Pakistan is a country described as democratic, where elections are held to choose the federal parliament and regional parliaments that play a role in forming governments. Despite this, the military is always present in any Pakistani political battlefield, whether external or internal. So, what role does the army have in the Pakistani state?
Last week, Pakistanis cast their votes in the general elections, with semi-final results showing a clear victory for supporters of the former detained Prime Minister Imran Khan with more than 93 seats out of the 266 contested, followed by the Islamic League party led by Nawaz Sharif with 75 seats, and then the People’s Party led by Asif Ali Zardari with 54 seats. The remaining seats were distributed among smaller parties and independents.
It has been rumored recently that Nawaz Sharif or his brother Shahbaz Sharif will again be the next Prime Minister because the army wants it.
Similarly to Imran Khan, Nawaz was previously convicted of corruption, leading to his removal from the position of Prime Minister in 2017 and his subsequent departure from the country.
It is widely believed in Pakistan that the army ensured Sharif’s rise to power and loss of power earlier, pushing for the rise and subsequent fall of Imran Khan in 2018 and 2022, respectively.
The Army Since the Establishment of Pakistan
Since Pakistan’s establishment in 1947, no Prime Minister has been able to complete a full five-year term as per the constitution, and three military coups have been executed.
In the first Pakistani government, Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan allocated 75% of the first budget of 1948 to defense, covering salaries and preparation costs for the forces.
The army has always been driven by the threat from India, encouraging the militarization of the state, providing a context for generals to increase their influence in internal politics and security policies.
Three Coups
The first coup in 1958, during an economic and political crisis, saw General Ayub Khan sidelining the government and suspending political activities. People’s support for the army lent legitimacy to seizing power.
The second coup in 1977 followed Pakistan’s setback after its defeat in the war against India and the country’s division into Pakistan and Bangladesh in 1971.
Allegations of fraud in the 1977 elections against the Pakistan People’s Party led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto from the opposition National Alliance led to martial law being imposed, with General Zia-ul-Haq taking over power in the 1977 coup, leading to Bhutto’s execution in 1979 after a trial.
The third coup in 1999 saw Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf oust Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The Army’s Compelled Intervention
Former Defense Minister, retired General Naeem Khalid Lodhi acknowledges the army’s political intervention in Pakistan, stating that it was compelled to do so to safeguard the country’s supreme interests, security, and protect it from external threats.
Lodhi highlighted that mismanagement by some government heads and political leaders, as well as corruption, prompted the army to expand its powers and intervene in governance to protect national interests and unity.
He emphasized that Pakistan’s unique circumstances dictate a high status for the army as there is a giant neighboring enemy (India) and specific security challenges along the borders with Afghanistan and Iran.
Regarding the political figures suitable for leading the country, Lodhi, while respecting Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari, pointed out the alleged corruption and poor governance in their parties’ past administrations, with a history of familial inheritance within their parties. He considered Imran Khan the best choice to lead the country presently, given his reputation for integrity despite the accusations against him.
Although acknowledging the military’s role in toppling Imran Khan in 2022 and its reluctance to see him return to power, Lodhi revealed that he voted in the latest elections in favor of Imran Khan’s supporters.
Dependent on Army’s Satisfaction
Political analyst Abdul Karim Shah noted that since 1985, all those holding the position of Prime Ministers come with the army’s consent, and when the army sees that this official is deviating from their will, they dismiss them.
He added that this explains why no Pakistani government since the country’s inception has completed the constitutionally mandated five-year term.
Shah added that the two main parties in the country, the People’s Party and the Islamic League, worsened the situation over the years when they alternated power, creating an opening for the Movement for Justice party led by Imran Khan to win significantly in the 2018 elections. This victory was primarily due to public dissatisfaction with the traditional parties, accused of corruption, and Imran’s promises to fight corruption and improve the country’s situation.
Despite the army’s and Imran’s opponents’ efforts to defeat him in the elections, Imran’s supporters achieved a significant win, garnering the highest votes among the competing parties, despite allegations of fraud.
Shah emphasized that the Pakistani people in the recent elections voted against dynastic parties, referring to the People’s Party and the Islamic League, and the unconstitutional military involvement in politics.
He expressed regret that instead of acknowledging the people’s choice, the army compelled historically conflicting parties to form a coalition government, which he noted as being rejected by the public.
With the majority in opposition, it will be impossible for the government to pass legislation or constitutional amendments without the military’s support, depleting the parliament’s content and threatening political stability in the country.
Army Constricting Democracy
Writer and political analyst Asma Wadood believe that the army has always meddled in politics, significantly limiting democracy in the country and weakening governmental institutions.
In her interview, she pointed out that the Islamic League party, led by Nawaz Sharif, took advantage of the disagreements between Imran Khan and the army to seek a return to power through the recent elections, acknowledging their subservience.
Despite the military and Imran’s adversaries’ extensive efforts to defeat the latter in the elections, his supporters achieved a notable victory, obtaining the highest votes among the competing parties, although marred by alleged rigging.
Wadood stated that in the recent elections, the Pakistani people voted against the hereditary dynastic parties—the People’s Party and the Islamic League—and the military’s unconstitutional participation in politics.
She expressed dismay that instead of recognizing the people’s choice, the army pushed the historically conflicting parties to form a coalition government, which she deemed as publicly rejected.
Continued with her remark that with the majority in opposition, passing legislation or constitutional amendments without military support will be unfeasible, depleting the parliament’s substance and jeopardizing the country’s political stability.
