Political Crisis in Pakistan and its Impact on Youth Patriotism (A homeland of

67% of Young People)

1. Introduction:
Political crisis can be defined as “an unstable time or state of affairs in which a
decisive change is impending”. Keeping in front, the political condition of
Pakistan the definition can be theorize as “an occurrence which jeopardizes the
basic value, the permanent and vital interest and goals of state set in the
constitution (which cannot be changeable), order and the security of the Republic
are in the jeopardy.
To view the political crisis in the paradigm of Pakistan, the research has to start
from the history of Pakistan and its formation from 1947 14th, August to till today.
The first session of the 1 st constituent Assembly of Pakistan was held on 10 th
August 1947 at Sindh Assembly Karachi. On 11 th August 1947 Quaid-e-Azam M
Ali Jinnag was elected unanimously as the President of the Constituent
Assembly of Pakistan and the National Flag was formally approved by the
Assembly.
Pakistan’s has been very turbulent since its birth, the migration of Muslims,
Hindus, Sikhs and all the major minorities between in both direction from India to
Pakistan and to east wing (which is now Bangladesh). Sixty million of the ninety-
five million Muslims on the India becomes part of Pakistan and the time of
partition. Subsequently, thirty-five million Muslims remained in India making it’s
the largest Muslim minority in non-Muslim state.
The foremost task after the formation of Pakistan was to form a constitution for
the nation. On 7th March 1949. The objective resolution was served as the
grounded norms format till October 1951 while the presidency of Khawaja
Nazimuddin. After 3 years in 1954, when M Ali Bogra took over Prime Authority,
the assembly was dissolved¹ by the Gover General Ghulam Muhammad just
before the placement of draft in the house of approval.
The 2nd constitution assembly of Pakistan was created in May 1955 under
Governor Generals order. The draft of this constitution was introduced in the
Assembly in 1956 and passed in the same year. The assent was given on it by
the Governor General and this Constitution was enforced with effect from 23 rd
March 1956. Under this constitution, Pakistan became an Islamic Republic,
hence 23rd March became our Republic Day with the historic background of
Pakistan Resolution at Minto Park, Lahore
Under the Constitution of 1956, all the Legislative powers for the Parliamentary
form of government with all the executives’ powers in the hands of Prime Minister
and President shifted to the head of the state, elected by all the Member of
National and Provincial Assemblies.
The life span of 1956 Constitution was not that long as the first general election
were scheduled for early 1959, President Sikandar Mirza abrogated the
Constitution, dissolved the National and Provincial Assemblies and declared
Martial Law on October 1958. In our neighboring country the first general election
was held in 1951-52, after 4 years of independence. while In Pakistan after more
than a decade, the martial law happened right after the scheduling of first general
election and General Muhammad Ayub Khan, Commander-in-Chief of Army, as
the Chief Martial Law Administrator.
After the abolishment of National Assembly, General M Ayub Khan first major
steps taken was the appointment of Constitution Commission on Feb 1960. The
objective of the Commission was to submit a best proposal in favor to promote
democracy and mold the socio-political environment of the country including the
Islamic principles of Justice. The report submitted in April 1961, and the new
Constitution was framed and given to the nation on 1 st March 1962. And the first
session of the 3rd National Assembly was held on June 1962 at Ayub Hall,
Rawalpindi.
1962 Constitution envisaged a Federal State with Presidential form of
government, with national Assembly at the center and Provincial Assemblies in
the Provinces. All the executive authorities of the Republic of Pakistan, under the
Constitution of 1962, vested to the office of President, whom appointed his
Cabinet members who were directly accountable to him.
March 1969, the 2nd Martial law imposed by General Agha M Yahya Khan as
Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA). He issued a Legal Framework Order
(LFO), under which the first ever general election was held on December 1970.
This was the first Assembly elected on the adult franchise in which the whole
population of west and east Pakistan were included. During this election a great
crisis occur between the east and west Pakistan.
Geographical barrier was one of the reasons for the starting of the was, as East
Pakistan (now Bangladesh) demanded a proper election in their region. They
convey the message as the people from the east Pakistan want their
representative from their own nation not from the west Pakistan. And according
to them Sheikh Mujibur Rehman was best candidate as he’s been the voices of
Bengalis since the independence. Because there were significant cultural,
linguistic and economics difference between the two parts of the area. But in
1970 the issue goes beyond their hands and they demand their separate
representative, but Yahya Khan and the current President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto
decline the concern and detain the Shiekh in the bars of jail. Which evoke the
local supporter of the Bangladesh. Due to civilian pressure sheikh got out of jail
but the revolutionary wave of separation didn’t get stop and now they demand a
separate country of their own culture, language, ritual and traditions. Pakistan
real fault was to making Urdu as the national language of the country and
ignoring all the concerns from their neighbor’s neighbor of their own country. The
conflict escalated when Pakistan military launched a crackdown in East Pakistan
in March 1971, number of Bengalese seek refuges in India and India offer shelter
for the migrated people.
On December 1971, Pakistan Air Force launched pre-emptive airstrikes on
Indian airbases. This marks the official beginning of the war. As a result, the
conflict draws global attention, United States and China supporting Pakistan
while the Soviet Union supported India. On December 1971, Pakistan officially
surrenders to India, leading to the signing of the Instrument of Surrender in
Dhaka.
The first session of NA, sue to the delay caused by the separation of East
Pakistan, was held in April 1972 at the State Bank Building, Islamabad. The
Assembly formed after the constitution of 1972, the draft presented by the
assembly in the ends if 1972 was authenticated in April 1973 and promulgated
firstly on 14th August 1973. On the same day, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto took oath as the
9th Prime Minister after being the 4th President of Pakistan, while Mr. Fazal Illahee
Choudhary took oath as the President of Pakistan.
The 1973 Constitution provides for a parliamentary form of Government where
the executive authority of the state merged with PM. The President, according to
the Constitution, is at the apex, representing the unity of Republic. Despite being
as the 5-year tenure prescribed in the Constitution of 1973, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto
announces the holding of election on January 1977, while trying to dissolved the
assembly by the president of the state. In result the opposition party charge the
government and claim to doesn’t accept the results of National Assembly
elections results. Which resulted in severe political crises and the 4th Martial Law
was imposed from the Army Chief General M Zia-Ul-Haq in July 1977 and
dissolved the constitution and arrested Bhutto on charges of conspiracy to
commit murder. Bhutto’s trial was highly controversial, with accusations of judicial
bias and political manipulations. Despite international appeals for clemency,
including from leaders such as U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Bhutto was
sentenced to death. In March 1985, Zia-Ul-Haq after being in the authority for 8
years. During this period, limited and controlled political activities were resumed,
as a result of general election were held in February 1985. The idea of election
was opposed by the current president Zia-Ul-Haq, but the assembly get
dissolved in May 1988.
After the dissolution of Assembly General Zia-Ul-Haq the former President of
Pakistan was died in Plane crash on August 17, 1988. The incident occurred
bear Bahawalpur, the former president was on board Pakistan Military aircraft C-
130 Hercules along with U.S. Ambassador, Arnold Raphel. While the General
Election for the 8th National Assembly was held on November 1988. Mohtarma
Benazir Bhutto the daughter of martyred Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was nominated as
PM of Pakistan and took the oath on December 1988. But after 2 years the
assembly got dissolved and in November 1990, Mr. Gohar Ayub Khan as the
National Assembly speaker, and Mian M Nawaz Sharif took the oath as the PM
of Pakistan in 1993. But this dissolution was challenged in supreme court of
Pakistan and the PM seat of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was retorted.
The election of 11th National Assembly was held in 1997 and Mian M Nawaz
Sharif took the oath of PM of Pakistan. The new Assembly came in power with
an overwhelming majority and omitted from the Constitution vide 13 th
Amendment in the Constitution in April 1997. But the instability and ritual of
Dissolving Assembly didn’t get stop and in October 1999, Chief of Army Staff
General Pervez Musharraf took over the government from PM, Nawaz Sharif and
declared himself as Chief Executive through a Proclamation of Emergency. Syed
Zafar Al Shah, MNA and Illahee Bakhsh Soomro, speaker National Assembly,
challenged the suspension order in the supreme court. But the court in May 2000
validated the military takeover by giving 3 years’ time frame to government.
Furthermore, the court also allowed the military government to bring necessary
Constitutional Amendments, provided that those should not change the basic
feature of Federal Parliamentary democracy.
June 2001, Chief Executive assumed the office of President of Pakistan with
Order 2001 and with same day Order No. 2, 2001 the President National
Assembly order of suspension presides and the dissolution. But in January 2004,
the National Assembly felt confidence with the leadership of Pervez Musharraf
but soon in 2008 after 4 years of Presidency, Mr. Pervez Musharraf handed over
the resignation with the allegation of murder of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto who
was assassinated on December 17, 2007, while attending the election rally in
Rawalpindi when suicide bomber detonated explosives near her vehicle. The
blast resulted in her death, along with the lives of many other presented people in
the rally. This attack was the tragic event in the political history of Pakistan.
After the resignation of President and tragic death of PM, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari was
elected as the 13rd President of Pakistan for next 5 years on September 2008.
While the Mr. Yousaf Raza Ghelani was the PM of Pakistan. Syed Yousaf Raza
Ghelani disqualified by the supreme court of Pakistan on June 2012 and Raja
Pervez Ashraf was elected as the PM of Pakistan. The 13 th President of Islamic
Republic of Pakistan addresses both Houses Assembled together on June 2013
under the clause 3 of Article 56 of the Constitution 1973. The election held in July
2013 and Mir Hazar Khan khoso took the oath as the caretake Prime Minister of
country. And as well as completed his 5 years of tenure. After the first session of
14th National Assembly on 3rd June 2013, Mian M Nawaz Sharif elected as 3rd
time PM of Pakistan and took oath. The transition of power from one elected
government to the newly democratically elected government was smooth and
historic milestone achieved in a very transparent manner. And in July 2017, PM
of Pakistan disqualified by the supreme court of Pakistan due to Panama Papers
Scandal in 2016, Joint Investigation Team in April 2017, Investigation though
National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The disqualification from the national
supreme court of Pakistan awakens the Pakistani people as they get to know
about all the money laundering, monitory trafficking and purchasing property in
the foreign countries.
With Parallel Dharnas of Mr. Imran Khan Niazi, Former Captain of Pakistan Men
Cricket team, Winner of ICC Men World Cup 1992. The struggle of 22 years in
the field of Politics came to an end as he become the 22 nd Prime Minister of
Islamic Republic of Pakistan on August 2018. The oath took place in 18 th of
August while Mr. Arif-Ur-Rehman Alvi was elected as President. After appointed
as the PM of Pakistan, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) formed with the
inclusion of more than 3parties and Awami National Party, Muttahida Majlis-e-
Amal, National Workers Party, Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakhtunkhwa Milli
Awami Party, Pakistan People’s Party, and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan to
oppose the idea of Mr. Imran Khan as PM of Pakistan. All the trying of PDM get
in vain until the passing of No-Confidence Vote2 against PM Imran Khan in April
2022. In response to this PM Imran khan urged the Pakistan Establishment to get
involve as they always get involve in the history and not to stay neutral. And play
vital role to save the government and NA. During an online jalsa from Former PM
Imran khan it is revealed that the US Government has involved with the Army in
dismissing of Imran Khan. After removal, Imran Khan waged a campaign against
the military and held rallies and speeches in which he strictly criticized the role of
army in Pakistan Politics. After the revealing huge jalsa from Pakistan Tehreek-e-
Insaf held in major cities of Pakistan in which Imran Khan demand the early
general elections. Due the brave revelry of all the 3 rd party sitting behind, the
people of Pakistan get to know about the real meaning of army establishment in
Pakistan political history. This stunt of revealing information makes the Imran
most popular person among the youth as in 2013 during his election campaign
Khan was always saying as “mere votes ko Jawan Honay Do”.
According to Survey from Gallup Research Institute of Pakistan, the most popular
current political leader in Pakistan is Imran Khan, with 61 % of Pakistanis having
a positive opinion about him, followed 36 % for the PML-N’s Nawaz Sharif.
During online Pod-cast with many intellectual youtuber, the views get from zero
to millions just in the matter of seconds. But during the popularly of Imran Khan,
Mian M Shahbaz Sharif become the 23 rd Prime Minister of Pakistan on April
2022. After becoming the PM, he cancels all the disqualification, corruption cases
from Panama on Mian M NAWAZ Sharif who was Resides in London from 2017.
He engaged Imran Khan in Tosha Khana case in which the foreign delegation
gifted him with expensive watches. Imran khan house in Zaman Park, Lahore the
whole road was covered by all the army to arrest Imran khan as he openly
discusses the involvement of Army and US state. While all the youth and
supporter of Imran khan protesting against the Mr. M Shahbaz Sharif
Government as he was alleged in corruption cases. On 9 May 2023, Imran Khan
was arrested by the Police in Islamabad High court which leads to nationwide
protest.
The supporter of PTI Violently oppose the step of arresting Imran Khan as they
invade in Army General Head Quarter in Rawalpindi and set fire to the houses of
a senior general and took away many expenses’ belongings of High ranked Army
officers houses. In response all social media platforms including Twitter,
Facebook, were blocked in the country. On 5 th August 2023, Imran khan was
again arrested. Furthermore, the army didn’t resist at this point as it 2crack down
all he protests people who among the violent activity and set fire, and several PTI
leaders were enforced to give resignation or they all were arrested. Imran khan
get detained in jail many times due to Pakistan Army but Khan has shown no
signs of backing down from his motives against military and corrupt political
leader and he believes as he is the only hope for the democracy of this country.
After being in jail, the allegations didn’t stop here as they also bring up the
personal life of Former Prime Minister as he had married for the 3 rd time for his
political career, and his current wife is an Islamic Spiritual Leader. There roams a
certain headline from her Ex-Husband that Imran Khan visited his wife in the
absence of his husband when Bushra Bibi was her wife legally. Few of PTI
leaders initiate live communication dorm to the PTI supporters but the
Establishment block all the internet services in the whole country as well as all
the social media platform for the youth to watch and share the content.
All these circumstances indicate that Pakistan is called as the Democratic State
in the world which hides the agenda of Establishment. Pakistan Army had played
and still playing a great role in the political life span of Pakistan. From the last 3
decade, it had great impact on the youth and their imagination, perspective and
view point about all the political leaders. From all the things which had been
discussed above is affecting the youth on a great area which also include their
patriotism for their country. Many young generations seem to highlight the
importance of what Imran khan had done and what he impart to the young
generation. As they start to speak through their minds, know all the constitution
and amendments made for the goodness of their own betterment. It can be seen
from the recent that the current Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan visited
Lahore University of Management and Sciences (LUMS) and many young
students act bravely asked about all the questions about why the Elections didn’t
conduct when within 90 days the elections should be held after the dissolution of
assembly. About how the Pakistan army found all the offenders who cause a
scene in GHQ Rawalpindi but not the terrorist who called massacre in Peshawar
School in 2014, December 16. Former Army Chief General Mr. Qamar Javed
Bajwa were humiliated in the street of France by a Pashtawn Pakistani and didn’t
hessite a single handedly.
All the social media uses by the young generation of Pakistan made funny
videos, memes, and all the content to show their true feeling about the current
situation and their perspective about who’s behind it.
Furthermore, Gaza under attack by the Israeli Army and none of our leader talk
about helping the Muslim Brothers and sisters while we are the only Muslim
country with a nuclear power. The youth of Pakistan working own their own to
help the Muslims over their as Majority of the Palestine population is children
under 5 years and from 12 years. Many young people share the content online
and still sharing on face-book, Instagram, tweeter, threads and as many as have,
with using hashtags for the army’s generals, prime minister of Pakistan, foreigner
human rights leader who chant “every life matter” the basic right of the humanity.
We can also discuss the incidence of Malala Yousaf Zai as she has been shot by
the group of terrorists and given a Noble Peace prize in 2014, as the APS
incident also happened with the same year. Including her as she the member of
UN International Human Right, she didn’t talk about anything about what
happening in Gaza, while NASA’s NEOWISE has been a named recent
discovered Asteroid as 316201 MALALA.
And now Protest from the Balochis which start from their tribal area and reach
Islamabad 23 December 2023. The protest started from the captative murder of
Balach Baloch resident of Turbat a 24-year young man who serve and involve in
the militants. Baluchistan is the largest province of Pakistan by area
approximately 43% of the area of the country and enrich with copper deposits,
oil, uranium and other natural gas, minerals and fisheries, however the province
is the most marginalized in economic and political aspects. Underdevelopment,
high poverty rate, lowest literacy rate as female population that has been attend
the school in Kohistan is 2%. According to the people of Baluchistan and from
the protest participants, in Baluchistan, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial
killings and suppression of political dissents are common. There have a sporadic
insurgencies and militant activities over the years. Infrastructure facilities in the
province are just for name, there has been no education, health care and
transportation system available for the Balochis. The minerals resources have
been used without any strategically and sustainably. Because sudden abduction,
killing of young people from school and poor economic hurdles. Balochis started
to thrive for their own basic human rights, as they spend a whole week in
Islamabad for the right of justice the government didn’t take any initiative as they
oppose the protest and use many shelling gases with-out considering the
feminine and children are also in the protest. Furthermore, the Islamabad police
arrested 200 Baloch’s demonstrators including women and children in the rally.
The relay is led by a Baloch female Dr Mahrang Baloch who demanding the
withdraws od all the cases filed against the 100 students of Baluchistan.
Political leaders, human rights activists and families of victims have for decades
spoken against the killing of the innocent Baluchistan by security agencies in
what they call as the encounter, while the executive authority just sitting and
looking at the puppet show and deny all the involvement in such incidents.
Since 1947, Pakistan Political career always remain in crisis, and consistent
instability like a pendulum who can’t be at its normal state for once. The political
instability affects the youth of the Pakistani, as they don’t, mind to speak for the
truth and don’t get afraid if they mock the establishment or the any PM of
Pakistan. And in this study the researcher is going to study how these political
crises and instability has affect the youth perspective and sense of patriotism
towards their country.

1.1. Purpose of the Study:

The goal of this study is to determine the change in behaviors, attitudes
and perception that the political circumstances are causing in Pakistani
youth. The study looked at how young people felt about making and
sharing of social media on the available on the internet. This study looks
into the perspective consequences and behavioral changes that this
content instability has on young people.

1.2. Significance of the Study:

People are increasingly using various social media platforms instead of
television and paper media. In general, desktop, laptop, tablet and smart
phone users can access all the news and information about the globe.
Anything that happened in one corner of the world can easily be known by
 the rest of the world. Everyone has the right to speak and spread anything
as they want and pleased.
Recent incidence in Pakistan politics cause many effects on the youth
emotions, feelings and their sense, paradigms and perspective about
Pakistan government and Pakistan Army. In Pakistan there are whooping
population of 54,000 people who wants to leave the country for better job
opportunities, idealistic freedom and better economic life style. In August
2023 there 90,000 young people’s leave Pakistan. Whenever we open
social media there are several memes and mock content to shame the
Pakistan Political leaders for what they are doing and having no fear of
supreme justice Pakistan make it more vulnerable. While other content
shows how bad the Pakistan state it, that the only the escape is the only
way for survival.
The goal of this study is to measure the change in the behaviors and
attitude of the young generation cause due these crises. The sudden urge
to leave the homeland country which the home of 67% of young people
population. The study eager to understand how these political crises get
so intense that every person wants to leave the country, how much and to
what extent did this instability will change the feeling and emotions of the
young people and their patriotism.

1.3. Objectives of the Study:

The objectives of this study are to:
 Understand the perception of youth about the political crisis in
Pakistan.
 Examine the behavioral changes, if any, in youth because of
sharing and mocking content on the social media platforms; and
 Find out the impact of political crisis and instability on the level of
their patriotism toward the country.

1.4. Research Questions:

The research questions of our study are as follows:
 What is the perception of youth about the political crisis in
Pakistan?
 What are the behavioral changes in youth because of sharing and
mocking content on the social media platforms?
 Is there any impact of political crisis and instability on the level of
their patriotism toward the country?