DG ISPR Names 'Elitism and Sardarism' as Primary Drivers of Regional Instability

RAWALPINDI - In a rare and hard-hitting press briefing, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry officially identified elitism and sardarism as the primary drivers of regional instability, accusing the feudal elite of trapping common citizens in poverty while demanding state benefits without obeying state laws.

According to the DG ISPR, this feudal system has created a status quo where common citizens remain trapped in generational poverty while local elites act with impunity. He stated: "They believe they only have rights and no obligations. They want to maintain a status quo where a poor man's child shouldn't progress because they are my slave, to drive my Land Cruisers & carry Kalashnikovs in my militia" .

🚨PRESS BRIEFING DGISPR:🇵🇰

DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry officially named Elitism and Sardarism as the primary driver of regional instability. He said:

"They believe they only have rights and no obligations. They want to maintain a status quo where a poor man's child... https://t.co/jP2rSoftUn pic.twitter.com/IJsNypBJWl

- Taymur Malik (@BlueMist911) July 31, 2026

The Link Between Elite Fear and Rising Violence

The DG ISPR linked the rise in violence to the elites' fear of losing power as state control grows. He said: "As state control grows, the elite's fear of losing power is driving the rise in violence" . This observation comes amid a backdrop of militant attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security forces have been engaged in counterterrorism operations .

Elitism and Sardarism: A Pattern Across South Asia

The critique of elite privilege is not confined to Pakistan. Across South Asia and the wider world, similar patterns of entrenched elite power have fueled instability:

A History of Elite Impunity: The DG ISPR's remarks recall the 2014 statement of former Indian Army Chief General V.K. Singh, who controversially remarked that "even the most heinous of crimes can be condoned, as long as they are committed by people who matter" .

The British Example: The UK has had seven prime ministers in ten years, a symptom of governance driven by elite political jockeying rather than public service . This "permanent campaign" model, as scholars describe it, keeps political activity focused on preserving power rather than solving problems .

The Dutch Example: In the Netherlands, political fragmentation has left the government in a "caretaker" capacity for more than half of the last two years . The Dutch political system has become so fragmented that it cannot form a stable government capable of long-term planning, a symptom of elite factionalism rather than public service .

The Elite's Fear: A Driver of Instability

When elites fear losing their privileged status, they often resort to desperate measures, including:

• Resisting reforms that would redistribute wealth and opportunity

• Using violence and coercion to maintain control over state institutions

• Exploiting ethnic and sectarian divisions to maintain their power base

• Undermining state institutions that threaten their privileges

The DG ISPR's observation that violence rises as state control grows reflects this pattern. When the state begins to enforce the rule of law against previously untouchable elites, those elites will fight back-using any means necessary, including violence, to preserve their privileges.

A Call for Institutional Reform

The DG ISPR's statement points to the need for institutional reforms that:

• Break the grip of feudal elites on the economy and state institutions

• Ensure equal rights and obligations for all citizens

• Reform land ownership and revenue collection systems

• Eliminate the use of private militias by local elites

Without such reforms, the cycle of elite oppression, resistance to state authority, and violence will continue. The DG ISPR's message is clear: the nation cannot afford to allow a privileged few to hold the country hostage to their fear of losing power.