Shehbaz Sharif
The treatment of opposition parties in Pakistan, particularly Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has been contentious. Recently, PTI has faced significant challenges, including the expulsion of party members who were absent during crucial votes. Imran Khan himself has been vocal about his treatment, alleging harsh conditions during his imprisonment. The government's move to potentially ban PTI has drawn criticism from various political entities and human rights groups, highlighting the deep political divide in the country.
The pervasive influence of the deep state has resulted in a governance structure where elected politicians frequently find themselves at odds with the military's interests, leading to political instability and a lack of clear, long-term national security strategies. This has also contributed to the ongoing challenges in addressing issues such as extremism, economic instability, and social cohesion. The influence of the Pakistani deep state, often referred to as "The Establishment," extends across various aspects of governance. This term encompasses the powerful military leaders, intelligence agencies, and associated pro-military entities that have historically played a significant role in shaping the country's political and strategic affairs.
Post 2024, the PML-N’s lack of a majority and consequent lack of self-confidence increased its dependence on the establishment, which it also needed to counter Khan and PTI. This paved the way for the military to acquire the most extensive role yet in Pakistan’s polity.
A glaring example of how the Pakistani deep state is undermining democratic processes and institutions is the enforcement of the 26th Constitutional Amendment has sparked significant controversy and concern among legal experts and human rights advocates. Passed in October 2024, this amendment has introduced substantial changes to the structure and functioning of Pakistan's judicial system, particularly affecting the Supreme Court and High Courts.
One of the most contentious aspects of the amendment is the alteration to the composition of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP). Previously, the JCP was predominantly composed of judges, but the amendment has now included two members from the National Assembly, two from the Senate, and one woman or non-Muslim member nominated by the Speaker of the National Assembly. This change has reduced the judicial members to a minority, allowing for greater political influence over judicial appointments.
These changes undermine the judiciary's independence by subjecting it to executive and parliamentary control. The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has expressed concern that the amendment erodes the judiciary's capacity to function as a check against other branches of the state and protect human rights. The secretive manner in which the amendment was passed, without public consultation, has also been criticized for violating the principles of the rule of law and separation of powers.
The amendment has raised fears of political retribution against judges and the potential for politicization of the judiciary, which could weaken its role in maintaining the balance of power and protecting democratic governance.
More recently the Shehbaz Sharif government's recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) have also sparked significant concern among advocates for democratic freedom. The government claims that the changes aim to regulate social media and counter the spread of fake news and propaganda, but critics believe that these amendments are aimed towards stifling free speech and dissent.
This move has raised concerns about the balance between regulating harmful online content and preserving fundamental democratic rights. There is a widespread belief among the media and civil society that PECA amendments are designed to bring in greater censorship.
Prime Minister Sharif’s government has been citing fiscal measures and a $7 billion IMF loan package as steps towards economic stabilisation and control inflation. But the fact is that financial stabilisation has yet to involve building sufficient capacity to repay loans. This raises doubts about its sustainability given Pakistan’s large external financing needs in coming years, low foreign exchange reserves and heavy debt burden. Exports have fallen to 8pc of GDP from 16pc a decade ago. Constant requests for loan rollovers to lenders, especially China, indicate the persisting lack of repaying capacity — requiring yet more borrowing.
Amidst these developments, the situation in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan provinces has become increasingly dire. The latest wave of militant violence has taken a heavy toll on the country's security forces, with nearly 60 security personnel losing their lives in the first month of 2025 alone. This surge in violence is a stark reminder of Pakistan's struggle to maintain control over these strategic regions. The inability of state institutions to reliably provide peaceful ways to resolve grievances has encouraged groups to seek violence as an alternative.
2024 was rocked with Pakistan experiencing the highest financial losses globally due to Internet outages and social media shutdowns, amounting to $1.62 billion. Pakistan was more severely impacted than countries in conflict, such as Sudan and Myanmar. This information was revealed in a report by Top10VPN.com, an independent VPN reviewer, released on January 2. The report highlighted the significant economic impact of these digital disruptions on Pakistan, emphasizing the need for stable and accessible internet services to support the country's economy and social well-being.
The resurgence of polio has been a major health concern in Pakistan, with 74 confirmed cases reported throughout the year.
Furthermore, Pakistan’s ranking on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2024 has dropped by 2 spots from 133 in 2023 to 135 in 2024 out of 180 countries, according to a report released by T Transparency International Berlin.
Sharif’s policies have been characterized by a lack of vision and strategic direction, failing to provide the clarity and coherence required to address challenges and adapt to significant changes in domestic and global geopolitics. Even as Pakistan undergoes these ominous times, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a major raise of around 300 per cent for parliamentarians, to Rs519,000 per month. He further justified this raise in the salaries of federal legislators by comparing it with the salaries being drawn by federal secretaries.
Thus, Pakistan's state of affairs has deteriorated significantly over the past year. The nation has faced severe economic challenges, marked by high inflation and unemployment. Political instability has been exacerbated by the contentious treatment of opposition parties and amendments to laws that undermine democratic freedoms. The enforcement of controversial constitutional amendments has further eroded judicial independence, contributing to the overall sense of constitutional failure. Collectively, these issues have painted a grim picture for Pakistan.
