Why Do Most Pakistanis Favor the Military? Is it Fear of Chaos?

[ARMalik]

Why Do Most Pakistanis Favor the Military? Is it Fear of Chaos?

Multiple polls conducted over many years in Pakistan have consistently shown that the overwhelming majority of Pakistanis have high conf...

www.southasiainvestor.com

Multiple polls conducted over many years in Pakistan have consistently shown that the overwhelming majority of Pakistanis have high confidence in the Pakistani military. This is in sharp contrast to significantly lower levels of confidence they have shown in the country's politicians and bureaucrats. These results appear to reflect the Pakistanis' fear of chaos...the chaos which has hurt them more than any other threat since the country's inception in 1947. Indian Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has described this situation in the following words: "Despite numerous dire forecasts of imminently proving to be a "failed state" Pakistan has survived, bouncing back every now and then as a recognizable democracy with a popularly elected civilian government, the military in the wings but politics very much centre-stage .....the Government of Pakistan remaining in charge, and the military stepping in to rescue the nation from chaos every time Pakistan appeared on the knife's edge". Pakistanis are not alone in their fear of chaos. Chinese, too, fear chaos. "In Chinese political culture, the biggest fear is of chaos", writes Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani in his recent book entitled "Has China Won".

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PILDAT Survey 2015

A 2015 poll conducted by Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development (PILDAT) found that 75% of respondents trust the country's military, a much higher percentage than any other institution. Only 36% have confidence in Pakistan's political parties.

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Gallup Poll Findings in Pakistan. Source: Gallup International

Here's a 2014 snapshot of how Pakistanis see various other institutions, according to Gallup International:
1. Institutions - Less than one-third of Pakistanis have confidence in the national government, local police, and honesty of elections, and the ratings for those institutions have declined over the last six years. Pakistan's military is the one institution that has retained the confidence of an overwhelming majority (roughly 80%) of people in the country.

2. Corruption - Eighty-one percent of Pakistanis see their government as rife with corruption. This is an increase of 13 percentage points over the last six years.

3. Leadership - Approximately one in three Pakistanis approve of the leaders in the city or area where they live. Their approval of national leaders is lower - approximately one in five Pakistanis approve of them.

Popularity of the the military among Pakistanis' appears to reflect their fear of chaos. Pakistani military has helped the nation defy the most dire predictions of Pakistan's demise. Political, military, religious, ethnic, sectarian, secular, conservative and liberal forces are constantly pushing and pulling to destabilize it but Pakistan remains resilient with its strong nationalism that has evolved after 1971.

A recent example is Pakistan Army's efforts to defend the state by its anti-terror operations Zarb e Azb and Radd ul Fasad that dramatically reduced the level of violence and significantly improved security in the country. It resulted in increased confidence of businesses, investors and consumers in the economy. Another recent example is the military's active role in Pakistan's success against pandemic caused by the deadly coronavirus.

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Terror Stats in Pakistan. Source: satp.org

Here's how India's ex cabinet minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has described Pakistani military's role in defending national integrity:

"Despite numerous dire forecasts of imminently proving to be a "failed state" Pakistan has survived, bouncing back every now and then as a recognizable democracy with a popularly elected civilian government, the military in the wings but politics very much centre-stage, linguistic and regional groups pulling and pushing, sectarian factions murdering each other, but the Government of Pakistan remaining in charge, and the military stepping in to rescue the nation from chaos every time Pakistan appeared on the knife's edge."

Pakistanis are not alone in their fear of chaos as being their biggest enemy. Chinese too fear chaos, as described by former Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani in his recent book "Has China Won":

"In Chinese political culture, the biggest fear is of chaos. The Chinese have a word for it: luàn. Given these many long periods of suffering from chaos—including one as recent as the century of humiliation from the Opium War of 1842 to the creation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949—when the Chinese people are given a choice between strong central control and the chaos of political competition, they have a reflexive tendency to choose strong central control".

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US DoD 1999 Forecast: Pakistan Disappears by 2015

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Pakistani Politicians' Corruption & Money Laundering

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Why Do Most Pakistanis Favor the Military? Is it Fear of Chaos?

Multiple polls conducted over many years in Pakistan have consistently shown that the overwhelming majority of Pakistanis have high conf...

www.southasiainvestor.com

There is another much bigger reason - the Military is corrupt but it is much less corrupt than the Civilian Government in Pakistan.

 

[Crystal-Clear]

mostly people support the "Danda" over the head of corrupt politicians .

 

[Marker]

I say this because I have personally noticed an increase in anti military sentiment during informal conversations with many people over the past months. These 'people' were not the usual leftist and liberal types but middle class urban Punjabis who have undergone a sort of an awakening these past two years.

Pro-Nawaz will always hate Army. They are the one who spread fake news and lies against the army.

If I have to compare three "big" parties, PTI, PPP and PML(N), then PTI is better option, at least Imran Khan is comparatively more loyal and honest person then the remaining two so called leaders or leaches or may be traitors. Even if army helped PTI to get the government, I fully support this action. We already tried these two big parties thrice, and now let Imran lead the country

Look at the traitor, Nawaz, ran away from the court trial by producing fake medical documents and now spreading fake news against the state.

And Zardari is another side of devil's face.

Imran may have problems to run the country smoothly, but at least he is not a traitor, disloyal and money launderer.

It is high time, for the people of Pakistan, we as true Pakistanis must elect the better option instead of those who distribute some money to gain votes. That is what all the political parties do and our poor local citizens are being mislead to vote the most incompetent and corrupt to lead them.

 

[Samlee]

Because They Are Our Brother in Arms Simple

 

[peagle]

Most Pakistanis don't favour the military otherwise Pakistani people would not have democratically elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the third time despite being toppled by the military and banned from holding the top job as per military imposed law on the country.

Nobody gives a damn about the military. They always seem to be owning some American war and gloating about it's benefits to Pakistan like a bunch of scavengers.

Couple of examples.
View attachment 675649

View attachment 675646​

Electing civilian leaders has nothing to do with any feelings towards the military, this is weak reasoning.

I've come across hundreds of Pakistanis in my lifetime, from all different backgrounds and beliefs, I've yet to meet a single Pakistani who "hates" the military. Dislike for various reasons, mostly political, yes, but not once hate.

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

... What has made it worse is that now if you criticize the incumbent government in front of anyone, they shift blame entirely on the army for bringing PTI to power. Its happening all the time now.

That is 100% correct.

Punjab is the largest province in Pakistan with a population of over a 100 million people and it has always supported the PML-N for decades.

When the military comes along and imposes a Government, it has never gone well. But what has happened this time around is that the military has imposed (or is seen to be strongly backing) the most incompetent Government against the PML-N in Punjab is what's making people turn against the military.

Also, no matter what people say but race, and ethnicity also plays a big role. Here, PM Imran Khan is a pathan and has imposed a native Balochi on Punjab. People dont like it.

People naturally think what does a pathan or a Balochi from far away provinces know about the politics and economics of Punjab and also ask the question why the military has imposed non-punjabis on Punjab.

What people from other provinces probably also won't realise is that each day, a large number of people from Punjab travel to and from Azad Kashmir and they have a lot of family and relatives on each side (like myself), and the way PTI Government is trying yo weasel it's way out of annexation of Indian Occupied Kashmir is not going very well with the population.

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

Electing civilian leaders has nothing to do with any feelings towards the military, this is weak reasoning.

I've come across hundreds of Pakistanis in my lifetime, from all different backgrounds and beliefs, I've yet to meet a single Pakistani who "hates" the military. Dislike for various reasons, mostly political, yes, but not once hate.

When did I say anyone hates the military? Most of the manpower in the military comes from Punjab (someone correct me if am wrong), people just don't like the military meddling in politics, everybody hates that, that's all.

In the 2013 General Elections, the former Pakistani Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf also took part with his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML). His party won one seat.

That is the auqaat of the military in politics. Even PTI supporters didn't bother to support a former Pakistan Army Chief.

 

[peagle]

When did I say anyone hates the military? Most of the manpower in the military comes from Punjab (someone correct me if am wrong), people just don't like the military meddling in politics, everybody hates that, that's all.

In the 2013 General Elections, the former Pakistani Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf also took part with his All Pakistan Muslim League (APML). His party won one seat.

That is the auqaat of the military in politics. Even PTI supporters didn't bother to support a former Pakistan Army Chief.

Your initial statement came across that way, now, I agree with you that the mood in the country is against military takeovers. Because in the long term it does not help.

The Punjabi issue is always played for negative reasons, without logic. The army was has a British history, the largest group in the military during the colonial rule were from the Punjab. Punjabi percentage in Pakistani pollution was 58% at independence and now it is about 52%.

Historically Punjabis and Pathans made up the bulk of our armed forces but over the past 20 years there has been a massive drive to induct Sindis, Balochi and other groups. The military even changed its selection criteria to accommodate the new recruits. Presently it is much more balanced.

In India, even today, people from Punjab and Haryana, the traditional Punjabi areas make up 25% of its military, but their population is only 5%, but they made up a much higher percentage before. No one talks about that, pointing fingers, even there.

It makes sense if a area has a history of people joining the military, people in those areas are more likely to join. We have habit of pointing fingers without far analysis.

 

[xyx007]

some of my reason

1. Once they’ve got the uniform on, their lives turn into a constant battle with anyone who lays an evil eye on Pakistan
2. Their work doesn’t just end at the border – they help the civilians wherever needed.
3. No matter where they are – they pray by Jama’at and go by the Islamic ways.
4. They aren’t just our saviors – they are Jacks of all trade who are ready to help wherever needed.
5. These young soldiers leave new marriages, young children, and their whole families to protect ours.’
6. They don’t see conditions to do their duty, their bodies get used to the pain
7. Frostbite or not, these Pakistan Army soldiers smile through the pain and tough times
8. They have hearts bigger than the biggest charities in the world, they devote their lives for others
9. When hurt, they don’t run from their duty – if they return alive they’re Ghazi, if not, Shaheed!
10. They leave their mother’s warmth – so they can take care of every mother of the country
11. And whilst doing their duty right – they sacrifice their lives for the Green and White

The army’s real power comes not from its guns, but its popularity in our core of population.
The ideological origins of the Pakistan Army can be traced back to what is known in British histories as the ‘The Indian Mutiny.’ Its objective was to reinstate to power in Delhi the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah. This was India’s First War of Independence and was mainly fought by Muslims, although many Hindu troops also took part as a result of crude treatment by their British officers.

When partition came around in 1947, the formations, units and assets of the British Indian Armed forces were intended to be proportionately divided between Bharat (India) and Pakistan. The Indians refused to give up any worthwhile equipment, as had been agreed, but nearly all Muslims soldiers from the British Indian Army joined the newly formed Pakistan Army. Muslim identity was therefore embedded in Pakistan’s army right from the outset.

The famous slogan in the struggle for Pakistan, coined by the Urdu poet Asghar Sodai, was ‘Pakistan ka Matlab kya, La Illaha Illallah. (What does Pakistan mean? ..There is no God but Allah). But in actuality, Pakistan was forged by Indian narrow-mindedness. Had ultra-nationalist Hindu leaders accepted the All-India Muslim League’s demands for Muslims to be given fair representation in legislative assemblies, India would not have been partitioned.

When Pakistan became a reality, Hindu leaders struggled to reconcile themselves to it and wanted to undo Pakistan militarily. The Pakistan Army stood in their way – a number of times, it took batterings, but it was never defeated. Consequently, the Pakistan army developed into a first-class fighting machine.

Over the years, Indian leaders have struck out at Pakistan but in doing so they have damaged India’s self-assurance and confidence.

India not only occupied Muslim majority princely states (Junagargrh, Hyderabad, Manvadar and Kashmir), it also dismembered Pakistan. In the absence of a central political party in united Pakistan, East Pakistan became Bangladesh in 1971. Today, India is busy exploiting faultlines in Pakistan. It has started sponsoring separatist groups in Baluchistan. And again, with no political party able to command popularity in all provinces, many Pakistanis look once more to the army for answers.

Civilian bureaucracy in Pakistan is in decline, unable to withstand the malpractices of the country’s elite and prone to facilitating corruption instead of preventing it. Again and again, Pakistani society has looked to the army to undertake tasks beyond its domain.
Pakistan has long been led by poorly-run political parties full of opportunistic and dynastic careerists. When parliamentary democracy and civil bureaucracy are found wanting, the military is often blamed for holding democracy back. Liberals even allege that the fathers of the nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan, over-exaggerated the Indian threat in order to legitimize attempts at centralizing state power. However, Indian aggression in 1971, its sponsorship of insurgent groups in Balochistan and its ill-treatment of Muslim masses in Kashmir and other areas prove that in Pakistan we need to remain vigilant and keep our military strength up.
Instead of throwing around blame and criticism, Pakistan’s politicians need to look at the planks in their own eyes. The more good governance takes root, the less demand there will be for the military to play a role in public affairs. Pakistani politicians must work for stability and Pakistani economists and bureaucrats must also fix their own domains.

Any questions on why these brave and resilient men don’t deserve all our love and respect? We’re sure you have none!
Ye will always stand behind Pak-ARMY ❤

 

[Pandora]

Most Pakistanis don't favour the military otherwise Pakistani people would not have democratically elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the third time despite being toppled by the military and banned from holding the top job as per military imposed law on the country.

Nobody gives a damn about the military. They always seem to be owning some American war and gloating about it's benefits to Pakistan like a bunch of scavengers.

Couple of examples.
View attachment 675649

View attachment 675646​

In what universe are you living? Just bcz you are a brainwashed patwari doesn't mean all Pakistanis hate Military. Pick up any public opinion poll and you will get your answer. BTW Ganja Choar himself admitted in his speech that he always brought into power by his daddy Military. So much for elected 3 time Elected PM.

 

[ziaulislam]

Seeing how the party of central punjab ias leading the charge against army..choas ia going to be fate of Pakistan once again


Central punjab is Pakistan..if it goes into choaa the country wont survive..

Establishment has been lenient to central punjab for a reason and has done any and eveything to keep it happy..


But now Pakistan and Pakistan(central punjab) are on a collision course

 

[ziaulislam]

The establishment was asking for it by letting traitors run away.

Central punjab likes nawwz sharif..what could have they done?
1 crore people voted for him almost everyone from central punjab

It seems nawaz will be back ..he has said eiTher me or i will burn the country down

 

[ziaulislam]

some of my reason

1. Once they’ve got the uniform on, their lives turn into a constant battle with anyone who lays an evil eye on Pakistan
2. Their work doesn’t just end at the border – they help the civilians wherever needed.
3. No matter where they are – they pray by Jama’at and go by the Islamic ways.
4. They aren’t just our saviors – they are Jacks of all trade who are ready to help wherever needed.
5. These young soldiers leave new marriages, young children, and their whole families to protect ours.’
6. They don’t see conditions to do their duty, their bodies get used to the pain
7. Frostbite or not, these Pakistan Army soldiers smile through the pain and tough times
8. They have hearts bigger than the biggest charities in the world, they devote their lives for others
9. When hurt, they don’t run from their duty – if they return alive they’re Ghazi, if not, Shaheed!
10. They leave their mother’s warmth – so they can take care of every mother of the country
11. And whilst doing their duty right – they sacrifice their lives for the Green and White

The army’s real power comes not from its guns, but its popularity in our core of population.
The ideological origins of the Pakistan Army can be traced back to what is known in British histories as the ‘The Indian Mutiny.’ Its objective was to reinstate to power in Delhi the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah. This was India’s First War of Independence and was mainly fought by Muslims, although many Hindu troops also took part as a result of crude treatment by their British officers.

When partition came around in 1947, the formations, units and assets of the British Indian Armed forces were intended to be proportionately divided between Bharat (India) and Pakistan. The Indians refused to give up any worthwhile equipment, as had been agreed, but nearly all Muslims soldiers from the British Indian Army joined the newly formed Pakistan Army. Muslim identity was therefore embedded in Pakistan’s army right from the outset.

The famous slogan in the struggle for Pakistan, coined by the Urdu poet Asghar Sodai, was ‘Pakistan ka Matlab kya, La Illaha Illallah. (What does Pakistan mean? ..There is no God but Allah). But in actuality, Pakistan was forged by Indian narrow-mindedness. Had ultra-nationalist Hindu leaders accepted the All-India Muslim League’s demands for Muslims to be given fair representation in legislative assemblies, India would not have been partitioned.

When Pakistan became a reality, Hindu leaders struggled to reconcile themselves to it and wanted to undo Pakistan militarily. The Pakistan Army stood in their way – a number of times, it took batterings, but it was never defeated. Consequently, the Pakistan army developed into a first-class fighting machine.

Over the years, Indian leaders have struck out at Pakistan but in doing so they have damaged India’s self-assurance and confidence.

India not only occupied Muslim majority princely states (Junagargrh, Hyderabad, Manvadar and Kashmir), it also dismembered Pakistan. In the absence of a central political party in united Pakistan, East Pakistan became Bangladesh in 1971. Today, India is busy exploiting faultlines in Pakistan. It has started sponsoring separatist groups in Baluchistan. And again, with no political party able to command popularity in all provinces, many Pakistanis look once more to the army for answers.

Civilian bureaucracy in Pakistan is in decline, unable to withstand the malpractices of the country’s elite and prone to facilitating corruption instead of preventing it. Again and again, Pakistani society has looked to the army to undertake tasks beyond its domain.
Pakistan has long been led by poorly-run political parties full of opportunistic and dynastic careerists. When parliamentary democracy and civil bureaucracy are found wanting, the military is often blamed for holding democracy back. Liberals even allege that the fathers of the nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan, over-exaggerated the Indian threat in order to legitimize attempts at centralizing state power. However, Indian aggression in 1971, its sponsorship of insurgent groups in Balochistan and its ill-treatment of Muslim masses in Kashmir and other areas prove that in Pakistan we need to remain vigilant and keep our military strength up.
Instead of throwing around blame and criticism, Pakistan’s politicians need to look at the planks in their own eyes. The more good governance takes root, the less demand there will be for the military to play a role in public affairs. Pakistani politicians must work for stability and Pakistani economists and bureaucrats must also fix their own domains.
Any questions on why these brave and resilient men don’t deserve all our love and respect? We’re sure you have none!
Ye will always stand behind Pak-ARMY ❤

So far its either me or i will burn the country down...each have their brain washed supporter

Future isnt bright

 

[RiazHaq]

There are good reasons for the army’s popularity in Pakistan
By ATTA RASOOL MALIK

There are good reasons for the army's popularity in Pakistan - Asia Times

The ideological origins of the Pakistan Army can be traced back to what is known in British histories as the ‘The Indian Mutiny.’ Its objective was to

asiatimes.com

Pakistan has long been led by poorly-run political parties full of opportunistic and dynastic careerists. When parliamentary democracy and civil bureaucracy are found wanting, the military is often blamed for holding democracy back. Liberals even allege that the fathers of the nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan, over-exaggerated the Indian threat in order to legitimize attempts at centralizing state power. However, Indian aggression in 1971, its sponsorship of insurgent groups in Balochistan and its ill-treatment of Muslim masses in Kashmir and other areas prove that in Pakistan we need to remain vigilant and keep our military strength up.

Pakistan’s army is popular throughout the country because it draws the bulk of its officers and men from the middle class. It has effectively restored law and order in Karachi and Malakand, and in tribal areas. It has deterred terrorists and managed to retain popular support among those with religious inclinations. There was no surprise when the army smoothly evicted the recent sit-in by extremists at Faizabad, after the civilian government failed to relieve the suffering of people in Islamabad for 17 long days.

 

[Pakistan Ka Beta]

My vote is for Pakistan military . I love them and will favor them .