Book Reviews Husain Haqqani, Pakistan: Between Mosque and Military

Abstract

The military is the most powerful political player in Pakistan. Out of 58 years of Pakistan’s independent existence, the military ruled the country directly or indirectly for about 30 years under four army chiefs and made major input to key areas of state policy from the sidelines in the remaining years. General Pervez Musharraf is the fourth army chief to rule the country and appears determined to hold on to power as long as possible. Like his predecessors, he projected himself as a reluctant ruler in the immediate aftermath of assumption of power, claiming that he was forced by circumstances to assume power. He promised to restore constitutional and democratic rule. Six years later, General Pervez Musharraf is secure in power, having civilianized his military rule by constitutional and political engineering to strengthen his position, co-option of a section of the political elite and the holding of carefully managed general elections. He continues as the army chief and exercise far more power than assigned to President under the constitution.