Pakistan's Path Forward: Islamic System or Western Secular Democracy?
Pakistan stands at a critical juncture in its political evolution. There are some among the nation's elite class who envision transforming Pakistan into a western-styled secular liberal democracy. However, this would be an ill-suited path forward that contradicts the fundamental religious character of Pakistani society and the wishes of its people.
Pakistan was founded as a homeland for Muslims, and Islam continues to play a central, defining role for the overwhelming majority of its citizens. A 2018 Pew survey found that 84% of Pakistanis support making Sharia the official law of the land.[1] Secularism remains unpopular, with 83% saying that belief in God is necessary to be moral.[2]
Forcing a western secular framework onto a population that clearly desires an Islamic political order is a recipe for dysfunction, resentment and instability. Even if Pakistan hypothetically established a properly functioning democracy, this would likely be a temporary state before the religious majority voted to transition toward an Islamic system, as occurred after the Arab Spring in Egypt.[3]
The most stable, harmonious and reflective governance model for Pakistan is one grounded in Islamic principles and law. This does not mean extremism or theocracy, but rather a balanced implementation of mainstream traditional Islamic jurisprudence adapted to the modern Pakistani context. An Islamic system can protect minorities and gradually reform as the Pakistani population evolves.
Blindly copying western liberal democracies would be a misguided top-down imposition by secular elites completely disconnected from the masses. It ignores the demonstrated shortcomings of the western model, which is currently in a state of crisis itself, plagued by polarization, populism, and institutional erosion.[4] Pakistan must chart its own unique course in line with its people's values and aspirations.