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THE DEEP STATE IN ACTION MILITARY INFLUENCE ON PAKISTANS POLITICAL SYSTEM SINCE 1958

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05 Pages : 53-64

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gpr.2025(X-I).05      10.31703/gpr.2025(X-I).05      Published : Mar 2025

The Deep State in Action: Military Influence on Pakistan’s Political System since 1958

Abstract

    Since 1958 Pakistan's government system has experienced substantial influence from its military authority which goes by the name Deep State. The Deep State label describes how military personnel together with intelligence agencies maintain their durable power to guide national decisions from hidden positions. Historic military involvement in Pakistan's politics extends across all eras as the military has exercised both direct governance and hidden political power over civilian government authorities. This paper investigates the military's rising political power from General Ayub Khan's 1958 coup through present times while assessing the direct effects of military rule on democratic processes, civil-military relations, and Pakistan's overall governance system. The paper examines military power using historical analysis to show its effect on democratic institutions along with creating political turmoil and explores political leaders' connections to civil society and military forces.

    Deep State, Military Influence, Civil-Military Relations, Political Instability, Pakistan's Democracy

    (1) Sajida Begum
    Associate Professor, School of Political Science, Minhaj University Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Robina Saeed
    Associate Professor, School of Media and Communication Studies, Minhaj University, Lahore, Punjab Pakistan.
    (3) Rasha Hayyat Rana
    BS Student, Department of Pakistan Studies, Lahore College for Women University , Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
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Cite this article

APA

    APA : Begum, S., Saeed, R., & Rana, R. H. (2025). The Deep State in Action: Military Influence on Pakistan’s Political System since 1958. Global Political Review, X(I), 53-64. https://doi.org/10.31703/gpr.2025(X-I).05

CHICAGO

    CHICAGO : Begum, Sajida, Robina Saeed, and Rasha Hayyat Rana. 2025. "The Deep State in Action: Military Influence on Pakistan’s Political System since 1958." Global Political Review, X (I): 53-64 doi: 10.31703/gpr.2025(X-I).05

HARVARD

    HARVARD : BEGUM, S., SAEED, R. & RANA, R. H. 2025. The Deep State in Action: Military Influence on Pakistan’s Political System since 1958. Global Political Review, X, 53-64.

MHRA

    MHRA : Begum, Sajida, Robina Saeed, and Rasha Hayyat Rana. 2025. "The Deep State in Action: Military Influence on Pakistan’s Political System since 1958." Global Political Review, X: 53-64

MLA

    MLA : Begum, Sajida, Robina Saeed, and Rasha Hayyat Rana. "The Deep State in Action: Military Influence on Pakistan’s Political System since 1958." Global Political Review, X.I (2025): 53-64 Print.

OXFORD

    OXFORD : Begum, Sajida, Saeed, Robina, and Rana, Rasha Hayyat (2025), "The Deep State in Action: Military Influence on Pakistan’s Political System since 1958", Global Political Review, X (I), 53-64

TURABIAN

    TURABIAN : Begum, Sajida, Robina Saeed, and Rasha Hayyat Rana. "The Deep State in Action: Military Influence on Pakistan’s Political System since 1958." Global Political Review X, no. I (2025): 53-64. https://doi.org/10.31703/gpr.2025(X-I).05