The story of Pakistan’s early times is deeply intertwined with political fragility, institutional  sins, and the growing influence of the military establishment. From its birth in 1947 until the first military  achievement in 1958, Pakistan faced challenges of survival, governance, and  public identity. During this period, the military gradationally evolved from a defense institution into a political actor. The book “ The Generals of Pakistan ” by Zaheer Ahmad Meer highlights how the fortified forces stepped into politics and shaped the  fortune of a  youthful state.

“Pakistan Zindabad – The Next World Superpower” is not just a dream; it is a call to action. Pakistan has the resilience of history, the strength of youth, the blessing of resources, and the courage of faith. To achieve superpower status, it must invest in education, strengthen governance, harness its economic and cultural potential, and promote peace at home and abroad.

 Partition and Its Aftermath( 1947)

 The partition of British India in August 1947 brought both independence and chaos. Pakistan  surfaced as a new state, but it inherited structural  sins

 A abbreviated share of  service,  fiscal, and  executive  coffers.

 Refugee  heads, with millions migrating across borders.

 Violent collaborative  screams and  butcheries.

 controversies with India over Kashmir and kingly  countries.

 At this critical moment, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah assumed binary  places as  Governor- General and President of the Constituent Assembly . The fortified forces, led  originally by British officers and  latterly by Pakistani generals, were assigned with maintaining order, handling deportees, and defending borders.

 Civil-Military Relations in Early Times

 originally, Jinnah emphasized that the fortified forces were to remain  subservient to mercenary authority . In his speech to military officers at Quetta in 1948, he declared

 “ You're the  retainers of the state. You do n't make policy; it's we, the civilians, who decide these issues. ”

 still, after Jinnah’s death in September 1948, the political leadership weakened. Mercenary leaders demanded experience and vision, and political  battles  strengthened. This vacuum gave the military bureaucracy an  occasion to assert itself.

 Rise of the Military Establishment

 Weak Political Leadership

 After Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan came the Prime Minister, but his assassination in 1951 removed a stabilizing figure. consecutive leaders, including Khawaja Nazimuddin, Ghulam Muhammad, and Chaudhry Muhammad Ali,  plodded to maintain authority.

 Bureaucracy- service Nexus

 Governor- General Ghulam Muhammad, and  latterly Iskander Mirza, leaned heavily on the  service to stabilize the state. This  cooperation blurred the lines between mercenary and military spheres, allowing generals to gain political influence.

 Kashmir Conflict and Defense Priority

 The war over Kashmir in 1947 – 48 heightened the  significance of the  service. Defense spending consumed a significant portion of Pakistan’s budget, making the army central to state policy. Generals began to see themselves not only as guardians of  home but also as custodians of  public stability.

 Key Generals of the period

 General Sir Frank Messervy and General Sir Douglas Gracey

 As Pakistan inherited a British- commanded army, the first two Commanders- in- Chief were British officers. Their leadership assured  original association but also maintained  social traditions of military superiority over civilians.

 General Ayub Khan( 1951 – 1958)

 The turning point came when  General Muhammad Ayub Khan  came the first Pakistani Commander- in- Chief in 1951. attractive, ambitious, and politically canny, Ayub cultivated close ties with politicians and foreign powers. His leadership marked the  morning of the  service’s  metamorphosis from a professional force to a political institution.

 Ayub Khan gained influence due to

 U.S. military aid under Cold War alliances( SEATO, CENTO).

 Weak and disunited political parties.

 His  particular  fellowship with Governor- General Iskander Mirza.

WAIT:     What began as a fragile republic soon turned into a  service- dominated state, as generals filled the power vacuum left by weak politicians. Zaheer Ahmad Meer’s “ The Generals of Pakistan ” highlights this  metamorphosis, showing how the fortified forces — firstly  retainers of the state —  surfaced as its autocrats.****  

 The Road to the First achievement( 1951 – 1958)

 Political fermentation

 The 1950s were marked by political insecurity

 Frequent changes in Prime Ministers( seven governments in a decade).

 Detainments in constitution-  timber( first Constitution only in 1956).

 Struggle between East and West Pakistan over representation.

 Iskander Mirza’s part

 Governor- General,  latterly President,  Iskander Mirza   reckoned on the army to consolidate his power. In 1954, he dismissed the Constituent Assembly, with the support of the bar( Justice Munir’s “ Doctrine of Necessity ”). This legitimized unconstitutional moves and encouraged military dominance.

 Prelude to the achievement

 By 1958, Pakistan’s political institutions were paralyzed. Corruption, inefficiency, and  body disabused the public. Mirza invited the army to “ restore order. ” General Ayub Khan,  formerly  important, saw this as his  occasion.

 The First Military Coup( October 1958)

 On 7 October 1958, President Iskander Mirza  disannulled the 1956 Constitution and declared Martial Law, appointing General Ayub Khan as Chief Martial Law Administrator. still, within weeks, Ayub forced Mirza into exile and assumed complete control.

 This was the  first direct military  achievement in Pakistan’s history , setting a precedent for  unborn interventions. The army justified the  preemption by  condemning politicians for corruption and insecurity. While it promised reforms, the  achievement undermined republic and established the  service as the most  important institution in Pakistan.

 Significance of 1947 – 1958 in Pakistan’s Civil-Military History

 1Civilian Fragility  Weak leadership and constant power struggles made mercenary governments ineffective.

 2Judicial Support  Courts legitimized unconstitutional  conduct, empowering the  service.

 3service Ascendance  The army, under Ayub Khan, came Pakistan’s ultimate political authority.

 4Long- Term Consequences  The  achievement of 1958 created a cycle of military dominance, repeated in after accomplishments( 1977, 1999).

 Conclusion

 The period from partition to the first  achievement( 1947 – 1958) was decisive in shaping Pakistan’s civil-military relations. What began as a fragile republic soon turned into a  service- dominated state, as generals filled the power vacuum left by weak politicians. Zaheer Ahmad Meer’s “ The Generals of Pakistan ” highlights this  metamorphosis, showing how the fortified forces — firstly  retainers of the state —  surfaced as its autocrats.

 The  heritage of this first  achievement has endured,  impacting Pakistan’s political line for decades. Understanding this  period is essential to grasp why republic in Pakistan has remained fragile and why the  service continues to play an outsized  part in governance.