William D Chester

Understanding the Influence of the Pakistani Government in South Asia William D Chester

This monograph will explore the origins of the Islamic fundamentalist movement in South Asia that can be traced back to the Islamization program during the Zia ul Haq regime in Pakistan. Since 1947, Pakistan?s early political administrations were characterized by a failure of governance, resulting in five failed regimes in twenty years. The political turmoil from Iskander Mirza?s presidency in 1957 through the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto regimeending in 1977prompted the military to assume the role of the guardianof the Muslim State. Equally as importantto understanding Pakistan?s political and military relationshipis that each of these regimes changed the Constitution of Pakistan, ensuring thatpolitical power was placed under the presidency, and by doing so, limitedthe authority of the provincial leadership. From these formative years, the Pakistani peopleexperienceda series of failed regimes that ended in coups and createdthe perception that Pakiatan?s government needed a military leader with complete control.