ELITE FAMILIES AND POWER STRUCTURES: A CASE STUDY OF THE DAULTANAS IN PAKISTANI POLITICS

Abstract

This study explores the dynamics of elite power and political authority in Pakistan through a focused case study of the Daultana family, one of the most influential landed aristocratic families in Punjab. Drawing on the theoretical insights of Vilfredo Pareto and Gaetano Mosca, the article situates the Daultanas within the broader framework of elite theory, which emphasizes the concentration and reproduction of power within a narrow social group. It argues that despite the establishment of democratic institutions in Pakistan after 1947, political authority has remained deeply embedded in traditional structures of landownership, kinship, and patron-client relations. The research traces the historical evolution of the Daultana family from their role as influential landlords and intermediaries during British colonial rule to their emergence as key actors in the early political development of Pakistan. Particular attention is given to the leadership of Mian Mumtaz Daultana, who served as Chief Minister of West Punjab (1951–1953), illustrating how elite families were instrumental in shaping provincial governance and state institutions in the formative years of Pakistan. The article further examines how such families maintained their political dominance through strategic alliances, electoral mobilization in rural constituencies, and control over economic resources. In addition, the study highlights the continuity of dynastic politics through figures like Tehmina Daultana, demonstrating how political influence is transferred across generations, reinforcing the persistence of elite power in contemporary Pakistan. The analysis also critically evaluates the implications of elite dominance for democratic development, arguing that while elite families have contributed to political stability and administrative continuity, they have simultaneously hindered the growth of participatory democracy, meritocracy, and institutional accountability. By combining historical analysis with political theory, this article concludes that the Daultana family exemplifies the broader pattern of elite capture in Pakistani politics, where formal democratic frameworks coexist with deeply entrenched informal power structures.