Civil-Military relations

After directly ruling Pakistan four times, the military has receded to the background and the Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has committed support for constitutional and democratic processes. However, the military continues to be a formidable state institution that has acquired enough capacity, experience and confidence to overshadow, if not dominate, core political institutions and processes, if and when needed. The Political Barometer determines people's opinions about the power of the military and the imposition of Martial Law.