Political Islam and State Power in Pakistan: Islamization Policies as a Tool for Political Legitimacy

Abstract

This paper examines state-led Islamization policies as a key variable shaping the relationship between political Islam and state power in Pakistan. Since its creation in 1947, Pakistan has experienced recurring efforts by political and military elites to employ Islamic ideology as a source of political legitimacy and social control. Focusing primarily on the period of General Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamization (1977–1988) and its long-term institutional impacts, the study analyzes how constitutional amendments, legal reforms, and religious symbolism were integrated into governance structures. The paper further explores how these policies influenced democratic development, civil–military relations, and the role of religious political parties. Using qualitative analysis of legal documents, policy decisions, and secondary literature, the study argues that Islamization in Pakistan functioned less as a grassroots religious movement and more as a top-down political strategy. The findings suggest that while state-led Islamization strengthened regime legitimacy in the short term, it produced enduring challenges for pluralism, minority rights, and democratic consolidation. By isolating Islamization policies as a focused variable, the paper contributes to broader debates on political Islam by highlighting the instrumentalization of religion within hybrid political regimes.