Professional Documents
Culture Documents
came to power after forming coalition with many parties
● Was opposed by pro Zia alliances
● Delicate political situation
● Still in danger of military take over
How come military allow a political establishment after Zia died?
● New commander in chief did not show interest in dominating politics
● Most officers believed in more restrictive political role
● Zia had already announced elections in nov 1988
● Senior commanders sensitive to the common talk about army being corrupt and acquiring
wealth
● Army’s failure in Siachin
● Explosion at ammunition center in Rawalpindi cited as proof of decline in army’s
strength and professionalism
● New commander in chief was a muhajir and needed time to take hold of situation
● After plane crash, stable and peaceful political situation, everyone wanted constitutional
transfer of power
Decline of Civilian Rule
● In pak civilian supremacy underwent a decline since 1958 when Ayub first took over.
● After that series of military rulers who tried legitimizing their rule by making additions to
the constitutions which allowed military rule and decline civilian authority
● Bhutto was a civilian leader. He dismissed 43 officers in first 4 months. He gained
support and particularly because at that time army already ill reputed due to loss of
Bangladesh.
● Introduced clauses in 1973 constitution which restricted military to its conventional role
Bhutto’s civilian assertion did not prove durable b/c :
● He tried personalizing power rather than establishing viable institutions
● Opposition claimed that they would not challenge military in case of
bhutto’s overthrow
● By 1977, military recovered from shock of 1971
Zia and Civilization of Military Rule
● July 1977 coup of Zia
● At first imposed himself as a reluctant ruler promising elections within 90 days
● Later went back on his words and established himself to introduce decency in politics and
islamization.
● won support of senior officers by appointing them in civilian administrative posts
● in 1985 succeeded in civilianizing the military rule mainly by :
➢ establishing himself as president for 5 years by a referendum
➢ holding non party elections in which only elite, feudal lord and those
extremists who shared his opinions took part and all major political parties
were excluded
➢ 1973 constitution revised to carry on martial law.
● Inducted many army officials to elite civilian posts and gained their support
● Posted them to gulf states and other high posts
● Easy loan facilities for them
● Gave them lands on cheap prices and later sold them to civilians at very high prices
Causes of Erosion of Civilian supremacy
● Unstable political system in Pk since start. Jinnah was Gov Gen but died only after 13
months. Then liaquat ali but he also ruled for a small time. No time or proper
establishment of political institution as compared to india where Nehru ruled until 1964
and instead of creating a personalized system, he made a firm foundation for political
system and guaranteed civilian supremacy.
● In pak, post Jinnahliaquat leader had no vision to address political economical issues.
They remained more into solving problems like national language, feudalism,
Islamicism ; constitution was formulation quiet late and by then conflicting norms had
been already established.
● Thus military able to infiltrate through these fragile institutions
● Muslim league failed to transform from movement to a party
● Its weak and divided leadership became even more vulnerable after Jinnah
● Failed to produce coherent gov
● Military always had good position cz pak relied on it heavily for national security
● Military’s position even higher after joining many joint western defence pacts
● Besides during the Russian envasion of Afghanistan, pak army fed more than ever and
its personnel trained
● Disciplined cohesive army vs weak divided political institutions
● Thus civilian erosion and military supremacy inevitable
Political forces and military Rule
● Military always have had hard time in legitimizing their rule
● If they get support then that only from elite who have their own interests in supporting
the army
● Army never autonomous in a way that its rule is loved and accepted by all; some degree
of political bitterness always persists
● During zia it was evident more than ever b/c he made no effort concealing his hatred for
political parties
● Did not allow nationalist movements
● Press not allowed to post statements of political parties; new press offenses, severely
punishable, were introduced
● Travel restrictions on politicians; house arrests
Provincial Dissent
● MQM rose in Karachi and Sindh side which had full support of all urdu speaking
muhajirs who have been underrepresented in gov and civil services since independence.
They cried for loss of their socio economic status; resentment for higher statuses given to
Punjabis and Pakhtuns
● Sindhi Nationalism also rose which was voice of people of rural sindh who were
underrepresented in the army and not given any good posts in it. Also their rural lands
were taken from them and given to army officers; their youth were unemployed ; their
economy really poor
● Mutual Bitterness against Punjabis and pakhtuns
● Punjabi elite demanded redefining of provincial boundaries on ethnic and linguistic lines
● Number of extremists distributed in Punjab carrying out their own violent activities,
reasoning it to be a war against anti Islamic feel
Benazir Bhutto’s compromises to establish civilian rule
● Bhutto maintained a low profile
● Did not speak against army as an institution
● Promised to build a strong and professional military
● Stressed PPP’s goodwill towards military
● Agreed Ishaq khan(who had military support) to continue presidentship for 5 years.
● Did not make any reduction in defence expense
● Bhutto made accommodations to support the newly formed and fragile civilian gov
● Also careful as her gov was formed as a coalition of many diverse groups which may
move apart at any time
It should be kept in mind that if political competition becomes disorderly the military can be
encouraged to expand its role.
Also if civilian rule tries to reduce military’s defence allocations or hinder its interests then
military can overtake