Pakistan : an Oligarchy in Uniform
- Apr 14
- 2 min read
Pakistan has recently emerged as a strategic diplomatic broker, announcing the ceasefire deal between Iran and the US. Yet a look behind the curtain reveals a grim reality. It is not a functioning democracy: it is a de facto military state managed by a hereditary oligarchy. The state is governed by two families:
The Sharifs and the Bhutto- Zardaris – who treat the Country as a private estate under the watchful eye of the Military Establishment.
The Dynastic Monopoly
The political landscape is a revolving door for two oligarchic structures:
Shehbaz Sharif ( Prime Minister):
Brother of Nawaz Sharif. He serves as the primary coordinator between the family’s political interests and the Generals.
Nawaz Sharif: a three time Prime Minister and convicted felon. Upon his return from exile in late 2023 , his criminal record was systematically scrubbed by the courts to allow his party to return to power.
Marian Nawaz Sharif : the daughter of Nawaz, recently installed as the Governor of Punjab – the nation’s most powerful province- cementing the dynastic succession.
The Bhutto-Zardaris : led by Asif Ali Zardari and his son Bilawal, they act as the necessary partners in this military sanctioned coalition.
The Method: “ Political Engineering”
The miraculous disappearance of crimes for some and the sudden invention of charges for others , is the result of a process known as “Political Engineering”. The military Establishment controls the judiciary through a two fold strategy:
Selective prosecution: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), under military influence, simply withdraws evidence or witnesses when a politician is back in favour forcing judges to grant acquittals.
Judicial weaponisation: for dissenters, the State utilises special courts and anti terrorism laws to fast track convictions based on fabricated evidence or “State Secret” violations. In Pakistan, the law is not a shield for the citizen, but a tool for the Establishment .
The great Exclusion: Imran Khan
This system explains the fate of Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition (PTI). Despite his massive popularity, Khan has spent nearly three years in solitary confinement. After falling out with the military leadership he was hit with over 150 charges ( ranging from corruption to treason). While his rivals have their crimes erased by decree, Khan remains the victim of a legal system used to silence anyone who challenges the General’s Supremacy.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s democracy is a thin veil for a system where loyalty to the military is the only currency. It is a cycle of calculated exonerations for the obedient and prison for the defiant. Until the military steps back from the courtroom, Pakistan will remain an oligarchy in uniform .
I interviewed President Pervez Musharraf . He was in office from 2001 to 2008 . His story is emblematic of the situation just described.
Islamabad : President Pervez Musharraf and Giovanna Cipriani
By Giovanna Cipriani
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