A Historical Analysis of Political Polarization and Instability in Pakistan (1947-2022)

Abstract of the publication

This study examines the historical trajectory of political polarization and instability in Pakistan from 1947 to 2022. After the demise of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the country's political framework quickly weakened, characterized by escalating tensions between East and West Pakistan's leadership. This regional rift hindered democratic progress and created conditions for prolonged military rule. The intensifying discord in East Pakistan ultimately resulted in the region's secession and the emergence of Bangladesh in 1971, a consequence of deep-rooted political polarization and ideological divisions among Pakistan's political parties, which fuelled divergence and eventually led to the breakup of the nation. In West Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto came to power, but his government quickly encountered widespread opposition through the PNA movement, culminating in General Zia-ul-Haq's military coup and a prolonged martial law regime lasting a decade. The 1990s saw heightened political competition between Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, further destabilizing the country and paving the way for another military intervention by General Pervez Musharraf in 1999. Following the return to democracy in 2008, successive governments, first led by the PPP and later by the PML-N, faced mounting political resistance. The emergence of PTI intensified partisan divisions, especially after its 2018 electoral triumph. The subsequent creation of the PDM and the successful no-confidence vote against the PTI government in 2022 marked a new era of political fragmentation and institutional instability. This paper examines how persistent civil-military conflicts, contested elections, and inter-party strife have perpetuated political turmoil throughout Pakistan's post-independence history.