Stories
Will Asim Munir Split Pakistan to Become Supreme Ruler?
- •Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir is reportedly planning to abolish the four historical provinces and divide the country into 12 to 15 new states or up to 160 smaller units.
- •While Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari hold nominal positions, actual governance and major decisions are entirely controlled behind the scenes by Munir.
- •Critics argue that the proposed administrative restructuring is not aimed at improving governance, but rather at consolidating absolute power under the military.
- •Popular leader Imran Khan remains imprisoned while major political families like the Bhutto and Sharif lineages face increasing containment by the military establishment.
Key Questions Answered
Field Marshal Asim Munir is reportedly planning to divide Pakistan's four existing provinces into 12 to 15 new states or up to 160 smaller administrative units. While framed as a measure to improve governance and public service delivery, critics view it as a strategy to centralize power under his direct control.
Pakistan's current provinces vary drastically in population and land area, which military leadership cites as a justification for administrative restructuring. According to the 2023 census, Punjab is the most populous province with nearly 128 million residents (about 53% of the nation's total), whereas Balochistan has only about 15 million residents.
By splitting major provinces like Punjab and Sindh—which have historically served as power bases for parties like the PML(N) and PPP—the restructuring is expected to weaken established political families and increase their reliance on the center and military. This move is seen as part of a broader consolidation of power by Field Marshal Munir.
