a48e3a7b4f
- Created a new document for Pakistan Affairs with sections on historical personalities, partition, national integration, economic challenges, political stability, foreign policy, and climate change. - Added multiple topics related to Kashmir and intergovernmental organizations. - Established a new index page for CSS Notes 2025, outlining the purpose and organization of the notes.
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Pakistan Affairs current affairs
Since its inception in 1947, Pakistan has faced recurring episodes of political instability, characterized by weak democratic institutions, military interferences, regional issues, and fragile rule of law. This instability has hindered socioeconomic growth, weakened national integration, and eroded public trust in governance. Despite periodic democratic transitions, Pakistan's political situation remains fractured, necessitating structural reforms for long term political stability.
Factors Contributing to Political Instability in Pakistan
Civil-Military Imbalance
- For a large part of its existence, Pakistan has experienced direct military rule and even indirect military rule throughout its periods of civilian governance.
- Politicians are often either opted or ousted through managed elections and judicial engineering.
- The military also dominates Pakistan's foreign policy, especially with regards to India, Afghanistan, and the U.S.
Weak Democratic Institutions
- Parliament remains a weak institution that is often bypassed by either executive or military powers.
- Frequent dissolution of assemblies leads to a lack of continuation of long-term policies.
- Allegations of election rigging undermine the legitimacy of the elections.
Political Polarization within Political Parties
- Lack of intra-party democracy and dynastic leadership weakens political parties.
- Zero-sum politics among different parties that lead to boycotts, protests, and parliamentary dysfunction.
- Lack of consensus between parties on critical issues such as national security, foreign policy, and economic reforms.
Judicial Politicization
- Courts have historically validated military coups under the doctrine of necessity.
- Uneven application of justice and selective accountability erode trust in the judiciary.
Ethnic and Regional Grievances
- Balochistan, Sindh, and former FATA areas express alienation due to lack of autonomy, unequal resource distribution, and unequal federal representation.
- Centralization of power in Punjab fuels ethnonationalist movements that demand new provinces or even independent states.
Consequences of Political Instability
Economic Uncertainty
- Due to a lack of proper long-term economic policies that could last between the governance of multiple parties, foreign investment is deterred. Rising inflation and low tax compliance also lead to further economic issues.
Social Fragmentation
- A rise in sectarianism, extremism, and ethnonationalist movements further hinders unity among different domestic regions.
Governance Crisis
- Poor service delivery, corruption in civil institutions, and erosion of law.
Potential Reforms to Foster Political Stability
Civil-Military Rebalancing
- Ensure civilian supremacy through constitutional reforms and parliamentary oversight of defense budgets and strategic affairs.
- Institutionalize National Security Council under parliamentary control.
Strengthen Democratic Institutions
- Empower local governments as per Article 140-A, administrative, financial, and political devolution.
- Ensure autonomy of ECP (Election Commission of Pakistan) for transparent elections.
Political Reconciliation
- Reform political parties to ensure intra-party elections and merit-based promotions.
- Institutionalize National Political Council for interparty consensus on core policies.
Judicial Independence and Accountability
- Reform the judicial appointment process to minimize politicization (via Parliamentary Committee and Judicial Commission).
- Establish judicial performance review bodies for transparency and accountability.
Education and Public Awareness
- Revise curricula to promote democratic values, tolerance, and civic responsibility.
- Expand media literacy to counter fake news that leads to regional ethnic sentiments between various ethnic and regional communities.
Conclusion
Political stability in Pakistan is undermined by deep-rooted structural, institutional, and cultural factors. A democratic polity cannot be ensured without consistent civil-military rebalance, institutional integrity, and constitutional and political reforms. While Pakistan's democracy has faced significant setbacks, these reforms can pave a way for a more stable and representative political system.
References
https://www.economist.com/leaders/2023/06/01/pakistans-perma-crisis https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2024/01/16/a-former-ambassador-argues-that-pakistan-needs-a-new-political-compact https://youtu.be/nxvw_O3IBow?si=XwN9igJQENFGIQmG