This paper explores the militarisation of populist governance in Pakistan through the
case of Imran Khan, a popular political leader whose premiership marked a rapport
with Pakistan’s military establishment. It further examines how hybrid regimes and
populist leaders interact in Pakistan. Despite the growing tendency to work on
Pakistani politics, there is no research that applies a wave-based analytical framework
to understand the evolution of populism in Pakistan. The objective of this study is to
unfold the fact that Imran Khan’s populism caused a divide between the state and its
populace and put it in jeopardy. Key findings illustrate how hybrid regimes
accommodate populist leaders for power gains but modify their strategies when
populism threatens core the interests. The implications highlight the power dynamics
that emerge when democratic institutions coexist with deep-rooted authoritarian
structures.
