Session 10: The Over-mighty Executive of Pakistan

Pakistan being a post-colonial state inherited a strong executive part of the government, mainly, military from the British.

With the absence of a political leadership and control, military was an institution that was deliberately strengthened  by the earlier governments in order to ensure protection against the enemy state of India. Funds were spent on this institution compromising other sectors like education and welfare.

Moreover, the bureaucracy was expanded to ensure a more efficient system of governance across the state.

Both these institutions have been dominated by the Punjabis ever since the creation of Pakistan. As a representative of the executive, this military-bureaucracy oligarchy has dictated the realms of policy-making and implementing regardless of the interests of the common man.

The over mighty executive of Pakistan exploited its vast powers to ensure its interests, trampling the ideals of democracy along the way.
This was seen in 1971, when the Punjabi dominated executive refused to give up its political power to the elected party and resulted in civil war on the province of East Pakistan.

This can also be seen in the interference of the executive with the judicial branch of the state as took place under Musharraf in 2007.

The unjust power enjoyed by this specific part of the Pakistani executive stretches into the other branches of the government. This violates the fundamental division of powers on which the the democracy of Pakistan was based.