Chequered Past, Uncertain Future: The History of Pakistan

A sweeping journey through the ebbs and flows of Pakistan’s history, from the ancient Indus Valley Civilization to contemporary times, this book not only uncovers the influences from Turkey, Persia, Arabia and Britain that have shaped this South Asian nation, but showcases the region’s diverse, rich tapestry of peoples, and Pakistan's pluralistic, multicultural society. Chequered Past, Uncertain Future describes the post-1947 shift – following the partition of India and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan – as the country became more religiously conservative and autocratic, intensifying sectarian and ethnic divisions. For most of the country's history, the people of Pakistan have found themselves under the control of military dictators who suppress civil liberties and freedom of speech and action – a trend that persists today.

Table of Contents:
Introduction by Ian Talbot 1 From Pre-Historic to the Early Modern Era: 3800 bc to ad 1707 2 The British Rule and the Rise of Muslim Nationalism 3 Bloodied Partition and Punjab’s Bifurcation: 1947 4 Multiple Challenges, Limited Options: Making sense of the Early Problems 5 Faltering Years of a Nascent State, 1947–58 6 Praetorianism Unbound (Ayub Khan’s Rule), 1958–69 7 Praetorianism Under Gen. Yahya Khan and East Pakistan’s Separation, 1969–71 8 The Era of Populism: Zulfi Bhutto, 1971–7 9 Piety and Praetorianism: General Zia ul Haq’s Reign, 1977–88 10 The Rule of Troika and the Onset of ‘Establishmentarian Democracy’, 1988–99 11 Pervez Musharraf: An Autocrat Re-Engineering Politics, 1999–2008 12 A Decade of Uncertainty: 2008–18 13 Imran Khan Assumes Charge 14 Regime Change and a Year of Uncertainty Epilogue References Bibliography Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index

About the Author :
Tahir Kamran is head of the Department of the Liberal Arts at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, director of the Khaldunia Centre for Historical Research, and the editor of the Pakistan Journal of Historical Studies. His books include Colonial Lahore: A History of the City and Beyond.

Review :
This comprehensive history of Pakistan sets as its tragic and acute frame the tension between democracy and religious ideology in the country . . . the best recent political history of the country, with a well-judged narrative of its crisis of legitimacy and sharp portraits of its major actors. Ambitious in terms of its breadth and depth, this book provides a welcome assessment of Pakistan’s political journey, combining historical insight with penetrating observations on recent developments in the country. Pakistan’s history is one of many twists and turns. It is a history of a new country, shaped by distinctively modern, nineteenth- and twentieth-century political trends, yet one also of great historical depth and considerable cultural diversity. As Tahir Kamran shows in this important new book, Pakistan’s story illustrates the contradictions between considerable internal cultural dynamism and persistent structures of neo-colonial dependence, reflected in the political domination, through many political changes and upheavals, of interlocked bureaucratic, landed and military elites. Chequered Past, Uncertain Future is a sweeping history that examines the most recent crises shaping Pakistan’s political landscape. Laced with occasional witticism, Kamran’s voluminous 565-page tome is a delight to read on many counts. Covering ancient India to the present PDM government, the book’s scope spans over centuries and mirrors the author’s grip on history. Building on original research besides existing literature, his analysis is informed by a pluralist approach that takes into account the multiplicity of discourses. However, theoretical debates do not render the text inaccessible to a non-specialist readership . . . One should acknowledge the important contributions Kamran’s book makes. The mere sweep of the book, encapsulating centuries of history, inspires awe.