POLITICS OF FEDERALISM AND NATIONALISM CAUSES SEPARATISM: THE CASE OF EAST PAKISTAN (1947-1971)

This qualitative paper, mostly based on secondary data, investigates the principles and practices of Federalism in united Pakistan that led to emergence ethno-based Bengali nationalism finally separation East Pakistan. was adopted as a form government unite various ethno-nationals, linguistic cultural groups but it failed keep two wings together because its basic were not followed. It argues geographically dividend pluralist society could be by accommodating interests diverse sections rather than eliminating pluralism itself. But unfortunately, then rulings elites particularly civil military bureaucrats Punjab always twisted federalism favor center which against spirit federalism. The centralized control over power resources disregard growing reservations caused ethnic nationalist tendencies subsequently disintegration Keywords: Federalism, ethno-national groups, representation at central legislature, centripetal verses centrifugal tendencies, separatism.