Relationship between Bad Governance and Military Takeover: An Analysis of Military Coup of 1999

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between the poor economic governance on the part of
government and the resultant military takeover in Pakistan. Over the years, the military in Pakistan
maintained a tradition of imposing martial law in the country. To the surprise of many, all these
martial laws have been peaceful, and hardly the army has come across any resistance from the
masses. What it argues is that poor governance in Pakistan by civilians provides an opportunity to
Pakistan army to impose martial law and take over the country. And it is for this reason that people
welcomed even the dismissal of their elected government. In October, 1999 General Musharraf
removed the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on the same pretext; poor economic
performance that worked to the advantage of the military dictatorship. The research employs a
case study approach and data has mainly been collected from secondary sources including books,
research articles, reports and newspaper articles.