Pakistan's Democratic Decline: How the Military Regained Control Without Tanks in the Streets

Nov 20, 2025 03:17 pm CST

Pakistan's military has regained central power through subtle means rather than overt force, as evidenced by recent constitutional amendments granting Army Chief Asim Munir expanded authority and legal immunity. While civilian leaders Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari maintain ceremonial roles, they have systematically surrendered hard-won civilian oversight, potentially reversing two decades of democratic progress in Pakistan's governance structure.