The first dictatorship - Pakistan 1948-1958.

[VCheng]

Good thread, it's important to learn one's history. IMO it's difficult to overstate how much went wrong in that era, and just how many seeds of what was to come were sown. To name a few legacies of that disastrous era:

• Nazriya-e-Zaroorat (Doctrine of Necessity)
• One unit scheme
• Politicised bureaucracy
• Political intrigues, plots (adianoeta), and coups
• Rigging of elections, removal of elected leaders, crushing of dissent, and other violations.

One could argue that Pakistan as we know it today was born in 1971. Before that there was only West Pakistan and East Pakistan. For the first years, there was indeed a democratically elected government, and a Constitution. Then came 1977. The rest is well known, right up to the present set up.

 

[Jungibaaz]

One could argue that Pakistan as we know it today was born in 1971. Before that there was only West Pakistan and East Pakistan. For the first years, there was indeed a democratically elected government, and a Constitution. Then came 1977. The rest is well known, right up to the present set up.

Even in those figural first years though, the democratic setup was flawed in itself and heavily undermined by the usual suspects. But yes, perhaps this is one way to look at our history.

 

[VCheng]

Even in those figural first years though, the democratic setup was flawed in itself and heavily undermined by the usual suspects. But yes, perhaps this is one way to look at our history.

The elections in 1970 were widely recognized as being fair and free, perhaps for the first time. The initial period was not perfect, but functional. It was only when the national psyche recovered from the breakup that the usual suspects did what they did, including the hanging. Then came 1977. And then came 1979. The 80s changed the country irreversibly. Everything that came after was pretty much inevitable. What we see today is the result, until the conclusion, whenever it might happen.