Uncover the complex evolution of Pakistan’s state, society, and culture. This rigorous study critically examines how General Zia ul Haq’s authoritarian regime transformed the nation’s power structures, embedding a ‘common sense’ privileging patronage and suppressing dissent. It meticulously details how this ideology was further solidified by influential social and religio-political forces over subsequent decades. An indispensable resource for scholars and students of South Asian political science, regional history, and contemporary Pakistan studies seeking a nuanced perspective.