RELIGIOUS INSTRUMENTALIZATION IN THE GENESIS OF PAKISTAN: A BREEDING GROUND FOR POPULISTS

Abstract

Pakistan is one of the two states which appear on the world map as an ideological state. Pakistan’s ideology is based on Islamic religion. Religion was instrumentalised by the elites and leaders of the Muslim League to mobilise people for a new independent state for Muslims of the subcontinent. This tactical use of religion for political objectives was intentionally entrenched in the masses of Pakistan, eventually leading to long-lasting implications for the post-partition era. Among many others, one crucial consequence is the emergence of populist leaders in Pakistan. This article assesses Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Imran Khan, and TLP’s populist tactics in line with the religious ontological foundations of Pakistan. The article concludes that Bhutto, Khan, and the TLP utilise their rhetoric by appealing to the religious sentiments of ordinary people. Whether it was Bhutto’s elusive dream of a great Muslim Ummah, Khan’s utopian ideas of forming the State of Madinah, or TLP’s prophecy of the finality of prophethood, all leaders instrumentalised religion to nurture their political goals. Finally, the article argues that the instrumentalisation of religion by the founding leaders of Pakistan is the cornerstone of the rise of populist leaders in Pakistan.