Islamabad, A recent survey by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan has revealed that half of the Pakistani population believes that East Pakistan should have remained a part of the country, even if the majority of voters in East Pakistan were in favour of creating Bangladesh in 1971.

According to Gallup Pakistan, the survey polled a nationally representative sample of adult men and women from across Pakistan. Participants were asked, “Imagine that in 1971, during the establishment of Bangladesh you were an adult and the majority of voters in East Pakistan were in favour of creating Bangladesh, then would you want to keep East Pakistan as part of Pakistan or would you support its separation?” Fifty percent of respondents expressed a desire for East Pakistan to remain part of Pakistan, while 17% supported the separation of East Pakistan, and 33% either did not know or provided no response.

This survey provides a unique insight into the current sentiments of Pakistanis regarding a pivotal historical event – the separation of East Pakistan and the formation of Bangladesh. The findings suggest a significant portion of the population still grapples with the historical separation and its implications on the national psyche.