Abstract

Military establishments often view themselves as superior to civilian authority, believing they are the ultimate protectors of national integrity. This mindset leads to undermining democratic processes and institutions, especially when they perceive elected leaders as a threat to their dominance.In Pakistan, repeated military coups (1958, 1977, 1999) and the dismissal of elected leaders like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif illustrate how the military has prioritized institutional control over democratic continuity.Many post-colonial states inherited authoritarian administrative systems from their colonial rulers. These systems were designed for governance without public participation, making bureaucracies and security institutions resistant to democratic accountability and public empowerment.