Pakistan's Democratic Crisis
A promotion that speaks volumes
Strange things have been happening in our world of late. Such theatre was often displayed in the banana republics of African continent, but it has travelled the long-distance home. One such event is Pakistan's decision to elevate their Army Chief General Asim Munir to Field Marshal on May 20, 2025, that represents far more than a ceremonial honour - it signals a dangerous consolidation of military power that threatens the fragile foundations of Pakistani democracy. Coming just days after a devastating military conflict with India, this unprecedented elevation makes Munir only the second Pakistani officer to hold this rank since General Ayub Khan in 1959 - a comparison that should deeply concern anyone invested in democratic governance.
The timing and circumstances surrounding this promotion reveal the troubling dynamics at play in contemporary Pakistan. Rather than holding the military accountable for significant setbacks during India's Operation Sindoor, which reportedly destroyed 11 Pakistani air bases, the civilian leadership chose to reward what many analysts view as military incompetence with unchecked power. This decision epitomizes the inverted logic of Pakistan's civil-military relations, where failure is rewarded and democratic accountability remains elusive.
Historical echoes and ominous parallels
The historical parallel to Ayub Khan is particularly striking and concerning. The last Field Marshal, Ayub Khan, used his elevation in 1959 to solidify his grip on power following a period of political instability, leading to a decade-long military dictatorship characterized by press censorship and the entrenchment of military dominance in Pakistani politics. Unlike Ayub Khan, who abandoned his role as Army Chief after promotion, Munir retains his position as Chief of Army Staff while holding the five-star Field Marshal rank - an unprecedented concentration of military authority in Pakistan's history.
This distinction is not merely ceremonial. Pakistani journalist Waqar Malik reports that Munir will likely continue as the de facto military head, retaining all operational powers even while holding the symbolic Field Marshal rank. The Shehbaz Sharif government has already extended the Army Chief's term from three to five years, ensuring Munir's dominance until 2027. Such moves suggest a systematic effort to institutionalize military supremacy under a veneer of civilian governance.
The rally-around-the-flag phenomenon
Perhaps most troubling is how recent conflict with India has been manipulated to legitimize this power grab. A Gallup Pakistan poll found that 93% of respondents felt their opinion of the military had improved after the conflict, with rallies featuring placards reading "Long live General Asim Munir!" and banners declaring "You are our saviour!" This surge in popularity, despite significant military setbacks, demonstrates how nationalism can be weaponized to obscure democratic accountability.
Even Munir's most bitter domestic critic, jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, felt compelled to congratulate the military, stating "It's my country, it's my army"- a remarkable turnaround for someone who has been the primary victim of military persecution. This rally-around-the-flag effect has provided Munir with the political capital necessary to consolidate his position while silencing potential opposition.
International concerns and democratic resistance
The international community has not remained silent. In March 2025, U.S. Representatives Joe Wilson and Jimmy Panetta introduced the bipartisan "Pakistan Democracy Act," seeking sanctions on Munir under the Global Magnitsky Act for persecuting political opponents, including Khan. The legislation explicitly accuses Munir of "knowingly engaging in the wrongful persecution and imprisonment of political opponents" and proposes sanctions within 180 days.
Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin has gone further, describing Munir as a "terrorist" and comparing him to Osama bin Laden, stating that "the only difference between Osama Bin Laden and Asim Munir is that Osama Bin Laden lived in a cave and Asim Munir lives in a palace". While such rhetoric may seem extreme, it reflects growing international concern about Pakistan's democratic trajectory under military dominance.
The systematic dismantling of democracy
Munir's consolidation of power extends beyond symbolic promotions to concrete institutional changes. His tenure has been marked by the controversial use of military courts to try civilians - a practice widely criticized by international observers as lacking impartiality and fairness. The systematic persecution of Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, including the party's exclusion from elections and the installation of a government effectively elected without opposition, represents a fundamental subversion of democratic processes.
Political analyst Cyril Almeida suggests that Prime Minister Sharif's enthusiastic support for Munir's promotion is essentially a survival strategy - a way of ensuring "that he is not, and will never be a threat, so a replacement need not be considered". This dynamic reveals the complete subordination of civilian authority to military power, reducing elected officials to mere figureheads in a system dominated by khaki-clad strongmen.
Economic manipulation and narrative control
The military's dominance extends to economic policy through institutions like the Special Investment Facilitation Council, which concentrates development planning under military oversight. While Pakistan's economy has shown some recovery - with foreign reserves hovering just over $10 billion and inflation falling from over 38% in May 2023 to 0.3% in April 2025 - this improvement has been used to legitimize military control over civilian governance structures.
The Pakistani military has also demonstrated sophisticated control over public narrative. Over the past fifteen days, the military has run an aggressive media campaign claiming that Munir successfully foiled Indian aggression and inflicted heavy losses, despite defence analysts dismissing these claims as unfounded propaganda. This manipulation of public perception enables the military to transform defeats into victories and failures into justifications for expanded power. Speaking in Islamabad in a conference in Apr 25, Gen Munir said: "Pakistan needs to be a hard state. Our religion is different. Our traditions are different. The Indian army with all their wherewithal cannot intimidate Pakistan. We must ensure our forces are equipped for the challenges of tomorrow while maintaining our foundational strength." This explains all.
Regional and global implications
Munir's elevation occurs against a backdrop of regional tensions and global realignment. As a devout Muslim who has memorized the holy Quran, Munir has publicly emphasized religious and cultural differences between Islamic Pakistan and predominantly Hindu India, potentially signalling a more ideologically driven approach to regional relations. His naming of Pakistan's counterstrike against India as "Bunyan Marsoos" (Iron Wall) after a Quranic verse, timed to coincide with dawn prayers, suggests a deliberate fusion of military strategy with religious symbolism.
This religious dimension to military leadership, combined with Pakistan's nuclear capabilities and history of supporting proxy groups, raises significant concerns about regional stability. General Munir has been described as a vocal supporter of groups implicated in cross-border attacks, heightening tensions through his rhetoric and invocation of the two-nation theory that provided ideological basis for the 1947 Partition.
Conclusion: democracy at the crossroads
Pakistan stands at a critical juncture. The elevation of Asim Munir to Field Marshal, while maintaining his operational role as Army Chief, represents an unprecedented concentration of military power that fundamentally undermines democratic governance. As one Pakistani journalist described it, this appointment is part of a "hybrid 2.0" model - one with no clear selection criteria, no oversight committee, and no parliamentary debate.
The international community, particularly the United States, faces a difficult choice: continue engaging with a Pakistan increasingly dominated by military authoritarianism, or impose meaningful costs for the systematic dismantling of democratic institutions. The proposed U.S. sanctions represent a significant step toward accountability, but broader international pressure will be necessary to reverse Pakistan's slide toward military dictatorship.
For Pakistan's people, the challenge is even greater. While the rally-around-the-flag effect has temporarily boosted military popularity, the fundamental questions of governance, accountability, and democratic representation remain unresolved. As Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khan pointedly observed, "Instead of making Asim Munir a Field Marshal, Shehbaz Sharif should have just declared him the Baadshah (Emperor) of Pakistan" - a comment that captures the essence of Pakistan's democratic crisis.
The ghost of 1959 looms large over Pakistan. Whether the nation can avoid repeating the mistakes that led to decades of military rule depends on the courage of its people to demand accountability and the willingness of the international community to support democratic governance over short-term stability. The stakes could not be higher - for Pakistan, for regional security, and for the global struggle between democracy and authoritarianism.
Field Marshal Munir may have consolidated his power, but the ultimate test of any democracy lies not in how it rewards its strongmen, but in how it holds them accountable. Pakistan's future hangs in the balance.
