EMERGENCE OF

DEMOCRACY IN
PAKISTAN 1988-1999

APRIL 15, 2019

ASSIGNMENT: 2
SUBMITTED FROM: AREENA SHAFQAT -002

SUBMITTED TO: MADAM RUBINA

BACKGROUND OF DEMOCRACY SINCE THE EMERGENCE OF
PAKISTAN
From 1947 to 1958: Failure of Democracy

Since the emergence of Pakistan on the map of the world, Pakistan has tried to flourish
democracy within itself but has sadly failed. Due to the delay in the constitution making,
mainly because of the political unrest that continued for decades after independence,
Pakistan was incapable of creating a prosperous and successful democratic government.
The first decade after independence was marked by a struggling democracy that was
trying to impose itself in Pakistan. It failed in its attempts because the leadership was
under the constant threat of India, that wanted to rip the newly born country apart. To
deal with this threat Pakistan’s founders were desperate to strengthen their military power
and to do so they sought help from America. Pakistan diverted its scarce resources to the
military and this created civil-military imbalance. The military modernized at a rapid
pace as compared to the civil establishment, the latter suffering from political squabbles.
Thus, the first ever attempt at democracy made by the Pakistani government in the form
of 1956 constitution was a weak one and lasted for only 2 years and 7 months. Due to the
mutual differences and quarrels of the politicians, unfair interruptions of bureaucracy in
democratic institutions and lack of able leadership, Commander in Chief of Pakistan
General Muhammad Ayub Khan, dismissed the government and enforced martial law in
the country in October 1958.

From 1958 to 1971: Military Rule

Ayub Khan installed a political system that strongly mirrored America’s presidential
form of democracy. In his constitution of 1962, Ayub Khan enforced the system of Basic
Democracies through which an electoral college of 80,000 were to elect the president,
who, inevitably, was to be Ayub Khan himself. He was against the parliamentary
democracy from the beginning and used this indirect election to ensure his absolute
power in the government.
Ayub Khan’s era has been defined as a turning point in Pakistan’s economic trajectory.
He set Pakistan on the path of unparalleled industrial development. However, this
unrivaled growth came at a very big cost. During the same era Pakistan had to fight the
war of 1965 with India. Also, the economic policies set forward by Ayub Khan gave birth
to regional inequalities which were also in large part responsible for East Pakistan
breaking apart from Pakistan.
 West Pakistan’s ignorance of economic development in East Pakistan coupled with
Ayub’s stifling of democracy eventually gave birth to the social unrest that forced Ayub
to resign in 1969. Ayub Khan did not hold the elections and appointed the next army
chief Genera Yahya Khan who announced Legal Framework Order to hold the elections
in 1970 on the basis of ‘One Man, One Vote’. However, the situation got out of hand and
no one could stop East Pakistan from separating from West Pakistan. The army had to
suffer a great blow on their pride as they had to surrender in front of India.

From 1971 to 1988: Z. A. Bhutto and Zia-ul-Haq

The division of Pakistan meant Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP)
were left in-charge to govern the country. This was the best time for civilian politicians to
assert themselves over the military since the latter found itself humiliated and devoid of
pride and public support after the 1971 incident. Bhutto did not stay true to democracy
and resorted to authoritarian rule that stifled opposition in the country. Although his
mandate of ‘roti, kapra aur makan’ along with the successful nationalization of many
industries fueled his popularity, his failure to implement his land reforms, his action
against prominent trade unions, the floods in 1973-74 and the OPEC oil crisis that
triggered a global recession all contributed to decreasing Bhutto’s popularity in the
country.
During the elections of 1977, all political parties in the country formed an alliance called
‘Pakistan National Alliance’ to overthrow People’s Party. When Bhutto won the 1977
elections, he was blamed of rigging the polls which was the final nail in the coffin.
General Zia ul Haq led ‘Operation Fairplay’ on the 5th of July, 1977, and ended Bhutto’s
rule.
Zia-ul-Haq’s oppressive rule continues to plague Pakistan’s political and social history.
Zia abrogated the 1973 constitution, and added the 8th amendment that made a
democratically elected Prime Minister subservient to the President. His dictatorship in the
guise of democracy and the misuse of Islamic principles led to many racial movements
that still haunt our country. It was only his death in a mysterious plane crash on the 17th
of August 1988 that led to a new, but restricted period of democracy in Pakistan.
For the next decade, governance of Pakistan oscillated between Benazir Bhutto and
Nawaz Sharif. The details of this era have been described below.
 TIMELINE SHOWING MAJOR EVENTS FROM 1988 TO 1999

August 17, 1988 General Zia-ul-Haq is killed in a plane crash near Bahawalpur

November16,1988 General elections held. PPP wins 92, IJI secures 54

December 2, 1988 Benazir Bhutto is sworn in as first woman Prime Minister of Pakistan

October 1, 1989 Pakistan rejoins Commonwealth

November 1, 1989 No-Confidence move against Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto failed

August 6, 1990 President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dissolves National Assembly and dismisses
Benazir Government. Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi becomes care-taker prime
minister
October 24, 1990 General elections held. IJI gets 104 and PDA wins 45 seats

November 6, 1990 Nawaz Sharif elected Prime Minister, securing 153 votes

January 12, 1992 Lahore-Islamabad Motorway project launched

February 22, 1992 Nawaz Sharif introduces yellow-cab taxi scheme

April 18, 1993 President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dissolves National Assembly, dismisses
Nawaz Sharif government. Balkh Sher Mazari becomes care-take prime
minister
May 26, 1993 Supreme Court restores National Assembly and Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif
July 18, 1993 President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif quit their
offices
October 6, 1993 General elections held. PPP wins 86; PML (N) secures 72 seats

October 19, 1993 Benazir Bhutto is elected Prime Minister by 121 votes

November 13, Farooq Laghari elected eighth President of Pakistan

1993
January 25, 1994 Benazir Bhutto inaugurates country's first women police station in
Islamabad
April 25,1996 Imran Khan launches new political party, Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf (PTI).

September 20, Mir Murtaza Bhutto assassinated in Karachi

1996
November 5, 1996 Farooq Ahmed Leghari dissolves National Assembly sacking Premier
 Benazir Bhutto. Malik Mairaj Khalid becomes care-taker prime minister

January 29, 1997 Supreme Court upholds President's proclamation dissolving the National
Assembly and dismissing Benazir Government

February 3, 1997 Nation goes to the polls. PML secures 135 seats

February 17, 1997 Nawaz Sharif sworn in as 19th Prime Minister

February 23, 1997 Nawaz Sharif launches "Qarz utaro Mulk sanwaro" scheme. Declares
Sunday, instead of Friday as weekly holiday
January 1, 1998 Rafiq Tarrar is sworn in as President of Pakistan

May 28, 1998 Pakistan conducts nuclear tests in Chaghi Hills in Balochistan

February 21, 1999 Lahore Declaration is signed by Nawaz Sharif and A. B. Vajpayee

July 26, 1999 Kargil War ends between Pakistan and India

October 12, 1999 Nawaz Sharif is ousted from power and placed under house arrest after
attempting to sack General Pervez Musharraf.

MAJOR EVENTS OF BENAZIR BHUTTO’S

FIRST GOVERNMENT ERA
(DEC. 1988 TO AUG. 1990)
Benazir Bhutto Becomes the Prime Minister and Ghulam Ishaq Khan
Becomes President of Pakistan

In the 1988 elections, Pakistan People’s Party won 94 seats in the National Assembly
without forming any alliance. With the cooperation of 8 M. Q. M. members and 13
members of the Federally Administered tribal Area, the P. P. P. showed a clear majority.
Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, was sworn in as the Prime Minister, the
first woman to govern an Islamic State.
Several factors contributed to her enormous popularity at the start of her political career.
Young, charming and well-educated, she commanded sympathy across the land as the
 daughter of a former prime minister who many thought, had been hanged unjustly. She
had also won admiration for refusing to surrender to General Ziaul Haq’s autocratic rule
despite cruel harassment.
Within 28 months of her return from self-exile, General Zia perished in a plane crash
which removed a big roadblock on the path to democracy. Also, during these months, she
became the wife of Asif Ali Zardari, a marriage that was going to considerably affect her
political career.
The very first challenge that she had to face was the task of returning to democracy which
had been made extremely difficult by her dead predecessor. Zia had turned the
constitution from parliamentary to presidential and had made the 8th amendment in the
constitution.

8TH AMENDMENT

The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan allowed the President to

unilaterally dissolve the National Assembly and elected governments. Benazir wanted to
repeal the Eighth Amendment in order to strengthen her position as prime minister but
soon abandoned the effort. The election to the National Assembly on November 16,
1988, did not give Benazir Bhutto a majority in the house, but her party emerged as the
largest single group, having secured more seats (52) from Punjab than were won by the
Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI), an alliance made by the successors of the anti-Bhutto
coalition of 1977 – the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA).
Three days later, the party succeeded and did so by manipulating the provincial elections
in Punjab to ensure that the IJI got more seats (108) than the PPP (84) and, thus, cleared
the way for Mian Nawaz Sharif to become the chief minister of the politically most
advantaged province. That effectively changed not only Benazir’s career but also the
course of Pakistan’s history.
The 8th amendment had empowered the president to first nominate the prime minister
before she/he could be elected by the National Assembly. President Ghulam Ishaq Khan
did not name her as prime minister for nearly two weeks, until she had conceded her
authority to him and the military in key areas, such as Finance, Defence and Foreign
Affairs, especially Afghanistan. Yet she decided to take her chance. Working was not
easy alongside a president who had little respect for the parliamentary system even
though Benazir had swallowed the bitter pill by proposing him for a five-year term as
president. He contested her right to have a say in making important appointments, and
often asserted his power by not complying with initiatives.

SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS AT PROGRESS DESPITE PROBLEMS

1. FOREIGN POLICY
 Benazir took the office in the crucial decade of Cold war. During her first
government, Benazir Bhutto’s foreign policy revolved around
Afghanistan, India, and the United States. On the Western front, Benazir
Bhutto also authorized further aggressive military operations in
Afghanistan to topple the Soviet influence in the region. She also wanted
friendly relation with India. The government of Benazir Bhutto adopted a
‘No-confrontation Policy’ with India. The P. P. P. Government hosted the
fourth S. A. A. R. C. Summit Conference in December 1988. When Rajiv
Gandhi visited Pakistan to participate in the 4th S.A.A.R.C conference,
Benazir Bhutto joined hands with him for establishing good relations. As a
result of the Conference, Pakistan and India finalized three peace
agreements.

2. LIFTING OF THE BAN ON STUDENT AND TRADE UNIONS

Before student unions were banned by the Ziaul Haq dictatorship in 1984,
their activities were conducted through regular annual elections in
universities and colleges. Student parties that participated in these
elections played an important role in looking after vital academic, cultural
and political interests of the students. Soon after taking oath, Prime
Minister Benazir Bhutto announced that the ban on Student Unions and
Trade Unions would be lifted.

3. SOCIAL WELFARE

The government launched many Peoples Works Programmes for the

development and social welfare of the company. For providing
employment to the public, a department, Placement bureau, was set up.
Thousands of people got employment through it.

4. FIRST MILITARY SATELLITE

During her first time, Benazir Bhutto established the separate but
integrated nuclear testing programme in the atomic bomb programme, thus
establishing a nuclear testing programme where the authorizations were
required by the Prime minister and the military leadership. Benazir Bhutto
launched and supervised the secret project, Integrated research programme
(IRP) a missile programme which remained under Benazir Bhutto’s watch
and successfully ended in 1996. Pakistan’s first military satellite, Badr-
 I was also launched under her government through China. With launching
of Badr-I, Pakistan under Benazir Bhutto, became the first Muslim
country to have launch and placed the satellite in Earth’s orbit. She
declared the “1990”, a year of space in Pakistan and bestowed national
awards to scientists and engineers who took participation in the
development of this satellite.

NO CONFIDENCE MOVEMENT

Before Benazir completed her first year in office, the opposition tried to dislodge her
through a no-confidence motion that was taken up on November 1, 1989, and was
defeated. Midnight Jackal was a political intelligence operation launched under President
Ghulam Ishaq Khan and the Chief of Army Staff General Mirza Aslam Beg, with the
objectives to bring the Vote of no confidence movement in the Parliament by bribing the
members of Benazir’s own party.

DISMISSAL OF BENAZIR BHUTTO GOVERNMENT

Benazir promised much to an expectant nation: strengthened relations with the United
States, the Soviet Union, and China; protected minority rights; increased provincial
autonomy; improvement of education; introduction of a comprehensive national health
policy; enhanced rights for women, with equal pay for equal work; and many other
things. When faced with the hard realities of government, however, most of Benazir's
promises did not translate into action. Although she was successful in advancing the
democratization process in Pakistani politics and was able to achieve warmer relations
with the United States and, for a short while, with India as well, Benazir's first term in
office is usually looked back upon, by both foreign and domestic observers, as
ineffectual--a period of governmental instability. Within months she had lost much of her
political support.
Because of the Semi-presidential system, Benazir needed permission from Khan for
imposing new policies, which Khan vetoed as he seen to moderate or contradict to his
point of view. Benazir, through her legislators, also attempted to shift parliamentary
democracy to replace the semi-presidential system, but Khan’s constitutional powers
always vetoed Benazir’s attempts. This brought power struggle between prime minister
and president. The unemployment and labor strikes began to take place which halted and
jammed the economic wheel of the country and Benazir Bhutto was unable to solve these
issues due to in a cold war with the President.
In November 1990, after a long political battle, Khan finally used the Eighth
Amendment to dismiss Benazir Bhutto’s government following charges of corruption,
 nepotism, and despotism. Khan soon called for new elections in 1990 where Bhutto
conceded her defeat.
Benazir’s first era lasted for about 20 months only.

MAJOR EVENTS OF MIAN MUHAMMAD

NAWAZ SHARIF’S FIRST GOVERNMENT
ERA
(NOV. 1990 TO JUL. 1993)

NAWAZ SHARIF BECOMES THE PRIME MINISTER

After the dismissal of Benazir’s Government, elections for the National and Provincial
Assemblies were held on October 24 and 27, 1990. Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the
ex-Chief Minister of Punjab, was elected as the Prime Minister on November 1, 1990.
The IJI (Islami Jamhoori Ittehad), the conservative party, formed governments at the
center and all the four provinces and Nawaz Sharif became the prime minister of the
state. Nawaz Sharif’s cabinet initially included eighteen ministers: nine from Punjab, two
from the Islamabad Capital Territory, six from Sindh, and one from Balochistan. His
cabinet was later expanded to include representation from the North-West Frontier
Province.

1. PRIVATIZATION COMMISSION

During his tenure as the Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif made efforts to strengthen
the industrial sector with the help of the private sector. The government’s
economic strategy rested on streamlining the institutional framework for
industrialization and on starting a new partnership with the private sector in order
to promote common objectives. Nawaz Sharif regarded unemployment as
Pakistan’s major problem and believed it could be solved only by rapid
industrialization.
The government constituted Privatization Commission in 1991. Official banks
and financial institutions were reformed accordingly. Banks in private sector were
encouraged. Some banks and other institutions were sold out through this
 Privatization Commission which created a positive impact on the national
economy.

2. ANNOUNCEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL POLICY

Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif announced Agricultural Policy for the betterment
of the farmers in 1991. 10 crore rupees were allocated for this policy. Land was
distributed among landless peasants in Sindh. A massive uplift of Murree and
Kahuta was done during his term as Chief Minister of Punjab.

3. FOREIGN POLICY

The government brought many positive changes to its foreign policy. Peace was
brought in Afghanistan through negotiation with different Afghan leaders. Efforts
were continued for patching up with different Afghan groups. India was officially
invited for resolving the Kashmir issue, but these negotiations were not
successful. When extremists in India demolished Babri Mosque in 1992, National
Assembly of Pakistan passed a condemnation resolution.
The government of Pakistan made its best efforts for establishing good relations
with America and adopted a defensive policy at the American invasion of Iraq.
Nawaz made the wise decision to keep Pakistan out of the First Gulf War.
Relations with the Central Asian Muslim republics were strengthened and E. C.
O. was given a boost. In an attempt to end the Afghan crisis, the “Islamabad
Accord” was reached between various Afghan factions.

4. NATIONAL PLANS

The government started national schemes like National Construction Programme,

Self-Employment Scheme, Motorway project and Yellow Cab Scheme for
betterment of people which proved very successful. Projects like Ghazi Brotha
and the Gawadar miniport were initiated. His most important contribution was
economic progress despite U. S. sanctions on Pakistan through the Pressler
Amendment on sanctions. The stupendous Motorway project was initiated that
was completed during his second tenure.
THE DISMISSAL OF MIAN NAWAZ SHARIF’S GOVERNMENT
Causes of Downfall

Nawaz Sharif, during his first term, founded difficult working with PPP and the
Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM), a strong force in Karachi. The MQM and PPP
opposed Sharif widely due to his focused on beautifying Punjab and Kashmir while
neglecting Sindh. Furthermore, Nawaz Sharif decided to dismiss all employees appointed
by PPP government in grade 5 and above. He said his government was considering
special incentives for rural industrialization and agro-based industries and was fully
committed to a policy of deregulation. The clash between liberalism and conservatism
soon forces soon erupted in 1992 when political tension began to arise in which both
party renegading ideological war against each other. Nawaz Sharif’s government
members passed the resolution in the Parliament, to launch the paramilitary operation to
end the cold war between PML-N and MQM. Paramilitary operation in Sindh Province
was Launched in 1992, violence erupted in Karachi and brought an economic halt in the
country.
In 1993, Sharif survived serious constitutional crises when it was reported that Sharif
developed serious issues over the authority with another national conservative President
Ghulam Ishaq Khan. Before 1993 Parliamentary election, President Ghulam Ishaq Khan
on 18 April 1993, with the support of the Pakistan Army, used his reserve powers (58-2b)
to dissolve the National Assembly, the lower house. Nawaz Sharif, moved to Supreme
Court of Pakistan. In May 26, 1993, Sharif returned to power after the Supreme Court
ruled that the Presidential Order as unconstitutional and reconstituted the National
Assembly on its immediate effect.
The power struggle and war between Nawaz Sharif and president khan started. Finally,
on July 1993, Sharif resigned under pressure from the Pakistan Armed Forces but
negotiated a settlement that resulted in the removal of President Ghulam Ishaq Khan as
well.
Under the close watch of the Pakistan Armed Forces, the new interim and transitional
government was formed and new parliamentary election were held after three months
with the hope to save the dying democracy in the country.

MAJOR EVENTS OF BENAZIR BHUTTO’S

SECOND GOVERNMENT ERA
 (OCT. 1993 TO NOV. 1996)
Benazir Bhutto becomes Prime Minister and Sardar Farooq Legahri Becomes
President

Benazir Bhutto returned to power for the second time in 1993 after the resignation of
both President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on July 18, 1993.
The resignation led to the announcement of fresh elections for the National and
Provincial Assemblies. The elections were held on October 6 and 9, 1993, respectively.
The elections were boycotted by the M. Q. M. No party emerged with an absolute
majority in the elections. As a result, the P. P. P. formed the new government with the
help of alliances. Benazir Bhutto took oath as Prime Minister on October 19, 1993. The
Presidential election was held on November 13. Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari, the P. P.
P. candidate, won by 274 to 168 votes against the then acting President Wasim Sajjad.
Benazir tried her best to avoid a situation regarding a conflict with the president like her
previous tenure by appointing someone from her own party but she was yet to be
disappointed again.

1. VISIT OF FIRST LADY HILARY CLINTON

The second tenure of Benazir Bhutto was, however, highlighted by the

visit of the U. S. first Lady Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea in
1995. Hillary’s visit considerably changed the world’s perceptions about
Pakistan and highlighted Pakistan as a liberal, modern and forward-
looking country. In April 1994, Benazir visited the U. S., and projected
Pakistan’s stance on the F-16 fighter planes withheld by the U. S. despite
payments. Her visit resulted in the passing of the Brown Amendment by
the U. S. Senate on September 21, 1995, easing restrictions on Pakistan. It
also helped in attracting foreign investors.

2. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

During Benazir’s second term, construction of Karachi Flyover Bridge and

Lahore Bypass was started. The process of privatization of the
nationalized industries was associated with the marked performance and
improvement, especially the terms of labor productivity.
Benazir Bhutto set up Kissan Bank for providing loans to farmers and
launched the National Tractor Scheme. Social and health policies were
 framed for women. Women police stations and courts were set up for
providing legal facilities to this class.
The government also launched the 8th 5 Year Plan which resulted in the
rapid development and prosperity of the country.

3. FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Benazir Bhutto sought to strengthen the relations with socialist states, and
Benazir Bhutto first visit Libya to strengthened the relations with then-
Socialist People’s Republic of Libya. Benazir Bhutto also strengthened
relations with communist state Vietnam and visited Vietnam to sign the
mutual trade and international political cooperation between both
countries. She also wanted to have good relations with India but due to
Kashmir issue and Indian nuclear program she failed to get desired results.
Mrs. Bhutto made successful visits o Iran and Turkey. She gained moral
support of these countries on the Kashmir issue. Many agreements of
cooperation in different fields were signed.
The year of 1996 was crucial for Benazir Bhutto’s policy on Afghanistan
when Pakistan-backed extremely religious group, the Taliban, took power
in Kabul in September 1996. It was during Benazir Bhutto’s rule that the
Taliban gained prominence in Afghanistan and many of her government,
including her authorization, had backed the Taliban for gaining the control
of Afghanistan. She continued her father’s policy on Afghanistan taking
aggressive measures to curb down the anti-Pakistan sentiments in
Afghanistan. Under her government, Pakistan had recognized the Taliban
regime as legitimate government in Afghanistan, allowing the Taliban to
open an embassy in Islamabad.

4. CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

Focusing on culture development, her policies resulted in shaping the

rock and pop music industry in the country, and film industry made its
notable comeback after introducing new talent to the public. She exercised
tough policies to ban the Indian media in the country, while promoting
television industry to produce dramas, films, artist programs, and music,
extremely devoting to the country. The public grief about the weaknesses
of Pakistan education led to large-scale federal support for science
education and research in the country by both Benazir and Nawaz Sharif
to meet with the competition with India.
 5. HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS

Benazir Bhutto’s positive work as prime minister included giving the

government a humanitarian face. The commutation of death sentences to
life imprisonment was followed by banning of lashing (except for Hadd
cases) and public hanging. The plan to offer the disadvantaged relief
through special tribunals did not work, so a separate ministry of human
rights was created. Her effort to amend the procedure in blasphemy cases
was scotched by the conservatives, but her instructions not to arrest any
accused without a proper inquiry did lead to a fall in such cases.

CAUSES OF DOWNFALL OF BENAZIR’S ERA

1. INTERFERENCE OF THE OPPOSITION
During her second tenure, Benazir again faced trouble from the opposition. In the
autumn of 1994, Nawaz Sharif led a “train march” from Karachi to Peshawar.
This was followed by general strike on September 20. Two weeks later Nawaz
Sharif called a “wheel jam” strike on October 11.
When Benazir became the prime minister that was the time of great racial tension
in Pakistan. The racial violence in Karachi reached its peak and became a biggest
problem for Benazir Bhutto to counter.

2. CONTROVERSIAL DEATH OF MURTAZA BHUTTO

Benazir Bhutto’s brother, Mir Murtaza Bhutto, was assassinated under mysterious
circumstances in a police ambush on September 20, 1996. The high-profile killing
of her brother in her tenure damaged her political career. Things became worse
after her husband became allegedly involved in the controversial death of Murtaza
Bhutto. Many public figures and officials suspected even Benazir Bhutto's
involvement in the murder, although there were no proves. Seven weeks passed
this incident, Benazir Bhutto's government was dismissed by her own hand-
picked president on charges of Murtaza Bhutto's death.

3. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BENAZIR AND LEGHARI

Leghari began his term with a clean reputation, but this was soon to change with
the Mehran Bank scandal and inappropriate appointments in the judiciary. In his
first speech, Leghari had said that the Eighth Amendment would be removed but
 during the term of Benazir, no bill was ever presented to do away with this Article
of the Constitution. Once again, the 8th amendment came to haunt Benazir Bhutto.
Things were not going well between the President and Benazir’s Government.
Differences soon appeared and the Government felt that there was interference in
the political matters of the Government by the President. President Farooq
Leghari dismissed Benazir Bhutto’s Government on charges of corruption and
mismanagement on November 5, 1996, under the Article 58(2) b of the Eighth
Amendment.

MAJOR EVENTS OF MIAN MUHAMMAD

NAWAZ SHARIF’S SECOND
GOVERNMENT ERA
(FEB. 1997 TO OCT. 1999)

Malik Meraj Khalid Becomes Caretaker Prime Minister

After Benazir, Malik Meraj Khalid, Rector of the International Islamic University, was
appointed as caretaker Prime Minister. The next elections were scheduled to be held on
February 3, 1997. Malik Meraj Khalid held the office of Prime Minister from November
5, 1996, to February 17, 1997.

Appointment of Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister

As scheduled, elections were held on February 3, 1997. Pakistan Muslim League won
with an overwhelming majority with only slight opposition. The Muslim League was able
to obtain a two-third majority in the National Assembly and Mian Nawaz Sharif was re-
elected as Prime Minister. He obtained a vote of confidence from the National Assembly
on February 18, 1997.
 Nawaz Sharif launches "Qarz utaro Mulk sanwaro" scheme

Economic condition was not improving and the government had to take loans from the
IMF for its budget. Nawaz Sharif started a scheme on February 27, 1997 called ‘Retire
debt, adorn the country’ and appealed to the nation to pay off the foreign loans. The
nation welcomed this scheme and about 17 billion rupees were collected till June 1999 in
this head.

Muhammad Rafiq Tarar elected as President

The office of the President had become vacant after the resignation of President Leghari
on December 2, 1997. The Pakistan Muslim League had a two-third majority in the
Parliament and some Provincial Assemblies and therefore was in a position to have its
candidate elected as the head of State. The Nawaz Government nominated Muhammad
Rafiq Tarar, a 68-year old former Judge of the Supreme Court and a Senator, as their
presidential candidate.
The nomination of Muhammad Rafiq Tarar was, however, criticized by the opposition
parties and newspapers because the nominated President was from Lahore, which was
also the hometown of the Prime Minister. Many that felt that, since the Prime Minister
was from Punjab, the President should be from a smaller province to prevent the
possibility of a sense of deprivation among the smaller federating units, and to avoid the
concentration of the main Government offices in one province.

Census of 1998

The census od the people was conducted in 1998. The population of the country reached
over 13 crores according to this census.

Thirteenth amendment is passed

The National Assembly unanimously adopted the Constitution Bill, the Thirteenth
Amendment, in April 1997 by a two-third majority. The Thirteenth Amendment was put
before the National Assembly on April 1, empowering the Prime Minister to repeal 58(2)
b, and advise the President on the appointments of three forces’ chiefs, the J. C. S. C.
Chairman and the Governors. Thus, the power to appoint the chiefs of the armed forces
 was taken away from the President. The power of the Governor to dissolve the Provincial
Assemblies under Article 112(2) b was also taken away.
Through the Thirteenth Amendment the controversial Eighth Amendment was repealed
and thereby the powers to dissolve the assembly were taken from the President in order to
restore the supremacy of the Parliament.
The infamous Eight Amendment had been inserted in the Constitution in 1985, by the
non-party based Parliament, when General Zia-ul-Haq was the Chief Martial Law
Administrator and President of Pakistan. Its most notorious and troublesome provision,
58(2) b, had empowered the President to sack the Prime Minister and his Cabinet and
dissolve the National Assembly. The provision had since been used by three successive
Presidents since 1985, and four Prime Ministers, along with their Cabinets and the
National Assemblies, had been dismissed.
Having announced the Thirteenth Amendment, Nawaz Sharif said that it had been
introduced to revive the democratic concept, as envisaged by the Quaid-i-Azam and
Allama Iqbal.

Fourteenth Amendment is passed

Throughout Pakistan’s political history, horse-trading and defection within various

parties had created problems for various governments. On coming to power, Nawaz
Sharif’s Government took steps to do away with this ever-flourishing problem. It was
under the Nawaz Government that the National Assembly unanimously adopted the
Constitution Bill, the Fourteenth Amendment, on July 1, 1997. This amendment was a
structural reform to end the practice of switching party loyalties and blackmailing party
leadership for ministerial slots, bank loans and other concessions.

Pakistan as a Nuclear Power

It was during this term that Pakistan carried out its nuclear tests on May 28, 1998, in
response to the Indian detonation of its five nuclear devices. The Nawaz Government had
found it imperative for Pakistan to carry out these nuclear tests, in order to provide an
effective defense, and to remove the threat of further attacks. The Nawaz Government
proclaimed an emergency on May 28, 1998; the day these nuclear tests were conducted.
All fundamental rights were suspended and all the foreign currency accounts in Pakistani
banks were frozen.
On this day Pakistan became the 7th atomic power of the world and the 1st Islamic atomic
power.
The Lahore Declaration

In order to normalize relations between India and Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif undertook a
major initiative in February 1999. This initiative culminated in a visit by the Indian Prime
Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to Lahore via bus, across the Wagah border, in 1999.
Nawaz Sharif met him at the Wagah border and a joint communique, known as the
“Lahore Declaration”, was signed between the two leaders.
This declaration spelled out various steps to be taken by the two countries towards
normalization of relations between them. Except for the Jamaat-i-Islami, the visit was not
opposed by any political or social element in Pakistan. The Pakistani people welcomed
this move by the Nawaz Government to normalize relations with India.

Kargil Invasion

Kashmir has always been the bone of contention between Pakistan and India. Kashmiri
freedom fighters have been endlessly trying to free their nation from the oppressive
Indians. The freedom struggle gained further momentum in 1999 when the freedom
fighters, in probably the most brilliant and courageous maneuver in modern military
history, made high-altitude conquests in their territory. They captured high ground of 140
kilometers long stretch of 4,500 meters high mountain ridges, near the strategic Indian-
held garrison towns of Kargil and Drass. These towns lie on the only usable road between
Srinagar, capital of Indian-occupied Kashmir, and the East. This threatened India’s main
supply route to its forces on the Chinese border.
The occupation by the Kashmiri freedom fighters came as a “Spring Surprise” to the
Indian patrols. During the winter freeze, the area is abandoned by Indian patrols and
isolated from the rest of Indian occupied Kashmir. In the beginning of May 1999, when
the Indian forces returned to the mountains, they were surprised to find around 600
Kashmiri freedom fighters, occupying a territory 5 kilometers inside Indian occupied
Kashmir. India alleged that these “militants” were sponsored by Pakistan, and that these
militants crossed the provisional borderline, the “Line of Control”, in an attempt to alter
the de facto border by force.
The Government of Pakistan stated that it was not involved in any way and clarified that
it is only the moral, diplomatic and political support that the Government of Pakistan
continues to extend to Kashmiri freedom fighters for their cause of self-determination. It
further clarified that the heights near Kargil were occupied by indigenous Kashmiri
freedom fighters.
On May 26, 1999, India resorted to air strikes to drive out the freedom fighters. During
this episode, two Indian aircraft entered the territory of Pakistan, one of which was shot
down. The situation across the Line of Control became tense and several innocent
 civilians became the targets of indiscriminate Indian shelling. The conflict posed a threat
to the region of South Asia.
The international community was concerned about the escalation of the conflict between
the two newly declared nuclear powers, India and Pakistan. Talks, however, resumed
between India and Pakistan in the summer of 1999 and efforts were made to resolve the
crises. International intervention, most notably from the President of United States, Bill
Clinton, persuaded Pakistan to use its influence on the freedom fighters to avert a full-
scale war with India.
The freedom fighters vacated the captured territory by August, 1999.

Removal of Nawaz Government

Nawaz triggered inter-institutional conflict when his supporters first led a raid on the
Supreme Court in 1997 and later when he tried to remove army chief Pervez Musharraf.
The latter action, sadly, proved to be too much for the army to digest, with the military
triggering a military coup, and once again pushing Pakistan into the grips of military rule.
The Kargil Operation also led to tense relations between Nawaz Sharif and the armed
forces. This tension culminated into the removal of Nawaz Government by General
Pervez Musharraf on October 12, 1999, thus bringing to an end the second term of
Nawaz Sharif’s Government.
Nawaz was sentenced to imprisonment and was declared unfit for any public post by a
special court. On the intervention of the Saudi Government, he was sentenced to exile in
Saudi Arabia.

AN OVERVIEW OF BENAZIR BHUTTO’S AND NAWAZ

SHARIF’S ERA

An assessment of Benazir Bhutto’s prime ministership usually takes two forms: one, that
she was incapable of establishing a democratic order, and, two, that the establishment did
not let her work. A realistic view shows that there was an absence of a stable, efficient
and fair-minded state apparatus that could relieve her of routine chores and allow her to
concentrate on broad political and socio-economic issues.
Also, no politician could (or can even today) roll back the Zia legacy, his 8th amendment
alone causing the removal of 4 prime ministers. Benazir Bhutto was outsmarted by the
dominant power center and she might also have sometimes unwittingly helped it.
The real losers as a result of Benazir Bhutto’s elimination from politics were the people.
Their concerns remained off the government’s agenda and the dream of a democratic
Pakistan receded even further.
 On the other hand, Nawaz Sharif, was also incapable of creating a democratic country
and by one way or another found himself in corruption charges. He was able to use the
people’s strong love for their country to try and repay the debts ,however, the privatized
money was not spent on improving people’s living standard, and it was in 1997, when it
was founded that the amount gained in privatization had gone somewhere else and it was
not to be found in government’s account. Nawaz’s corruption was proved in the coming
years.

REFERENCES

https://www.dawn.com/news/1366832
https://historypak.com/first-government-of-benazir-bhutto-1988/
http://countrystudies.us/pakistan/74.htm
https://books.google.com.pk
https://storyofpakistan.com/nawaz-sharif-becomes-prime-minister-2
http://historyofpresentpakistan.blogspot.com/2016/05/9-third-democratic-era-19881999.html
https://dailytimes.com.pk/247440/a-brief-history-of-pakistans-turbulent-democratic-and-
political-evolution/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Pakistani_history_(1947%E2%80%93present)

COMMENTS ON DEMOCRATIC ERA 1988 -99

AREEBA AAMIR 18321511-011

In short, the era from 1988 to 1999 was a failed attempt at democracy as the country found itself
back at square one after 1999, that is, in the hands of a military leader. Despite the efforts of both
the leaders a true democratic state could not be made. In the end, both the president and the
prime minister wrestled for the power and the civilians of the state suffered. This failure was
largely caused by the 8th amendment of the 1973 constitution by Zia-ul-Haq which gave the
president unprecedented powers in a parliamentary government making it impossible for the
elected prime minister to work for the state.
It is also true that the country experienced economic growth during this era but it was mostly as a
result of foreign loans that buried our country in never-ending debt. Benazir’s untimely and
suspicious death prevented her from performing well and Nawaz Sharif did more bad to this
country than good because of his corruption. Although he escaped prison by moving to Saudi
Arabia in 1999, he was later disqualified by the supreme court of Pakistan on July 28, 2017.