiarpur
35,099
Pathan
4,750
4,750
Source, Gazetteer of the Chenab Colony1904,pp.36, 57

Hindus
19,139
-- -- -1,120
154
----

Sikhs
60,318
12
2,677
24
----

After independence a large number of refugees came here. Reasons were,

Huge population of Sikhs and Hindus were migrated to India and they left productive agricultural land and
Muslim refugees of East Punjab were settled here.

Relatives of already settled Muslims of east districts came here .The land of circle 1(see sketch) allotted to
refugees which was closer to Lyallpur (Faisalabad) city.

Being an industrial city and big grain market it was an attractive city for labors.
Productive land and near to market helped the refugees to develop their economic status. They started to take part

in politics. Pasha comments on the situation Only a society like the one which developed in the Colony area could
successfully face the challenge of the arrival of a large number of the refugees from the East Punjab after independence
and their rehabilitation on the land abandoned by the non- Muslim owners in Lyallpur (Faisalabad). Its rural population in
1947 was about seven lac which rose to 18, 70,000 by 1951. 5

Ahmed, Mughees, Dr.(2004) Faisalabad Division keSiasat per Biradarism kayAsraat,Ph.D Thesis, Department of Political Science, B

Z University, Multan, s p 45.

5

Pasha, MuhammedZagham$ Shahi,Shaukat Ali(1996) History of Lyallpur now Faisalabad, Faisalabad, KitabMarkaz, p.126

Impact of Urbanization on Political Culture a Case Study of Faisalabad City

71

Urbanization
Faisalabad city population detail is given in table
Table 2: Population of Faisalabad City
1901
5,000
1906
13,483
1947
80,000
1951
1,79,144
1961 4,25,248 1972
8,33,000
1981 11,04,000 1998 19,70,000 (District,53,40,771)
Source: census reports.( Ahmed, Mughees, Dr.(2004) Faisalabad Division keSiasat per
Biradarism kayAsraat,Ph.D Thesis, Department of Political Science, B Z University,
ultan,p.68
Numbers mentioned in table 2 show the mixed culture of Faisalabad where along with locals and
Abadkars(settlers) a huge number of refugees came from different east districts. Although earlier situation was same but
religious elements disappeared and biradari factors came into sight in local culture to fill the gap of leadership and contest.
Ahmed Ghazali writes about this mixed cuture; mixing of local biradaries and migrated created a new type of culture
which jumbled the previous one 6
The population of Faisalabad was 2152401 in 1951, which had jumped to 5429547 during 1998, an increase of
150% in 47 years showing in average increase of 3.2 % per annum. Faisalabad city, which had a population 9171 in 1901
jumped 179000 in 1951, had further jumped to 2009000 during 1998 census. The total increase in 47 years is 1000%,
which is 21.3 % per annum.In 1951 population of city was 2152401. In 1998 it was 5429547; hence an increase of 150% in
47 years. In 1901 population of Faisalabad City was 9171. In 1951 population of Faisalabad City jumped to 2009000.
Total approximately population of Faisalabad City in 2012 was 3547446.
Impacts of Urbanization on Voting Behavior
There are 11 National Assembly and 22 Provincial Assemblys seats in Faisalabad district. In the last election
(2002) total voters of district were 31, 87,283. Biradarism (caste politics) looks prominent element of electoral politics of
Faisalabad district. The first general elections were held in 1970 and Pakistan peoples party got success in the district.
Political ideology decreased biradari elements but successful candidates were belonged to major biradaries. From 1977 to
date election results confirmsbiradari influences on politics.
Because of biradari importance to the decisive middle class voters, every major political party acknowledged it
and supported its implementation as in ticket balancing. Political parties carefully weigh the relative strengths and
weaknesses of candidates seeking tickets, including the strength of their biradaris(clans).7So, political parties are occupied
by biradaries. Biradaries cannot sort out by ideology. Every biradari join a political party to oppose other biradari. If one
joins Muslim League the other biradari will support Pakistan Peoples Party and next time the result will different when A
join PP, B will automatically support PML. However, the results of Faisalabad city are different. Local political leaders
have an attitude of changing their parties.12

6
7

Ghazali,Ahmed(1986) Sandal Bar, Lahore, Feroze Sons, p.101

Wilder, Andrew R.(1999),The Pakistani Voter: Electoral Politics and Voting Behaviour in The Punjab, Karachi: Oxford

University Press, P.190

72

Mughees Ahmed & Raheelaasfa

Political parties are high jacked by local biradaries. In this context,Martial Law gave much importance to
biradarism and this tendency increased because of the inhibition upon the political parties and biradarism being a large
content played a vital role in filling the gap of political parties and political leadership. Biradriescannot be ignored, whether
the elections are based on parties or non- party base. The local biradaries are the actual power in the political contest. It is
fact that biradries play a vital role in elections than political parties.. Wilder writes that A good deal of biradari, ticket
balancing is done between the candidates for a National Assembly seat and several the provincial assembly constituencies
within each.8and SameenaSaboohi (1990) concludes in her research discourse The Elections 85, 88, 90, the study of
District Faisalabad that the political parties kept in view the power of the biradri of the candidate in spite of loyalty with
party9 The analysis of the Herald Magazine (October 2002) points out the impacts of biradarism on the nomination of
candidates and the importance of biradries stayed behind the elections of 2002. 10
Biradari is a faction works as a pressure group within a political party. The means used by pressure groups to
apply pressure or influence on the government, legislature, administrators, political parties or agitation, persuasion,
political sniping or even bribery.17Andrew Heywood examine this situation in these words The pattern of interest-group
politics is also influenced by the party system. Dominant-party systems tend, quite naturally, to narrow the focus of group
politics, concentrating it on the governing party.

11

Table 3: Model of Voters

Kinds of
Voters

Commitment

Party
Loyalty

Biradari
Fidelity

Neutrality

Vote
Casting

Support

Status

Campaign
strengthen
Ideological Maximum
Maximum Minimum Nil
Maximum Maximum Contestant
General
Minimum
Minimum Normal
Minimum Normal
Normal
Participant
Neutral
Minimum
Minimum Minimum Maximum Normal
Nil
Contributor
Ignored
Nil
Minimum Minimum Maximum Normal
Nil
Decisive
Source; Survey report,Ahmed, Mughees, Dr.(2004) Faisalabad Division keSiasat per Biradarism kayAsraat,Ph.D
Thesis, Department of Political Science, B Z University, Multan,
Supporters

Maximum

Normal

Maximum

Nil

Maximum

Maximum

Supporters play initial role in election campaign. The candidates utilizing it properly can attract the voters but not
ultimate act for victory. These voters put the candidates in imaginary world and ensure them that success is not for away.
Sometimes cheaters surround the candidate in shape of supporters. Ideological voters are windfall for contesters and make
the political ideology strengthen. These voters are faithful to their party and cast their votes without any provision. This
vote bank still exists in Faisalabad city. General voters are in majority. They are just participant. They cast votes some
times on biradari base or political loyalty and personality attraction in exceptional. These voters change the atmosphere of
election and sometime erroneous expectations appeared. These voters maintain balance between candidates up to last part
and draw a line between contest and one sided victory.
Neutral voters are usually belonging to high and high middle class. They prefer to stay at home on Election Day.
They deceive the candidates and assure more than one to cast their vote in their favor. Ignored voters exist in every
8

Wilder, Andrew R.(1999),The Pakistani Voter: Electoral Politics and VotingBehaviour in the Punjab, Karachi: Oxford

University Press, p.183

9

Saboohi, Sameena( 1990) The Elections 85, 88, 90, the study of District Faisalabad Thesis, Lahore, Deptt. of Political

Science, University of the Punjab.

10
11

The Herald,Monthly(October,2002) Karachi.p.57.

Heywood,Andrew(1997) Politics, Macmillan Press LTD. London,P.261.

Impact of Urbanization on Political Culture a Case Study of Faisalabad City

73

constituency. These voters are decisive factor. Though, these are not in numerical fighting but play crucial role in ultimate
result. It concludes that biradari and ideology make balance and ignored voters decide the contest.

CONCLUSIONS
The main concern of this study has been the elaboration of voting behaviour of district Faisalabad. Kinds are
voters are also discussed briefly. biradari role in electoral politics is also discussed. It is concluded thatbiradariis one of
the major determinants of voting behaviour .It plays primary role in local politics. It is human nature to exercise ethnic
preference for their own group in the form of aggression against others. Biradri determined the political behaviour in the
rural areas of Faisalabad. Individualism is nothing. Voters are bound in their biradaries and they have no importance out of
biradri. Biradri is a basic unit in making electoral decisions. There is no party Identification, means psychological
attachment of a voter to a particular political party. Political scientist find voting behaviour is influenced by social class
plus one or more other factors, such as regions, ethnic group, religion and urban-rural differences.
People caste the votes to biradri. Biradri seemed stronger than political fidelity. Two elements are necessary for
the victory of candidate; one is the ticket of political party and the other is the favour of major biradri. Biradaries fills the
gap of leadership in the absence of strong national political leaders. People are already thinking of how to push forward
their families and clans in the next election. For a person to win, hed better belong to a dominating biradari. Every
political party had nominated candidates belonging to larger clans and major biradaries. It is fact that the issue of biradaribased politics and use of their outfit for political purposes is a game started by political parties and now they are forced to
fulfill the demands of major biradaries and it is due to lake of central leadership. This tendency can reduce through strong
political parties if they extend their influence to rural areas. The present circumstances will remain dominant because i, the
voters belonging to lower class in status are being ignored. ii, Political leadership is forced to compromise with nonpolitical powers. iii, Decisions are taking without concerning related factors. In short words the said voting behavior is not
going to be changed in near future.

REFERENCES
1.

Gazetteer of the Chenab Colony 1904,(1996) Lahore, Sang-e-Meel Publications, pp14-17.

2.

Ibid. p.29.

3.

Pasha, MuhammedZagham$ Shahi,Shaukat Ali(1996) History of Lyallpur nowFaisalabad, Faisalabad,

KitabMarkaz, p.126

4.

Ahmed, Mughees, Dr.(2004) Faisalabad Division keSiasat per Biradarism kayAsraat,Ph.D Thesis, Department of
Political Science, B Z University, Multan, s p 45.

5.

Pasha, MuhammedZagham$ Shahi,Shaukat Ali(1996) History of Lyallpur now

Faisalabad, Faisalabad,

KitabMarkaz, p.126
6.

Ghazali,Ahmed(1986) Sandal Bar, Lahore, Feroze Sons, p.101

7.

Wilder, Andrew R.(1999),The Pakistani Voter: Electoral Politics and Voting Behaviour in The Punjab, Karachi:
Oxford University Press, P.190

8.

Wilder, Andrew R.(1999),The Pakistani Voter: Electoral Politics and VotingBehaviour in the Punjab, Karachi:
Oxford University Press, p.183

74

Mughees Ahmed & Raheelaasfa

9.

Saboohi, Sameena( 1990) The Elections 85, 88, 90, the study of District Faisalabad Thesis, Lahore, Deptt. of
Political Science, University of the Punjab.

10. The Herald,Monthly(October,2002) Karachi.p.57.

11. Heywood,Andrew(1997) Politics, Macmillan Press LTD. London,P.261.