Pakistan’s Growing Institutional Militarization and the Democratic Deficit

• Pakistan is experiencing a deepening shift toward "constitutionalized militarism" under Field Marshal Asim Munir, moving away from informal influence toward formal, institutionalized control.
• The country faces a systemic crisis characterized by the suppression of political dissent, tightened internet controls, and a persistent democratic deficit.
• International partners, including the US and the EU, continue to engage with the Pakistani military establishment for security and geopolitical reasons, despite documented human rights concerns.

Institutional Militarization

• Since November 2025, the 27th Constitutional Amendment established the Chief of Defence Forces position, which Munir holds alongside his command of the army.
• Analyst Ayesha Siddiqa describes the current state as a "hybrid order" where electoral institutions remain functional, but military authority has solidified its role within the constitutional framework.
• This "hard state" approach contrasts with traditional juntas, relying instead on legal restructuring and systemic repression.

Human Rights and Civil Freedoms

• Legislative crackdowns have intensified against critical voices; authorities used the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in roughly 689 cases between January and August 2025.
• Blasphemy laws remain a critical issue; Human Rights Watch and the National Commission for Human Rights report these laws are frequently abused for extortion and economic exploitation, with at least 450 false accusations recorded.
• Recent amendments to anti-terrorism legislation in Punjab have drawn criticism for compromising fair-trial protections.

Geopolitical Contradictions

• The US has granted significant diplomatic access to Munir, including White House visits, while US-based firm POWERUS has signed an MoU for drone technology partnerships with the Pakistan Army.
• The EU maintains the GSP+ trade regime, worth approximately €732 million in tariff exemptions for Pakistan in 2024, despite flagging significant non-compliance with international human rights and governance standards.
• Foreign powers face a persistent tension between advocating for democratic principles and prioritizing pragmatic security cooperation in a region facing threats from groups like the TTP, ISKP, and Al-Qaeda.