Jubilee Post News & Views
Dr. Utkarsh Sinha
Pakistan is currently undergoing one of the most sensitive and uncertain phases in its history. Political power, public trust, and the country’s constitutional structure are all deeply shaken. Once founded on the ideals of “Islamic unity” and “national security,” Pakistan today stands at the brink of internal fragmentation and instability. Imran Khan, once seen as the symbol of a “New Pakistan,” is now behind bars, and his arrest has nearly shattered Pakistan’s democratic credibility. On one hand, the public rallies on the streets supporting him as a popular leader, while on the other, the army and intelligence apparatus brand him a “state enemy.”
Imran Khan emerged as a populist wave in Pakistani politics, championing freedom from corruption, dynastic politics, and foreign influence. His supporters hailed him as a modern revolutionary. But the very army that helped him rise to power eventually pushed him down. Pakistan’s history shows no prime minister survives without direct military backing. When Imran started questioning the military’s policies—especially targeting top generals like Asim Munir—his political downfall was sealed. Following Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023, the Pakistani army declared the events of that day as “a black chapter in the nation’s history” and vowed no compromise with the “planners, executors, and facilitators” involved.
General Asim Munir’s role casts a long shadow over Pakistan’s future. Not only the army chief, Munir has effectively become the de facto ruler. His actions make it clear that democracy in Pakistan is a mere facade; real power resides in the “gunpowder scent of Rawalpindi.” Munir vowed to punish those responsible for the May 9 violence decisively. Under his tenure, the army has directly controlled the media, judiciary, and political parties, hollowing out democratic institutions through crackdowns on journalists, arrests of opposition leaders, and interference in judicial decisions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government has become a puppet of the military apparatus. The public perceives the prime minister’s office as a controlled administrative body with no real policymaking power. Sharif condemned violent protests after Imran’s arrest as “acts of terrorism” and promised to deal with the protesters “with an iron fist.” Economic turmoil, inflation, and unemployment have taken a back seat as the government focuses on political retribution under military orders. Sharif announced in parliament that Imran Khan supporters implicated in attacks on military installations would be tried in military courts, signaling the militarization of civilian governance.
The Pakistani public, once proud of the army, now harbors fear and disgust toward the institution. Especially the youth have seen the harsh realities behind the facade. Digital campaigns supporting Imran Khan voice this new awareness of democratic erosion by military dominance. Though Munir publicly denies political ambitions, calling himself a “protector, not a ruler,” his actions say otherwise as the military clamps down hard on dissent.
The crackdown following Imran’s arrest reveals the loss of freedom of expression and political opposition in Pakistan. Senior judges have been transferred, opposition media blacked out, and human rights activists arrested. The army’s media wing labeled the May 9 attacks “treason and espionage,” warning of severe legal consequences under the Army and Anti-Terrorism Acts.
Economically, Pakistan is plummeting. Foreign debt is rising, foreign reserves are shrinking, and the rupee continues to depreciate. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has stalled under heavy debt burdens due to political instability deterring investors. Corrupt alliances between the military and bureaucracy have swallowed reform efforts. Public despair and anger grow, especially in marginalized provinces where separatist sentiments could accelerate Pakistan’s fragmentation.
Also Read : Madvi Hidma: One Face, Two Stories
Also Read : NEPAL :The Pressure Cooker-From the Streets to the Party Central
Separatist voices in Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa openly claim Islamabad favors Punjabis. Economic exploitation and political neglect fuel these movements, while military crackdowns deepen grievances. Growing support for Imran Khan in these regions reinforces the perception that the central government serves military interests, not the people.
On the foreign policy front, Pakistan faces massive setbacks. Escalating tensions with the Taliban in Afghanistan, hostile ties with India, and a frosty US relationship have isolated the country internationally. Munir has issued nuclear warnings against India, stating that Pakistan’s retaliation to provocation will be “disproportionate and decisive.” Traditional allies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are reluctant to offer unconditional aid, and China is increasingly cautious about the security of its investments.
This internal crisis is not merely political or economic but ideological. The Islamic Republic’s founding ideals no longer resonate with the public. The younger generation questions the meaning of elected representatives when a military officer controls politics, the economy, and the judiciary. Pakistan is increasingly seen as a “military state” rather than a nation.
Munir’s aggressive seizure of power is historic but potentially more destructive now. His authoritarian repression turns Pakistan from a semi-military state into an outright autocratic prison. This threatens not only democracy but the military itself. Loss of public trust undermines not just leaders but institutions.
Pakistan now stands fractured along many fault lines. Political chaos, economic collapse, and social despair paint a picture of a country once hailed for Islamic unity, now ruled by fear. History warns that power based on coercion, not consent, leads to violent, fracturing ends.
Imran Khan’s arrest marks not just a personal defeat but the collapse of democratic aspirations that once inspired Jinnah’s vision. If Munir and the military do not heed this warning, Pakistan’s political map will inevitably transform into a fragile, fractured, and dangerous “nuclear Pakistan.”
What Pakistan requires today is leadership free from military fear, representing the people’s aspirations, addressing internal inequalities, and restoring institutions to civilian democratic control. But no such leadership appears. Shahbaz Sharif merely bides time, the military preserves its interests, and the people search for direction. This imbalance is driving Pakistan toward fragmentation.
Pakistan faces an urgent choice: pursue democratic reform and civilian governance or face internal fissures that will divide the country. For powerful generals like Asim Munir, this is a moment for serious reflection, lest history remembers them as those who shattered their own nation from within.
