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Power-sharing in Pakistan

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

After the bloody but successful raid against the Red Mosque in Islamabad, President
Pervez Musharraf decided to finally go to war against Pakistans growing number of
hardline, Taliban-style militants, even sending troops into the northwest frontier
provinces. This is welcome news for the United States, but it is set against the backdrop
of serious political problems for Gen. Musharraf.

Pakistans constitution requires Gen. Musharraf to resign his military commission before
seeking re-election, but the general has announced that he does not intend to do so. It
will be up to Pakistans Supreme Court to rule on the issue. Gen. Musharraf tactlessly
and unsuccessfully tried to sack the courts chief justice earlier this year, which spurred
violent protests and marked the beginning of the presidents political decline.

Gen. Musharraf wants to ensure his re-election by asking the current national and
provincial assemblies to elect the next president. His opposition wants to see a new
election first, one that is free from the manipulation that marred the 2002 election. That,
too, will be ruled on by the supreme court. Washington has also called for a free and fair
election, and, indeed, has good reason to do so. Gen. Musharrafs attempts to combat
terrorists and Islamists have been hamstrung by a lack of legitimacy. But to consider
democracy a panacea underestimates the complexity of Pakistans problems.

A civilian government is likely to have trouble exerting its authority over Pakistans
military leaders, which has been a problem Pakistan has grappled with in the past.
Washingtons choice is not between Musharraf and democracy, nor is it between
Musharraf and radical militants, wrote Daniel Markey, a senior fellow at the Council on
Foreign Relations. Rather, the choice is between an army chief (Musharraf or a
successor) in a coalition with progressives and moderates and an army chief in league
with other less appealing partners.
Observers agree that a truly free and fair election will not return Gen. Musharrafs
supporters to power, and that seems to have sent him looking for an alliance with his
mainstream opposition, led by exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Government
officials have confirmed reports that Gen. Musharraf and Mrs. Bhutto met last week in
the United Arab Emirates. Neither leader has talked publicly about the meeting, but Mrs.
Bhutto has insisted that any deal would require Gen. Musharraf to leave his military
command.

If the general tries to hold on to power by fixing the election or by declaring a state of
emergency and delaying the election altogether he would face widespread protests
that would compel him to either acquiesce or resort to violence, warns a recent report
from the International Crisis Group. The power-sharing deal with Mrs. Bhutto seems to
be Gen. Musharrafs best bet to retain some influence after the election, and it would
shift his base from Islamists to moderates. Coupled with a reinvigorated military
offensive, an agreement between Gen. Musharraf and secular moderates would augur
well for Pakistans battle against terrorists and Islamists, and for U.S. interests.

Politics of Pakistan
The Politics in Pakistan (Urdu: ) takes place within the framework under which the
country is established by the Constitution.[1] Classified itself as a nation-state in South
Asia, Pakistan is an Islamic and federal parliamentary republic with Islam being its state religion.
[2]
Stipulations set by the Constitution to provide a delicate check and balance ofsharing
powers between Executive, Parliament, and Judicature are reserved as the federal
government shares sovereigntywith the provincial governments.[3]

The Prime Minister of Pakistan solely leads the executive government which is independent of
the state parliament.[4] Abicameral parliament that is composed of two chambers the Senate (upper
house and the National Assembly (lower house).[5] The Judicature branch forms with the composition
of the Supreme Court as an apex court, alongside the high courts and other inferior courts.[6][7] The
judiciary's function is to interpret the Constitution and federal laws and regulations.
[8]
The President of Pakistan is a ceremonial figurehead who represents the unity of the nation-state;
the presidency is a vital part of the Parliament.[9]

Since 1947, the military establishment have played an integral and influential role in country's
politics.[10][11][12] As an aftermath of the large-scale conventional war with India in 1971, the two-
party system has dominated in Pakistan's politics; although there have been a sharp rise of other
political parties.[13][14] Political spectrum has been dominated by the competition between the Pakistan
Peoples Party (left-wing) and the Pakistan Muslim League-N (right-wing), however there has been a
sharp rise in the Social Democracy led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf since the 2000s.[15]
[16]
Elections are held every five-consecutive years. The new governments are formed through direct
elections followed by the electoral college.[17] The early years of the 2000s saw the rise of coalition
governments until the general elections held in 2013, which brought back single-party rule in the
country, with the PML(N) being able to claim a simple majority.

Executive branch[edit]

The president of Pakistan, in keeping with the constitutional provision that the state religion is Islam,
must be a Muslim. Elected for a five-year term by an Electoral College consisting of members of the
Senate and National Assembly and members of the provincial assemblies, the president is eligible
for re-election. But no individual may hold the office for more than two consecutive terms. The
president may resign or be impeached and may be removed from office due to incapacity or gross
misconduct by a two-thirds vote of the members of the parliament. The president generally acts on
the advice of the prime minister but has important residual powers.

One of the most important of these powersa legacy of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haqis the
president's power to dissolve the National Assembly "in his discretion where, in has arisen in which
the Government of the Federation cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the
Constitution and an appeal to the electorate is necessary." This power has twice been granted by
the Eighth Amendment in 1985 and by the Seventeenth Amendment in 2003and has twice been
revokedby the Thirteenth Amendment in 1997 and by the Eighteenth Amendment in 2010. Despite
this most recent power-stripping, the President remains the ex officio chair of the National Security
Council, as per the National Security Act 2004.

The prime minister is appointed by the members of the National Assembly through a vote. The prime
minister is assisted by the Federal Cabinet, a council of ministers whose members are appointed by
the president on the advice of the prime minister. The Federal Cabinet comprises the ministers,
ministers of state, and advisers. As of early 1994, there were thirty-three ministerial portfolios:
commerce; communications; culture; defence; defence production; education; environment; finance
and economic affairs; food and agriculture; foreign affairs; health; housing; information and
broadcasting; interior; Kashmiri affairs and Northern Areas; law and justice; local government;
minority affairs; narcotics control; parliamentary affairs; petroleum and natural resources production;
planning and development; railways; religious affairs; science and technology; social welfare; special
education; sports; state and frontier regions; tourism; water and power; women's development; and
youth affairs.
Legislative branch[edit]

The bicameral federal legislature consists of the Senate (upper house) and National Assembly
(lower house). According to Article 50 of the Constitution, the National Assembly, the Senate and the
President together make up a body known as the Majlis-i-Shoora (Council of Advisers).

Pakistan's democracy has no recall method. However, past governments have been dismissed for
corruption by the President's invocation of Article 58 of the Constitution. The President's power to
dismiss the Prime Minister and dissolve the National Assembly was removed by the Thirteenth
Amendment and partially restored by the Seventeenth Amendment.

Senate[edit]

The Senate is a permanent legislative body with equal representation from each of the four
provinces, elected by the members of their respective provincial assemblies. There are
representatives from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and from Islamabad Capital Territory.
The chairman of the Senate, under the constitution, is next in line to act as president should the
office become vacant and until such time as a new president can be formally elected. Both the
Senate and the National Assembly can initiate and pass legislation except for finance bills. Only the
National Assembly can approve the federal budget and all finance bills. In the case of other bills, the
president may prevent passage unless the legislature in joint sitting overrules the president by a
majority of members of both houses present and voting. Unlike the National Assembly, the Senate
cannot be dissolved by the President.

National Assembly[edit]

National Assembly of Pakistan

Members of the National Assembly are elected by universal adult suffrage (formerly twenty-one
years of age and older but the seventeenth amendment changed it to eighteen years of age.). Seats
are allocated to each of the four provinces, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and Islamabad
Capital Territory on the basis of population. National Assembly members serve for the parliamentary
term, which is five years, unless they die or resign sooner, or unless the National Assembly is
dissolved. Although the vast majority of the members are Muslim, about 5 percent of the seats are
reserved for minorities, including Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs. Elections for minority seats are held
on the basis of separate electorates at the same time as the polls for Muslim seats during the
general elections. There are also 50+ special seats for women now, and women are selected (i.e.
not directly elected in the general election but given representation according to how their parties
performed in the general election) on these seat by their party head: another seventeenth
amendment innovation.

Political parties and elections[edit]


For other political parties see List of political parties in Pakistan. An overview on elections and
election results is included in Elections in Pakistan.

Composition of Parliament (As per Results of the 2008 General


Elections)[edit]

Reserved Reserved
Electe
Parties Votes % seats seats Total
d seats
(Women) (Minorities)

Pakistan Peoples 10,606,48 30.6


94 23 4 130
Party 6 %

Pakistan Muslim 19.6


6,781,445 71 17 3 95
League (N) %

Pakistan Muslim 23.0


7,989,817 42 10 2 55
League (Q) %

Muttahida Qaumi
2,507,813 7.4% 19 5 1 26
Movement

Awami National
700,479 2.0% 10 3 0 13
Party
Reserved Reserved
Electe
Parties Votes % seats seats Total
d seats
(Women) (Minorities)

Muttahida Majlis-
e-Amal Pakistan

Jamiat
Ulema-e-
Islam (F)

772,798 2.2% 5 1 0 6
Note: Jamaat-e-Islami

Pakistan, Jamiat Ulema-

e-Pakistan, Tehrik-e-

Jafaria

Pakistanand Jamiat

Ahle Hadith did not

participate.

Pakistan Muslim 33
4 1 0 10
League (F) 6

Source: Election Commission of Pakistan, Adam Carr's Electoral Archive

Judicial branch[edit]

The judiciary includes the Supreme Court, provincial high courts, District & sessions Courts, Civil
and Magistrate courts exercising civil and criminal jurisdiction.[19]Some federal and provincial courts
and tribunals such as Services court, Income tax & excise court, Banking court and Boards of
Revenue's Tribunals are as well established in all provinces.

Supreme Court[edit]

The Supreme Court has original, appellate, and advisory jurisdiction. The Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court is appointed by the president; the other Supreme Court judges are appointed by the
president after consultation with the chief justice. The chief justice and judges of the Supreme Court
may remain in office until age sixty-five: now 68 years and this is also another clause of seventeenth
amendment.

Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan[edit]

The Federal Shariat Court (FSC) of Pakistan is a court which has the power to examine and
determine whether the laws of the country comply with Shari'a law. It consists of 8 Muslim judges
appointed by the President of Pakistan after consulting the Chief Justice of this Court, from amongst
the serving or retired judges of the Supreme Court or a High Court or from amongst persons
possessing the qualifications of judges of a High Court. Of the 8 judges, 3 are required to be Ulema
who are well versed in Islamic law. The judges hold office for a period of 3 years, which may
eventually be extended by the President. Appeal against its decisions lie to the Shariat Appellate
Bench of the Supreme Court, consisting of 3 Muslim judges of the Supreme Court and 2 Ulema,
appointed by the President. If any part of the law is declared to be against Islamic law, the
government is required to take necessary steps to amend such law appropriately. The court also
exercises revisional jurisdiction over the criminal courts, deciding Hudood cases. The decisions of
the court are binding on the High Courts as well as subordinate judiciary. The court appoints its own
staff and frames its own rules of procedure. Ever since its establishment in 1980, the Federal Shariat
Court of Pakistan has been the subject of criticism and controversy in the society. Created as an
islamisation measure by the military regime and subsequently protected under the controversial 8th
Amendment, its opponents question the very rationale and utility of this institution. It is stated that
this court merely duplicates the functions of the existing superior courts and also operates as a
check on the sovereignty of Parliament. The composition of the court, particularly the mode of
appointment of its judges and the insecurity of their tenure, is taken exception to, and it is alleged,
that this court does not fully meet the criterion prescribed for the independence of the judiciary. That
is to say, it is not immune to pressures and influences from the Executive. In the past, this court was
used as a refuge for the recalcitrant judges. And whereas some of its judgments, particularly the
ones which relying on the Islamic concept of equity, justice and fair play, expanded and enlarged the
scope and contents of individuals rights were commended, others that tend to restrict the rights of
women, are severely criticised and deplored.

Provincial and High Courts[edit]

In every province, there is one High Court. Currently all four provinces Punjab, Sindh, Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have High courts, respectively calledLahore High Court, Sindh High
Court, Peshawar High Court, and Balochistan High Court. After the approval of 18th Constitutional
Amendment in April 2010, a new High court is established at Federal Capital Islamabad with the
name of Islamabad High Court. In 18th Amendment, judges appointments are proposed by a
Parliamentary Commission. Judges of the provincial high courts were, previously appointed ( The
seventeenth amendment give these powers to the president, previously Prime minister exercised
them) by the president after consultation with the chief justice of the Supreme Court, as well as the
governor of the province and the chief justice of the high court to which the appointment is being
made. High courts have original and appellate jurisdiction.

In addition, there are special courts and tribunals to deal with specific kinds of cases, such as drug
courts, commercial courts, labour courts, traffic courts, an insurance appellate tribunal, an income
tax appellate tribunal, and special courts for bank offences. There are also special courts to try
terrorists. Appeals from special courts go to high courts except for labour and traffic courts, which
have their own forums for appeal. Appeals from the tribunals go to the Supreme Court.

Ombudsman/Mohtasib[edit]

A further feature of the judicial system is the office of Mohtasib (Ombudsman), which is provided for
in the constitution. The office of Mohtasib was established in many early Muslim states to ensure that
no wrongs were done to citizens. Appointed by the president, the Mohtasib holds office for four
years; the term cannot be extended or renewed. The Mohtasib's purpose is to institutionalize a
system for enforcing administrative accountability, through investigating and rectifying any injustice
done to a person through maladministration by a federal agency or a federal government official. The
Mohtasib is empowered to award compensation to those who have suffered loss or damage as a
result of maladministration. Excluded from jurisdiction, however, are personal grievances or service
matters of a public servant as well as matters relating to foreign affairs, national defence, and the
armed services. This institution is designed to bridge the gap between administrator and citizen, to
improve administrative processes and procedures, and to help curb misuse of discretionary powers.

> Pakistan has been ruled by both democratic and military governments.[2] The first decade was
marred with political unrest and instability, with frequent collapses of civilian democratic governments
that eventually led to the 1958 military coup.[3] Since 1947 till present now, Pakistan has been
governed by various of both right-wing conservative governments and left-wing socialistic oriented
governments, while neither far-right and far-left had failed to achieve enough majority to claim the
exclusive mandate.[4] From 1947 to 1958 as many as seven Prime Ministers of Pakistan either
resigned or were ousted. This political instability paved the way for Pakistans first military take over.
On October 7, 1958 Pakistans civilian and first President Iskander Mirza in collaboration with
General Mohammad Ayub Khan abrogated Pakistans constitution and declared Martial Law.
General Ayub Khan was the president from 1958 to 1969, and General Yahya Khan from 1969 to
1971, Chief Justice Habib Khan Marvath elected first Chairman Senate of Pakistan. Civilian, yet
socialist-oriented autocratic, rule continued from 1972 to 1977 under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, but he was
deposed by General Zia-Ul-Haq. General Zia was killed in a plane crash in 1988, after which Benazir
Bhutto, daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. She was the
youngest woman ever to be elected the Head of Government and the first woman to be elected as
the Head of Government of a Muslim country. Her government was followed by that of Nawaz Sharif,
and the two leaders alternated until the military coup by General Pervez Musharraf in 1999. From
the resignation of President Rafiq Tarar in 2001, to his own resignation in 2008, Musharraf was the
President of Pakistan. In 2008, Asif Ali Zardari was elected president.

Form of Government[edit]

Officially a federal republic, Pakistan has had a long history of alternating periods of electoral
democracy and authoritarian military government. Military presidentsinclude General Ayub Khan in
the 1960s, General Zia ul Haq in the 1980s, and General Pervez Musharraf from 1999. However, a
majority of Pakistan's Heads of State and Heads of Government have been elected civilian leaders.
General elections were held in October 2002. After monitoring the elections, the Commonwealth
Observer Group stated in conclusion:

We believe that on election day this was a credible election: the will of the people was
expressed and the results reflected their wishes. However, in the context of various
measures taken by the government we are not persuaded of the overall fairness of the
process as a whole.[20]

On May 22, 2004, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group re-admitted Pakistan into
the Commonwealth, formally acknowledging its progress in returning to democracy.

Kashmir in Pakistani politics[edit]

Azad Kashmir has its own constitution, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Interim Constitution Act of
1974, and a locally chosen parliamentary form of government, as described above . The
constitution allows for many of the structures that comprise a self-governing state, including a
legislative assembly elected through periodic elections, a prime minister who commands the
majority in the assembly, an indirectly elected president, an independent judiciary, and local
government institutions.

But these provisions are hollow. Under Section 56 of the Jammu and Kashmir Interim
Constitution Act (which was drafted by the Federal Ministries of Law and Kashmir Affairs in
Islamabad), the Pakistani government can dismiss any elected government in Azad Kashmir
irrespective of the support it may enjoy in the AJK Legislative Assembly. The Interim Constitution
Act provides for two executive forumsthe Azad Kashmir Government in Muzaffarabad and the
Azad Kashmir Council in Islamabad.
The latter body, presided over by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, exercises paramount authority
over the AJK Legislative Assembly, which cannot challenge decisions of the council. The council
is under the numerical control of the federal government in Islamabad, as in addition to the
Pakistani prime minister it comprises six other federal ministers, the minister of Kashmir affairs
as the ex-officio member, the prime minister of Azad Kashmir, and six Azad Kashmir members
elected by the Legislative Assembly.38 The interim constitution act lists fifty-two subjects
virtually everything of any importancethat are under the jurisdiction of the Azad Kashmir
Council, which has been described as the supra power by the Azad Kashmir High Court. Its
decisions are final and not subject to judicial review.

Thus, Azad Kashmir remains for all intents and purposes under Pakistans strict control,
exercising no real sovereignty of its own. From the outset, the institutional set up in the territory
was designed to ensure Pakistans control of the areas affairs. According to the United Nations
Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) 39 resolutions, Azad Kashmir is neither a sovereign
state nor a province of Pakistan, but rather a local authority with responsibility over the area
assigned to it under the current 2003 ceasefire line agreement. 40 The local authority
or Provisional government of Azad Kashmir as established in October 1947 handed over to
Pakistan under the Karachi Agreement of April 28, 1949, matters related to defense, foreign
affairs, negotiations with the UNCIP and coordination of all affairs relating to Gilgit and Baltistan
(strategically important territories that now comprise Pakistans Northern Areas.

A former president of Azad Kashmir (who preferred not to be named in this report) described the
situation as government of Azad Kashmir, by the Pakistanis, for Pakistan. He also pointed to
the striking continuity of the old princely system under British rule because of Islamabads
viceroy role generally and the maintenance of the traditional biradari system locally.

Provincial Governments[edit]

The subdivisions of Pakistan


Pakistan is subdivided into 4 provinces, 2 territories, and 1 capital territory. Each province has a
Provincial Assembly, a directly elected legislature. Members are elected for five-year terms.
Each Assembly elects a Chief Minister, who then selects the ministers of his or her cabinet.

Balochistan

Federally Administered Tribal Areas*

Islamabad Capital Territory**

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Punjab

Sindh

GilgitBaltistan has semi-provincial status with a directly elected legislature, an elected chief
minister and federally appointed governor for the region.

Note: the federally administered portion also includes the disputed/held Kashmir region
includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.
See also: Government of Pakistan
Local Governments[edit]

Pakistan's provinces are divided into districts called zillas in local languages (counterpart to a
county in US or UK terminology). A zilla is further subdivided intotehsils (roughly equivalent to a
borough in an integrated multi-tier (federated) systemic context, such as the one to be found in
Montreal (Canada, 2002) and Birmingham (UK, 2001 announcement) or known
as arrondissements in French context. Tehsils may contain town or municipalities. Pakistan's
system is the one that applies an integrated federated systemic framework most
comprehensively, so far.

This methodology is not new to the region, as it is similar to what is referred to as the
old Panchayat Raj system in India that was introduced by Britain during the colonial era. In the
1890s Britain had become the first nation to adapt the two-tier administrative framework of
revolutionary Paris (1790) onto pre-existing parish councils in the urban context (London) and
into three tiers in the rural context (county, district, parish councils). In India it was implemented
in some regions and not others; and then allowed to lie fallow. It got new life after the very
successful West Bengal revival in the 1970s, which eventually inspired the 1990s Constitutional
Amendment making it national policy.

The main difference is that Pakistan is the only country with an urban framework, as well, in the
region today; and Pakistan's system has common-representational framework between tiers (as
Montreal and Birmingham also have in two-tier contexteven though Birmingham is working on
implementing a three-tier system); and, it has a bottom-up representational framework like the
Canadian example. Pakistan had the only three-tier integrated bottom-up common-
representational local government system, until it was adapted for another country in 2003. UK,
the country which first introduced this methodology in the region, also has the urban examples of
London and Birmingham (being implemented in the post-2001 era by building on steps first
introduced in the 1980s); as does France (where largest cities and smaller units have created
such frameworks either by devolution (Marseilles and Lyon, in addition to Paris) or by integration
of neighbouring units (such as the Nantes region pursuant to the Marcellin Act of the 1970s);
and Canada.

This methodology is being increasingly adapted, as it delivers greater systemic productivity,


being a more inclusive framework that provides greater regional integration. In the US, the
seven county Twin Cities (MN) regional system and Portland (OR) Metro are both the most
integrated US examples; but, also those often cited in the US for what they have achieved.
These US examples with their multi-county framework are similar to what is in place in
France after regional unit introduction (making France have a three-tier systemic framework also
in the Commune (municipal/lowest tier local unit), Department (county), Regional unit context).
Multi-county frameworks are suitable for a very suburbanized system like in the US. After France
and Britain, the Indian colony of Britain was the third region to see this methodology
implemented.

There are over five thousand local governments in Pakistan. Since 2001, the vast majority of
these have been led by democratically elected local councils, each headed by a Nazim (mayor
or supervisor.) Council elections are held every four years.

Top 5 Parties Votes & Seats in General Elections[edit]


General Elections, 2008[edit]

No. Party Votes gained NA Seats

1. Pakistan Peoples Party 10666548 125


2. Pakistan Muslim League (Q) 8007217 50

3. Pakistan Muslim League (N) 6805324 92

4. Muttahida Qaumi Movement 2573795 25

5. Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal 766240 8

-- Independents 3865954 20

[21]

General Elections, 2013[edit]

No. Party Votes Obtained

1. Pakistan Muslim League (N) 14874104 166

2. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf 7679954 35

3. Pakistan Peoples Party 6911218 47

4. Independents 5880658

5. Muttahida Qaumi Movement 2456153 25

[22]
Foreign relations[edit]
Main article: Foreign relations of Pakistan

The Map of Pakistan

Pakistan is the second largest Muslim country in terms of population, and its status as
a declared nuclear power, being the only Muslim nation to have that status, plays a part in its
international role. It is also an active member of the United Nations. Historically, its foreign policy
has encompassed difficult relations with India, a desire for a stable Afghanistan, long-standing
close relations with the People's Republic of China, extensive security and economic interests in
thePersian Gulf and wide-ranging bilateral relations with the United States and other Western
countries. Pakistan is also an important member of the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC). Pakistan has used the OIC as a forum forEnlightened Moderation,[23] its plan
to promote a renaissance and enlightenment in the Islamic world.

Wary of Soviet expansion, Pakistan had strong relations with both the United States of
America and the People's Republic of China during much of the Cold War. It was a member of
the CENTO and SEATO military alliances. Its alliance with the United States was especially
close after the Soviets invaded the neighbouring country of Afghanistan.

In 1964, Pakistan signed the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) Pact with Turkey
and Iran, when all three countries were closely allied with the U.S., and as neighbours of the
Soviet Union, wary of perceived Soviet expansionism. To this day, Pakistan has a close
relationship with Turkey. RCD became defunct after the Iranian Revolution, and a Pakistani-
Turkish initiative led to the founding of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) in 1985.
Pakistan's relations with India have improved recently and this has opened up Pakistan's foreign
policy to issues beyond security. This development might completely change the complexion of
Pakistan's foreign relations.

Pakistan joined the Non-Aligned Movement in 1979.[24]

Democracy in Pakistan
Democracy (Urdu: ; pronounced jamhooriat) is one of the ideologies and systems
upon which Pakistan was sought to be established in 1947 as a nation-state, as envisaged by
the leader and founding father of the nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Pakistan constitutionally
is a democratic parliamentary republic with its political system based on an elected form
ofgovernance. However, in past history there have been deviations from democracy in the
form of military coups and political uncertainty.[1] As of current status, Pakistan is also the
largest non-liberal democracy in the world.[2][3History[edit]

The concept of democracy in the South Asia region has historical roots. Indus Valley Civilisation,
which thrived in modern-day Pakistan, was one of the earliest and largest ancient human
civilisations alongside Mesopotamia, the Nile Valley, Anatoliaand ancient China, known for its highly
developed, sophisticated and urbanised culture. Historians and social scientists studying the
civilisation's social structure observe that the Indus Valley had an organised planning system,
including standard architecture, civic controls, consistent grid layouts and uniformed sanitary
facilities. This well-disciplined lifestyle and a common rule of law extending throughout a large area
leads a few historians to believe and suggest the Indus Valley of Pakistan as possibly the earliest
cradle and model of democracy; one which was based on a "rule by the people" and one that could
even predate Greece.[4][5]

Political system[edit]

Democracy failed exceptionally quickly after independence because Pakistan possessed a weak
and fragmented political party that was unable to resolve key governing conflicts. [6] In the wake of
intensifying political instability, the civilian bureaucracy and military assumed governing power in
1958. Since its independence, Pakistan's democratic system has fluctuated between civilian and
military governments at various times throughout itspolitical history, mainly due to political instability,
civil-military conflicts, political corruption, and the periodic coup d'tats by the military
establishment against weak civilian governments, resulting in the enforcement of martial law across
the country (occurring in 1958, 1977 and 1999, and led by chief martial law administrator-
generals Ayub Khan, Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf respectively).[7] Democracy in Pakistan,
however, imperfect has never been allowed to function. Until 2013, Pakistan did not experience even
one democratic transfer of power from one democratically elected government that had completed
its tenure to another. All of its previous democratic transitions have been aborted by military coup . [8]
]

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