Role of Military in the

Politics of Pakistan

INTRODUCTION:
Out of 69 years of Pakistans history approximately

33 years ruled by military directly and the

remaining years military remained hegemonic
force behind the political affairs of the country.

The main reason behind the military intervention is

the inefficiency and weakness of political

leadership of the country, which paved the way for
the military involvement in the politics of state.
Due to this military enjoyed a major role in the
political affairs of Pakistan.

The Role of Military in

Politics:
Military is the most organized and disciplined institution in

a state structure. The Main functions of this institution are

two, i.e.

1. To defend the country from any attack dictated from

outside.
2. To support the government in maintaining law and
order within the territorial jurisdiction of the state. It only
happens when government asks for their help. It is generally
in emergencies (natural calamities, accidents or politicoeconomics crises).
Sometimes while performing the latter function, the

military displaces the political rulers, take over power and

becomes actual sovereign.

Different opinion about Military rule:

There is difference of opinion among the scholars about the

impact of military rule in politics and society. A large number

of scholars said that militarys intervention in politics is a
positive development. It would create necessary conditions
for the protection of liberal democratic institutions and
facilitate economic development, social change and national
integration.
However on the other hand, a number of writers are very

much critical of militarys direct or indirect indulgence in

politics. A study, comparing data of 77 third world states
during 1966-70, concluded that the military is not necessary
an agent of change. Its performance in the field of
modernization and change was not very much different from
that of civilian regimes. Most of the states experiencing
military coups are poor and developing nations.

Factors Responsible for the

Military
Interventions:
Early death of Quaid-i- Azam and untimely assassination

of

Liaquat Ali Khan left the country with leaders who scrapped to
obtain powers of the government. In doing so, political elite
tried to seek and manipulate support of the weak bureaucracy
and string army.

Bureaucratic

personnel

like

Ghulam

Muhammad,

Ch.

Mohammad Ali and many others; Sikandar Mirza, Ayub Khan,

Azam Khan and other from the disciplined institution of the
military became active political leaders.

 Horse-trading

crept

in;

the

price-hike,

inflation

and

unemployment became a feature of the time. Political

Instability created a gap, which could have been bridged
either with bureaucracy or military. As the bureaucracy was
weak,

therefore,

the

ambitious

military

generals

were

tempted to take over to tame the wild forces of politics.

These factors contribute to disappointment and frustration in

society, which increases hostility of the masses from the

government, decreases the efficiency of the government
thereby encouraging political instability and undermining
economic development and social change to the extent that
political leaders find it hard to improve the conditions of the

Military & Politics in Pakistan:

Since Pakistans inception, the military has taken over

four times: Hassan Askari, Cohen, Ziring, Huntington

and a couple of others have studied and analyzed this
phenomenon

and

they

tried

to

encompass

the

phenomenon in Pakistan.
Hasan Askaris book on Military and Politics in Pakistan

has explained it with the help of different hypothesis in

order to discuss it in a comprehensive way.
Out

of

69

years

of

the

existence

of

Pakistan,

approximately 33 years the military remained in power.

Ayub Khans Era: The Development of Political

System
General Sikandar Mirza, the President of the country

imposed Marshal Law. General Ayub Khan was

appointed as the Chief Marshal Law Administrator
on 7th October 1958.

Ayub

Khan industrialized the country and

formulated policies to enhance business. The World
Bank gave a positive report regarding economic
development. Democratization also contributed
towards politicization and development of the
society.

In the industrial and agriculture sectors GDP

was increased to an extent that McNamara

wrote in the World Bank report that if Pakistan
would continue with the same GDP, Pakistan
would be in the developed countries of the
world within a decade.
System of basic democracies was introduced.
He introduced many reforms in the country.

The political parties who were out-distanced and

defeated formed a coalition and launched agitation

politics, the embedded discontentment and hatred
of Bengali, instead of being removed, became
aggravated. Ayub Khan tried to bridge the gap, but
failed.
The military regime could not control the situation

and Ayub Khan was compelled to leave that office.

It was a conception of some analysts that he
wanted to handover authority to the speaker of the
National Assembly, but General Yahyah Khan did

General Yahyah Khan:

General Yahyah Khan, after becoming the defecto

sovereign, announced that he would hold

elections and would transfer power to the elected
representatives. In order to please the opposition,
he abrogated the constitution, put an end to
basic Democracies dismembered one unit and
terminated services of many bureaucrats.
He introduced Legal Frame Work Order, the
primary function of which was to provide a set up
on which election code is conducted.
Awami League (AL) in East Pakistan and Pakistan
Peoples Party (PPP) in West Pakistan campaigned
for elections on a negative tone and succeeded in
getting majority of seats in the elections.

AL obtained almost all seats from East Pakistan and was

declared majority party. General Yahyah Khan perhaps wanted

to be accepted as the head of the state and the PPP wished to
be the ruling party and tried to manipulate to keep AL out of
power parlor. The democratic process was blocked as the
transfer of power was delayed, which propagated feelings of
distrust.

Consequently, agitational movement started in East Pakistan.

The government made efforts to control the situation through

political tactics and military strategy, but failed. Agitational
politics changed into an independence movement.

General Zia-ul-Haq:
General Zia-ul-Haq, one of the most trusted general of

Zulifqar Ali Bhutto, the Prime Minister, wrapped up the

game of civilian politics. He removed the elected
government.
He only suspended the constitution of 1973, promised

for election, but more keenly stated that Pakistan was

an Islamic Republic; therefore it should have an
Islamic texture and character. He Partly introduced
some of the Islamic injunctions, like Hadood
Ordinance; collection of Zakat and Usher; recognition
of Muslim Auquaf and salaried Ullemas and Maulvis. It
was an act of Islamization as most of the writers
believe.

The only issue that Zias government capitalized on was

Afghanistan crisis. He fought proxy war for United States

against Soviet Union in Afghanistan. In this context, he
openly or secretly obtained enormous amount to help
Afghan refugees or Mujahideen; managed to develop
nuclear capabilities; save Pakistan from regional covert
designs and managed to get US grant of 4.02 billion dollars.
Zia's

major domestic initiatives included the state's

Islamization, the consolidation of the fledgling nuclear
program, and denationalization and deregulation leading to
a revived economy. His tenure saw the disbanding of the
Baloch insurgency, as well as the condensation of civil and
political liberties. His endorsement of rightwing political
party Pakistan Muslim League initiated its mainstream
revival. However, he is most remembered for his foreign
policy; the subsidizing of the Mujahideen movement during
the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Pervaiz Musharraf
Coup (1999-2008)
In October, 1999 senior officers who were loyal to

army chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf detained prime

minister Nawaz Sharif and his ministers after
upsetting the Sharif regime's attempt to dismiss
Musharraf and prevent his plane from landing in
Pakistan as he returned from a visit to Sri Lanka.
The reason of his martial law was the Kargil issue.
He ruled Pakistan as Chief Executive from 1999 to

2001 and as President from 2001 to 2008. Facing

impeachment, he preferred to resign on 18
August 2008.

Unsuccessful Attempts

There

have been numerous unsuccessful coup

attempts in Pakistani history. The first noted
attempt was the Rawalpindi Conspiracy in 1949 led
by Maj. Gen. Akbar Khan
along with left-wing
activists and sympathetic officers against the
government of Liaquat Ali Khan, Pakistan's first
prime minister.
In 1980, a plot by Maj. Gen. Tajammul Husain Malik
to assassinate Zia-ul-Haq on Pakistan Day on March
23, 1980 was exposed.
In 1995, a coup attempt against the government of
Benazir Bhutto led by Maj. Gen. Zahirul Islam
Abbasi with the support of Islamic extremists was
stopped.

CONCLUSION:
Military intervention in political affairs is the

phenomenon of third world countries, the

nations who have got independence from their
colonial masters. Military being most disciplined
and trained institution often captures power
from civilian leadership. The reasons are
enormous.
Most important are the Political instability and
mismanagement of society by the civilian
leadership. Pakistan is also an example of those
countries that have experienced military coups
frequently.

General Zia-ul-Haq captures power from Zulifqar Ali

Bhutto in 1977 and imposed Martial Law. The main

reason was that political leadership was failed to decide
their affairs by themselves. After the General elections
of 1977 Bhutto was accused of having rigging at a very
larger scale. The opposition alliance of the county stated
a country wise movement against him. This provided an
opportunity to military to step in. With that military
regime of Zia has started which has ended after his
mysteries death in a plane crash in 1988.
Out of 69 years of Pakistans life 33 years the military
directly reined the country. Approximately 5 years were
taken by interim governments (holding of elections and
transferring of powers) and 22 years of the civilian
authority. Of these 22 years, 11 years the military was
indirectly
influencing
the
countrys
politics.