CONSTITUTIONAL CRISES, POLITICAL POLARIZATION, AND DEMOCRATIC BREAKDOWN: THE ROAD TO 1971

2026-04-30 2026-06-15 2026-06-16 6/20/2026 12:00:00 AM DownTown News 2 2026 Review article 627 643 2026 ID N-5730-2015 English Taha Nazir, Taha Nazir Governance, Regional Inequality, East Pakistan, West Pakistan, National Cohesion, Regional Development, Public Administration The separation of East Pakistan in 1971 is often examined through political, constitutional, military, and diplomatic perspectives. Equally important, however, is the governance and development dimension of the crisis. The relationship between East and West Pakistan was shaped not only by political disagreements but also by administrative structures, economic planning choices, public expenditure patterns, institutional representation, regional development policies, and perceptions of distributive justice. Governance decisions made during the first two decades of Pakistan's existence profoundly influenced regional perceptions regarding fairness, participation, opportunity, and inclusion.