Abstract
The decade of 1960s in Pakistan witnessed
modernization under General Ayub Khan, who
passionately believed in the progressive-liberal and
modernist version of Islam. His broad-mindedness and
liberalism towards Islam was explicitly manifested in the
official Islamic policy pursued during the first half of his
regime from 1958 to 1965 when he governed the
country in an authoritarian manner. During these years,
the modernization program was implemented through
public policies aimed at bringing about a progressive
change in the constitutional, legal and social spheres of
the country. It was, however, forced as well as highly
selective and authoritarian in nature. The military
regime pushed its modernization agenda despite
opposition and resentment from many sections of the
society. Nonetheless, the second half of the regime
1965-69, which was ‘quasi-authoritarian in nature’, saw
a reversal of his official policy towards Islam, since his
popularity was undermined, and he needed popular
support for his regime. The present article explores the
modernization measures undertaken during the regime
of Ayub Khan, and analyzes the shift in the official
Islamic policy in the country.
Key-words: Forced modernization, public policy, General Ayub Khan,
modernist Islam, opposition
Sarfraz Husain Ansari. (2011) Forced Modernization and Public Policy: A Case Study of Ayub , Journal of Political Studies, Volume 18, Issue 1.
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