Nationhood and the Nationalities in Pakistan Hamza Alavi Whereas in Europe nations were constituted into states, in post-colonial societies the problem is inverted- states have to be transformed into nations. This problem tends to be less acute where national liberation has been achieved through a long-drawn mass struggle, but the movement for Pakistan had a trajectory which did not include such a process. Political debate and conflict in Pakistan have revolved around the question: what is the legitimate place of sub-national aspirations and demands within a larger concept of Pakistani nationhood? The worst contradictions of the politics of ethnicity have been concentrated and have taken violent forms in Sindh.