History

K.Q15: How effective were Pakistan’s government in the final

decade of the 20th Century ?

Benazir Bhutto:
> Daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
> Remained house arrest between 1977 and 1981. Spent more than 5
months in solitary confinement. Went to exile in London in 1984. Returned
to Pk in 1985 for the funeral of her brother Shahnawaz.
> Arrested for participating in anti-government rallies. Went again in exile
and returned in 1986 when Zia ended martial law.
> Started campaigning for the resignation of Zia and for elections.
> Became the first woman to become Prime Minister.

BB as PM 1988-1990
Political Opposition:
> PPP gained majority in Sindh but not in other 3 provinces in Elections.
> Was the largest party in the National Assembly but didn’t had majority.
Formed alliance with MQM to gain majority.
> Faced fierce opposition by IJI led by Nawaz Sharif who controlled the
provincial govt of Punjab.
> She was both popular and unpopular because of his father ZAB.
> His biggest opponent was NS who was hailed from a wealthy family.
> In Oct 1989, the opposition parties organized a No-Confidence motion in
the NA to dismiss BB but lost by securing 107 votes but were short of 12.
Damage made.
Differences with President Ishaq:
> The relations between BB and President Ishaq weren’t good as they both
had disagreements over appointments to positions in the military and
judiciary. Both wanting to have such right to their position. Ishaq refused
several appointments and dismissals she wanted to make in the military.
Policies: Inflation, Unemployment and Drug trafficking:
> Promised to create a Pakistan which was democratic, but guided by Islamic
principles, restoring political freedoms and introducing social and health
reforms.
> She took some measures such as ending a ban on trade unions, releasing
political prisoners, restoring student unions. She also took the first step
towards spreading electricity across rural pk. +ve
> No new laws were introduced to improve welfare services or help women
and the Hudood and Zina Ordinances were not repealed. -ve
> BB complained of the difficulty that came to pass legislation as the senate
was dominated by the opposition thus it made it difficult for her to
concentrate on legislation and reforms.
> Govt lost support because of unfulfilled promises of employment and
economic development programs. -ve
> Inflation and unemployment were high and the rapid increase in country’s
population meant the already overburdened education and health systems
could not cope, Drug problem remained unsolved. -ve
Problems in Sindh:
> It became an area of growing opposition to the rule of PPP.
> Bhutto had made the study of Sindhi compulsory in schools and also
reserved posts in the administration for the Sindhis but there were many
muhajirs which in majority were well educated, Urdu speakers who opposed
special rights for Sindhis and supported the MQM. -ve
Foreign Policy:
> BB took Pk into the Commonwealth, and hosted the 4 th South Asian
Association For Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit Conference in Dec
1988. Because of improved relations at the conference, Pk and India were
able to sign 3 separate peace agreements. +ve
> Visited USA in 1989 to meet the President Bush and other officials. The
visit was a successful one and restored good relations between the two.

The Government Dismissed:

> BB’s husband, Asif Ali Zardari accused of taking rake-offs on government
deals. He was later arrested on charges of blackmail and jailed for 2 years.
> PPP believed that these charges were politically motivated and he was
innocent.
> Because of growing unemployment and strikes, Ishaq took his chance and
used the 8th amendment to dismiss BB’s govt. He said his actions were
justified bcz of corruption, incompetence and inaction.
> Following the dismissal of BB’s govt, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, leader of a
coalition of parties opposed to the PPP, was asked to form a caretaker govt
until elections were held in Oct 1990. BB complained that the govt was
stolen from her and the fact that the power was given to a member of
opposition angered her.
> Mustafa Jatoi was asked to lead an investigation into the alleged
corruption. BB was asked to give evidence and was charged with corruption
but no further action was taken.
> In the elections, the IJI won a comfortable victory. Nawaz Sharif was the
leader of PMLN which was the biggest party in the alliance and thus he
became the PM. BB became the opposition leader.

Nawaz Sharif as PM (1990-1993)

Economic Policy:
> Announced to carry a national reconstruction programme to industrialize
Pk.
> He believed that unemployment was the biggest problem in Pk and only
industrial growth could solve that problem.
> He wanted to modernize the country by making effective use of its natural
resources and best use of its plentiful manpower.
> Wanted to follow a policy of privatization of industries which have been
nationalized under ZAB, as he believed that a partnership between govt and
private sector would boost the economy.
> Important industries such as shipping, electricity supply, airlines and
telecommunications were opened up to the private sector. +ve
> Introduced projects like Barotha Hydro Power Plant and the Gwadar Mini
port, to stimulate the economy. +ve
> He also tried to solve the unemployment problem by importing 1000s of
taxis and providing cheap loans to buy them. But just a few loans were
repaid. +ve
The Motorway Project:
> One of Sharif’s major projects was to build a fast transportation network to
the Central Asian region. Mainly for the former USSR countries who needed
access to seaports.
> It would join the major cities, stimulate rural economies and provide an
alternative to the existing overburdened roads. The estimated cost was
$989,000,000,000.
> Although Pk’s first motorway was completed in Nov 1997, The M2. The
very first in South Asia.
Loss of US Aid:
> NS’s policies were undermined by the lack of capital for investment.
> There was influx of foreign capital when he loosened foreign exchange
restrictions and opened Pk’s stock market to foreign capital, but the govt
remained short of funds for investment.
> USA provided significant economic support during the Soviet Afghan war,
but when it ended that support was reduced.
> Bcz of the nuclear issue, the financial support almost dried up as USA
pressured to end the programme.
The BCCI Scandal:
> Pk’s finances were pressured bcz of reduction in aid high govt spending
and a decrease in remittances from overseas workers in the Middle East.
> More harm was done when Bank of Credit and Commerce international
(BCCI) collapsed in 1991.
> The Bank was founded by Agha Hasan Abedi in 1972 and within 10 years
became the world’s 7th largest bank. But concerns about the bank’s lending
practices led to an investigation by a Bristish team of accountants in 1991.

> They concluded that BCCI had engaged in ‘widespread fraud and
manipulation’ and thus the bank closed and had to pay huge fines with
investors losing huge sums.
Cooperative Societies Scandal:
> Cooperative Societies accept deposits from members and can legally make
loans only to members for purposes that are to the benefit to the Society and
its members.
> Many Pakistanis lost money as the Societies collapsed due to
mismanagement. In Punjab, 700,000, mostly poor people lost their all
savings when the state’s Cooperative Society went bankrupt.
> It was soon discovered that these Societies had granted loans of billions of
rupees in loans to NS’s family business, the Ittefaq group. This damaged NS’s
reputation.
The Kalashnikov Culture:

The Kalashnikov Culture refers to the impact of the Afghan war on Pakistan,
particularly in relation to the influx of weapons and the rise of violence. The
conflict led to a significant cultural and social shift, with the availability of
arms influencing local dynamics.

Impact of Afghan War on Pakistan:

 The Afghan war created a surge in the availability of automatic

weapons.
 Gun culture became prevalent, with local production and distribution of
firearms, including copies of Russian Kalashnikovs.
 Violence, including bombings and murders, became common,
particularly in Sindh.
 Police forces struggled to maintain order as they were increasingly
outgunned.
 Foreigners were also targeted in these violent outbreaks.

Drug Addiction Crisis:

As a result of the war and the influx of refugees, drug addiction became a
significant issue in Pakistan. By 1999, it was estimated that there were as
many as 4 million drug addicts in the country.

Government Response to Violence:

In 1991, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif faced escalating violence and was
forced to cancel a trip to Japan to address the situation. The government
initiated measures to curb violence, including:

 Ordering citizens to surrender their weapons.

 Passing the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution, which established
Speedy Trial Courts for summary justice.
However, the opposition criticized these measures as suppressing
fundamental rights.

The Shariat Bill:

Nawaz Sharif, a senior member of the government, supported the Shariat Bill
passed in May 1991, which aimed to make the Quran and the Sunna the law
of the land. Key points include:

 The law was intended to coexist with the existing government system.
 It faced opposition from those who feared an increased role of Islam in
governance.
 Fundamentalist Muslims were disappointed by the law's limitations.
 Enforcement of the law was minimal, with no action taken against
interest payments as requested by the Federal Shariat Court.

Relations with the President:

By early 1993, Nawaz Sharif's government faced significant challenges.

Initially elected with the support of President Ishaq Khan and the Islami
Jamhuri Ittehad, their relationship soured over time. Key events include:

 Conflict arose after the death of Army Chief General Asit Nawaz Janjua,
as Sharif sought to appoint his own candidate against the President's
wishes.
 Sharif's attempts to revoke the Eighth Amendment, which granted the
President the power to dismiss the government, led to further tensions.
 On April 19, 1993, Ishaq Khan used the Eighth Amendment to dismiss
Nawaz Sharif's government, citing mismanagement of the economy.
 In 1993, a political conflict arose between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
and President Ishaq Khan. Initially, it appeared that Ishaq Khan had
gained the upper hand, but the Supreme Court ruled his actions
unconstitutional, leading to Sharif's reinstatement. Despite this ruling,
the ongoing power struggle between the President and Prime Minister
hindered effective governance.

Resignation and Interim Government

 After weeks of failed negotiations, both Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Khan
resigned amid fears of a military takeover. Ishaq Khan was succeeded
by Wasim Sajjad, the chairman of the Senate, who served as acting
President until elections could be held. Moeenuddin Ahmad Qureshi, a
senior World Bank official, was appointed as caretaker Prime Minister.

BB as PM (1993-1996)
 In October 1993, elections were conducted, leading to the return of
Benazir Bhutto as Prime Minister. The Islamic Democratic Party had
disbanded, and Nawaz Sharif campaigned as the leader of the Pakistan
Muslim League. The MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) boycotted the
elections, allowing the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to form a coalition
government with independent parties.

Presidency of Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari:

 Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari, a member of the PPP, was elected

President in November 1993. His election was expected to facilitate a
smoother relationship between the Prime Minister and President, unlike
the previous administration. Leghari expressed intentions to revoke
the Eighth Amendment, reduce the power of religious courts, and
enhance women's rights, although he was unable to implement these
changes.

PPP's Agenda of Change:

 The PPP campaigned on an "Agenda of Change," focusing on improving

social services. Benazir Bhutto emphasized women's social and health
issues, proposing the establishment of women's police stations, courts,
and development banks. However, her government struggled to enact
these proposals due to opposition from Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistan
Muslim League (PML).

Opposition and Strikes

 Nawaz Sharif actively worked to undermine Bhutto's government,
organizing a train march from Karachi to Peshawar that attracted large
crowds. He also orchestrated strikes across Pakistan in September and
October 1994. In response, Bhutto arrested several opposition leaders
involved in the strikes, which only intensified the opposition against
her government.

Economic Problems:
 Benazir Bhutto's tenure as Prime Minister was significantly impacted by
economic issues. As an economist, she took direct control of economic
policy, which made her vulnerable to criticism as the country's
economic situation worsened.
 The value of the Pakistani rupee decreased by 30% against the US
dollar.
 Her privatization efforts were hindered by government officials with
vested interests in nationalized industries.
 Despite raising over 40 million rupees from the sale of nationalized
corporations, the economy suffered due to a US financial and military
embargo linked to Pakistan's nuclear program.
 GDP growth slowed to around 4%, compared to an average of 6% in
the 1980s.
 Large-scale manufacturing growth dropped to 2.3%, down from over
8% in the previous decade.

The end of the Government:

 In addition to economic difficulties, Benazir Bhutto's government faced

internal divisions and opposition from Nawaz Sharif. Disagreements
within her family, particularly with her mother and brother, further
complicated her leadership.
 President Leghari cited economic challenges and inefficiency as
reasons for dismissing Bhutto's government in November 1996.
 He claimed that human and legal rights were not upheld during her
administration.
 Following her dismissal, Malik Meraj Khalid served as caretaker Prime
Minister until elections were held in February 1997.

Nawaz Sharif as PM (1997-1999):

 In the February 1997 elections, the Pakistan Muslim League, led by

Nawaz Sharif, achieved a decisive victory, allowing him to resume the
role of Prime Minister.
 One of his first actions was the introduction of the Thirteenth
Amendment, which limited the President's power to dismiss the Prime
Minister and the National Assembly.
 The amendment also removed the President's authority to appoint the
chiefs of staff of the armed forces and provincial governors, effectively
making the presidency a ceremonial role.
 This change was supported by all political parties, as the Eighth
Amendment had previously destabilized the political landscape.
 While this appeared to enhance democracy, it later revealed potential
risks to democratic governance.

Anti-Defection Measures:

 Nawaz Sharif implemented measures to prevent political maneuvering

that could destabilize his government. The Anti-Defection Bill
(Fourteenth Amendment) was introduced to curb the practice of
politicians switching parties for coalition-building purposes.
 This legislation aimed to eliminate inducements for party-switching,
which could lead to corruption and instability.
  It sought to maintain a more stable political environment by
discouraging opportunistic behavior among politicians.

Repression Under Nawaz Sharif

Nawaz Sharif's government, while appearing to promote democracy, was

marked by increasing repression. Journalists critical of Sharif faced arrests,
and unexpected tax inspections targeted newspaper editors. A notable
incident occurred in May 1997 when Sharif's secret police attacked the home
of government critic Najam Sethi, leading to his kidnapping. Sethi was
released only after international outcry.

Sajjad Ali Shah:

Sajjad Ali Shah, appointed Chief Justice by Benazir Bhutto, became a critic of
Nawaz Sharif. Tensions escalated in 1997 when Sharif defended himself in
the Supreme Court against corruption allegations. An unruly mob, composed
of Sharif supporters, stormed the courthouse, forcing Shah to adjourn the
case. The police struggled to restore order, resorting to baton charges and
tear gas.

President Leghari, initially supportive of Sharif, grew alarmed by the

government's actions but lacked the power to dismiss it due to the
revocation of the Eighth Amendment. His concerns peaked when the
government requested the dismissal of Sajjad Ali Shah. Consequently,
Leghari resigned on December 2, 1997. Shortly after, Muhammad Rafiq Tarar
was elected as his successor, and Ajmal Mian was appointed as the new
Chief Justice, leading to Shah's dismissal.

Nuclear Testing in 1998:

In 1998, Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in Balochistan, which were met

with national pride but international condemnation, particularly from the USA
and Japan. The tests exacerbated Pakistan's economic crisis, prompting
Sharif to raise fuel prices and seek bank loans to prevent government
bankruptcy. He declared a state of emergency, limiting civil rights in the
process.

The Government Falls:

Sharif's grip on power weakened as various events unfolded. Tensions rose

when army chief Jehangir Karamat suggested a role on the National Security
Council, leading Sharif to force his resignation and appoint General Pervez
Musharraf as the new army chief. In an attempt to consolidate power, Sharif
introduced the Fifteenth Amendment, establishing sharia as the supreme law
and granting him the authority to rule by decree. However, he hesitated to
seek Senate approval, reflecting uncertainty about his support.

Sharif's failure in Kashmir and his treatment of Karamat alienated him from
the army, while mass opposition rallies indicated a loss of public support. On
October 12, 1999, as Musharraf returned from Sri Lanka, he announced a
military takeover. Following this, Nawaz Sharif, his brother, and several
government officials were charged and convicted. At the request of the Saudi
Royal Family, Sharif was exiled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.