Thousands of supporters of the Pakistan Movement for Justice (PTI) took to Islamabad’s streets this week to demand the release of former prime minister Imran Khan. The popular cricket star turned politician has been imprisoned for more than a year on politically motivated charges. But Pakistani voters are fed up with the political status quo — and they are holding the country’s military responsible. As Adeel Malik and Maya Tudor argue in the Journal of Democracy, Pakistan’s crisis of governability is coming and might finally be here.
The Journal of Democracy essays below, free for a limited time, chronicle Pakistan’s history of military guardianship and the rupture that the February elections have ushered in.
Pakistan’s Coming Crisis
Pakistani voters sent the military a message in the February elections: They no longer trust the “guardian of the country.” Worse for the generals, they can no longer escape accountability for their corruption and incompetence because everyone knows the military is in charge.
Adeel Malik and Maya TudorInside Pakistan’s Deeply Flawed Election
The country’s polls were marred by delayed results and charges of rigging. Worse, they might plunge Pakistan into an even deeper political crisis.
Ayesha JalalDoes Democracy Have a Future in Pakistan?
The schism between Pakistan’s military establishment and former prime minister Imran Khan marks a new era of instability. Is the country experiencing the rise of an autocratic deep state or the fall of authoritarian populism?
Ayesha JalalWhy Pakistan Always Seems on the Brink of Collapse
The military has spent decades trying to impose order on Pakistani politics. It has led to chaos.
Ahsan I. ButtPakistan: Voting Under Military Tutelage
With its recent electoral turnover of power, Pakistan seemingly passed a milestone of democratic consolidation. But beneath the surface, power remains where it long has been — with the military.
Aqil Shah
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