Military interventions in the politics of Pakistan

In Pakistan, military interventions in politics have occurred both directly, through military coups, and indirectly, through the establishment of hybrid regimes. ^{[1] [2] [3]} The country has seen its military directly govern for over thirty years throughout its history. ^[1] Even during periods of civilian rule, the military has exerted considerable influence over critical areas such as foreign affairs, national security, and the economy, despite assertions from the military that it has ceased its involvement in political matters. ^{[1] [4] [5]}

History

The first military coup in Pakistan took place in 1958 when Iskander Mirza declared martial law and appointed the then Army Chief, General Ayub Khan, as the chief martial law administrator. ^[1] This arrangement was short-lived as Khan quickly deposed Mirza, exiling him to England, and assumed the presidency himself. ^[1]

Khan's tenure was marked by increasing unrest, particularly in East Pakistan, which eventually led to his replacement by Yahya Khan in 1969, under the pretext of maintaining order. ^[1] The general elections of 1970, regarded for their fairness, resulted in political turmoil when the Awami Muslim League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from East Pakistan, was prevented from assuming power, leading to a civil war and the subsequent creation of Bangladesh in 1971. ^[1]

Following the conflict, martial law was lifted in 1972, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became prime minister in 1973 after the enactment of a new constitution. ^[1] Bhutto's rule ended in 1977 when Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq staged a coup amid allegations of electoral fraud against Bhutto. ^[1] Zia-ul-Haq's regime extended until his death in 1988, after which Pakistan experienced intermittent civilian rule, primarily under Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, though their administrations were marred by accusations of corruption. ^[1]

The last military coup occurred in 1999, led by Pervez Musharraf against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in the context of the Kargil conflict with India. ^[1] Musharraf's government, which was later sanctioned by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, held elections in 2002, leading to a government formed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid. ^[1]

In 2008, Musharraf resigned in the face of diminishing support and impeachment threats, ending the period of direct military rule. ^[1]

Causes

Military interventions in the politics of Pakistan, have been attributed to various factors including the military's vested interests, economic instability, poverty, weak institutional frameworks, widespread corruption, and a low level of political culture. ^{[6] [7]} Samuel Huntington points out that these interventions are not solely due to the military's ambitions but also stem from the fragility of political institutions and an underdeveloped political culture in these nations, which provide the military with opportunities to seize state power. ^[6]

Huntington also observes that military regimes often present themselves as temporary solutions, yet historical patterns indicate challenges in transitioning power back to civilian governments. ^[6] These regimes tend to focus on their own class interests and seek to maintain their popularity, but they often lack the capacity to effectively address complex national issues. ^[6] This leads to the establishment of new political systems that may appear more robust than their predecessors but do not fundamentally resolve the initial problems. ^[6]

During military rule, the importance of traditional political processes and authority is diminished. ^[6] Politicians may engage with the military to further their own future goals, but such collaborations seldom lead to significant improvements in the political system. ^[6] This pattern has been observed in Pakistan, where military coups have hindered the development of a stable and democratic political framework, contributing to ongoing political instability. ^[6]

References

1. Khurram, Shahjahan (February 4, 2024). "As elections near, a timeline of Pakistan's troubled history of military interventions". Arab News .
2. "Military Intervention in Politics: Contrasting Cases of Pakistan and India - Veena Kukereja, 1982".
3. Altaf, Hina (May 1, 2019). "History of Military Interventions in Political Affairs in Pakistan".
4. Kundi, Mansoor Akber (2003). "Militarism in Politics: A Case Study of Pakistan". Pakistan Horizon. 56 (1): 19–34 – via JSTOR.
5. Goldbaum, Christina (February 7, 2024). "It Was Once Pakistan's Military Stronghold. Now Even It Has Had Enough". The New York Times .
6. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/236406174.pdf
7. http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/studies/PDF-FILES/Article-3_V_12_No_2_Dec11.pdf

Further reading

• Shah, Aqil (2014). The Army and Democracy