Semi-Presidentialism and State-Centricism in Pakistan: A Case Study of Authoritarian Federalism during Pervez Musharraf Regime
Abstract
This study focuses upon the trends of center-province relations during 2002-08 by examining politics of centralization and patronage. As this era was ruled under an umbrella of authoritarian regime where president of Pakistan was also the chief of army staff himself; this is universal trend in entire world that when military took over the politics, it tries to adopt constitutional engineering regarding legitimize its rule. Same was the situation during 2002-08. This study investigates how this regime ensured political development by applying semi-presidentialism, state-centricism and authoritarian federalism. Constitutional engineering during the Pervez Musharraf regime was actually the exhibition of semi-presidentialism, state-centricism under authoritarian federalism. However, along with having criticism regarding worse Centre-provinces relations, there is also a list of admires from several political scientists. The study is based on the analytical version and primary and secondary sources are the part of the research
Authors
Syed Mukhtar Hussain Bukhari
PhD Scholar, Department of Pakistan Studies, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan
Muhammad Javed Akhtar
Professor, Department of Pakistan Studies, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan
Muhammad Irfan Mahsud
Assistant Professor, Department of Peace & Conflict Studies, National Defense University Islamabad, Pakistan