Areez Tariq
Independent Political Analyst
Email: [email protected]
Abstract: Religion occupies a central position in Pakistan’s political discourse, constitutional framework, and public life. While Islam was envisioned as a moral and spiritual foundation for the new state, its role in politics has increasingly shifted from spirituality to an instrument of power, legitimacy, and control. This paper argues that in Pakistan, religion is frequently employed by political actors, state institutions, and non-state groups to justify authority, suppress dissent, and mobilize support, often at the expense of genuine spiritual and ethical values. Through historical analysis and contemporary examples, the paper examines how religion has been politicized, the consequences of this politicization, and the resulting marginalization of spirituality in Pakistani politics.
Keywords: Religion; Politics; Pakistan; Political Legitimacy; Power; Control; Islamization; Spirituality