THE HAMOOD-UR-REHMAN COMMISSION REPORT: POLITICAL RELEVANCE AND HISTORICAL CONTROVERSIES IN PAKISTAN'S CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS

Abstract

This research examines the political significance of the Hamood-ur-Rehman Commission Report, which investigated the events leading to the 1971 East Pakistan crisis and the subsequent creation of Bangladesh. The paper employs qualitative research methodology, 
specifically document and literature analysis and secondary sources of data, to critically assess the report's role in shaping contemporary Pakistani politics, particularly its use by former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Through analyzing the authenticity of the report, its suppression, and its resurgence in political discourse, the study explores the motivations behind Khan's promotion of the report and its potential implications for Pakistan’s domestic and international relations. The research also considers how political narratives surrounding the report contribute to ongoing debates about civil-military relations and democratic governance in Pakistan. A way forward would involve a deeper investigation into the long-term impact of these political narratives on national reconciliation and institutional reforms in Pakistan