What is it about?
This article is an attempt to refute studies which believe military intervention in Pakistan's politics is caused by foreign powers and and overwhelming local public support. Rather, it is argued that military intervention is caused primarily by the military itself and the mainstream political parties and civil society have historically resisted it. Even the judiciary resisted coups individually as well as institutionally. Pakistan's future lies in constitutional rule, liberal democracy and freedom of speech.
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Why is it important?
Out of 70 years, Pakistan has remained under direct military rule for 34 years and in the remainder, the military ruled the roost in strategic understanding and rational interaction with a section of civil bureaucracy, judiciary and politicians. Nevertheless, the mainstream political parties, private media and civil society have been struggling for constitutional rights and democratic values. Pakistan is still a "defective democracy" where the army is a powerful organization and a force to be reckoned with. This article highlights and summarizes the country's democratic voices that championed the cause of constitutional rule and democracy. However, unfortunately, certain biased studies and media groups are busy distorting established facts in favor of a narrow and militarized view of Pakistan's history, politics and civil-military relations. This article thus defends established facts, constitutional rule and democracy.
Perspectives
This article is an outcome of my decade long understanding of Pakistan's chequered political history and complicated civil-military relations. It sets the record correct in terms of marking the democratic struggle of the country's mainstream political parties, civil society and media. Importantly, the article is a critical take on certain academic work that had tried to make a case in favor of military intervention/rule. Since such studies distorted established facts and mentioned selective sources, the article has not only exposed such endeavors but also presented a comprehensive picture of existing body of literature that emphasized democracy and constitutional rule along with highlighting the practical struggle of democratic forces that though faced the music under each martial law regime but held the ground in favor of rule of law, human rights, constitutional rule and democracy.
Dr Ejaz Hussain
Iqra University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Failure to Understand Military Intervention in Pakistan, Armed Forces & Society, July 2017, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0095327x17720941.
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