Waves of Instability: Mapping Pakistan’s Political Instability and Social Unrest (2021–2025)
https://doi.org/10.55966/assaj.2025.4.1.082
Abstract
This article examines the political and social unrest in Pakistan between 2021 and 2025, focusing on key events that shaped the country’s instability. The study analyzes the overthrow of the PTI government in 2022, which triggered widespread protests and deepened political divisions. The emergence of opposition movements, including the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and later youth-led resistance, further polarized the political landscape. A critical turning point was the 9th May 2023 protests, where violent clashes erupted following Imran Khan’s arrest, exposing severe civil-military tensions. The research investigates how public discontent was fueled by institutional failures, including judicial bias, media censorship, and economic mismanagement. The study employs Political Process Theory to assess how protest movements mobilized amid shifting political opportunities, while State Fragility and Governance Theory explains Pakistan’s recurring instability due to weak institutions and military interference. Findings reveal a vicious cycle: political crises deepen public frustration, leading to protests, crackdowns, and further governance decline. The media’s role was dual both as a tool for mobilization (through social media) and a target of state repression. The judiciary faced accusations of politicization, while youth activism emerged as a powerful force challenging the status quo. The study concludes with policy recommendations: institutional reforms to strengthen democracy, military disengagement from politics, and inclusive dialogue to address societal grievances. Without structural changes, Pakistan risks prolonged instability, undermining its democratic and economic future. This research contributes to understanding how governance failures and repression exacerbate unrest, offering lessons for fragile states globally.
Keywords: Political Instability, Political Division, Social Unrest, Reforms, Democracy, Governance Theory
