Caste system in Pakistan

Presented by
Uzma Batool

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Naila Rafique

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Anam Rafique

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Faiza jamil
Iram shahzadi
Noor-ul-Ain
Hina mazhar

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Table of Contents
Caste system in Pakistan............................................................................................ 1
Presented by............................................................................................................... 1
Different castes in Pakistan........................................................................................ 2
Caste....................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction............................................................................................................. 2
Butt: food lovers......................................................................................................... 3
Rajput: the princes..................................................................................................... 3
Jutt: the brave............................................................................................................ 3
Titles........................................................................................................................ 3
Sheikh: trade people.................................................................................................. 3
Mughal: the builders................................................................................................... 3
Qureshi....................................................................................................................... 4
Arain: the zamindars.................................................................................................. 4
Gujar........................................................................................................................... 4
Kamin castes.............................................................................................................. 5
Caste discrimination in Pakistan.................................................................................5
Conclusion.................................................................................................................. 6

Different castes in Pakistan

Caste
The word caste is derived from the Portuguese casta meaning lineage, breed, or
race.

Introduction
A caste system is a type of social classification which divides people on the
basis of inherited social status.
Although many societies could be described in this way, within a caste
system, people are rigidly expected to marry and interact with people of the
same social class
Butt
Rajpot
Jutt
Sheikh
Mughal
Qureshi
Mehar
Gujjar

Butt: food lovers

(Kashmiri surname) is a common surname used in Kashmir Valley.
In Pakistani Punjab, the local Punjabis use "Butt" as a collective term

Rajput: the princes

Rajputs ("son of king") are a prominent social group of India,Pakistan and
Nepal.

 They claim descent from the ancient royal warrior dynasties of india and
have roots to Rajputana, which is a part Rajisthan.

Jutt: the brave

The Jutt people are a traditionally agricultural community in Northern India and
Pakistan
The history depicts the Jats as a brave, courageous and loyal caste
Mostly settled in rural areas

Titles
Bajwa, Kahlown, Alokh, Goraya, Cheema, Chathas, Sahi

Sheikh: trade people

Sheikh is an Arabic word meaning elder of a tribe, lord, Honorable or
Islamic scholar.
Generally attributed to Muslim trading families.
Mostly came from persia (Iran),Central asia Turkic tribes and Arabs.

Mughal: the builders

The Mughal (Mistry) -Mughal dynasty that ruled India.
During the fall of the Mughal empire most of the Mughals that survived
were
Forced to flee,
Leaving their land and wealth behind.
With their love for Architecture, they took to work as builders (Mistry).
Others took to metal work (Lohar) and Carpentry (Tarkhan)

Qureshi
Origin
The name signifies ancestry from the Quraish, the Arab tribe that Prophet
Muhammad belonged to.
The name/term Quraishi signifies Arab ancestry in South Asia. Quraishi is a
multiethnic community in South Asia, spread across Pakistan, India and
Bangladesh.

Arain: the zamindars

The Arain (Urdu: )are a Muslim tribe of Pakistan who are found
mainly in the Punjab province and also that of Sindh.
They are chiefly associated with farming, and the legal profession, with some
being zamindars (landlords).
The Arains are historically exclusively Muslim
Their origins are uncertain, with some members of the community claiming
a connection with the Rajputs

Gujar
Gujjar is considered an important and historical Tribe.
The majority of Gujjars are found in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.

Kamin castes
"Kamin is the term for a low caste of tenants and craftsmen in the Punjab and in
the corner between the River Kabul and the River Swat."
The term Kamin prevails in the Punjab.
The word "Kami" which is customary there while between River Kabul and
Swat

Among the Kamis in the Punjab, the dominating castes are the Musalli,
Mirasi and Dom in regard to their professions

Caste discrimination in Pakistan

In Pakistan people have a strong belief in caste system. Society in Pakistan is divided into
subclasses where individuals are not allowed to marry a person out of their caste\
A 20-year-old woman from Peshawar was murdered by her brothers and father for attempting to
marry a man outside her biradari
These stories have a familiar ring. Variants occur with alarming regularity in Pakistan; some
covered by the media, but most covered up by the silence, fear and helplessness of the
victims; and the indifference of the rest of society.

Such practices are ritual-based system of social stratification. In Pakistan, some castes are
considered highly respectable while some disrespectable. Lower castes are often persecuted (casue
to suffer or oppress ) by the upper castes.
People in Pakistan face greater discrimination just because of coming from lower castes. Pakistans
actual culture has also been divided into different subcultures. Lower-caste people are unable to
access schools and get jobs in urban areas as compared to rural regions, where discrimination is far
higher. The caste system is dominant in the rural areas of Pakistan and is predominantly visible in
the largest province of the country, Punjab. Political system emerging in this province is based
mainly on the biradari system.
I have an example of a boy who is effected by caste discrimination, this is a story of a boy who is a
son of daily wager.
LAHORE: Sabir Arif, a student of finance and cost management in one of Lahores private
institutions lives in a hut made of wood, cloth and plastic sheets. His only source of income is
the private tuitions
How he face caste discrimination just hear in his own voice .
The inequality due to this caste system is severe and prevalent in parts of the country. People
recognize each other on the basis of their caste. There should be only one lifestyle and people
should believe in their one identification i.e. Muslims or Pakistanis. By focusing more on castes,
people are losing the value of one nation.
Caste system in Pakistan is destroying our unity. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had told
people in his address that there should be no distinction and discrimination on the basis of any
caste and creed. He said that we should star with this fundamental principle that we are all equal
citizens of one state, Pakistan.

Conclusion
We always feel that a society based on the values of
freedom and equality will not be deeply effected by

caste conflict, but as we have seen the situations

explained in caste discrimination
These ugly incidents have one thing in common i.e
caste discrimination ( in every situation caste still
matter