Trust me, the majority have known for the last seven decades. For my father, he said mid-60s, when he gained more self-awareness, he knew things were off. My father could be considered an outlier, as my grandfather lived in the UK since the age of 16, who opened my father's eyes and ears early on through their conversations.
@VCheng has a point, if he were as popular as we claim, wouldn't people have taken to the streets as the Turks did when the coup against Turkish President Erdogan was unfolding?
To your second point, the guns and barrels, many nations have had violent insurrections that have paid the price in blood for the next generations; the British had their own, the French, etc. I don't think the same can be said of Pakistan.
It then shows the Pakistanis' contentment with their living situation and mindset:
chand din di zindagi, khao pio, moja karo.