DISCURSIVE CONSTRUCTION OF REGIONAL IDENTITIES IN PAKISTANI PRINT MEDIA: A SOCIO-COGNITIVE ANALYSIS OF PROVINCIAL POLITICS

Abstract

This study explores the discursive construction of regional identities in Pakistani print media in the context of provincial politics. Drawing upon a socio-cognitive approach to Critical Discourse Analysis, thirty news excerpts from Dawn, The News International, and The Express Tribune are examined to uncover how regional identities are strategically framed and ideologically positioned. The findings reveal distinct representational patterns across newspapers: while Dawn foregrounds provincial autonomy, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan, against federal intervention, The News International frequently employs securitization and national-interest narratives that align with central authority, depicting ethnic movements such as PTM as externally influenced or disruptive. Discursive mechanisms such as binary framing, metaphorical categorization, and ideological positioning contribute to mental models that either legitimize central dominance or endorse regional solidarity. These representations not only reflect existing power hierarchies but also have the potential to shape public cognition regarding ethnic hierarchies and political legitimacy. The study contributes to understanding how print media actively participates in constructing regional identities within Pakistan’s federal structure. Limitations include the focus on a short time frame and exclusive reliance on print media, pointing to future research opportunities in digital media and longitudinal perspectives.