Institute of Business Administration – IBA, Karachi

Pakistan’s History
Sajjad Ahmad

Semester: Fall 2021

Course Description

The course is designed for the undergraduate students to study Pakistan’s history from 1947 to
present. The course will follow a timeline of major developments and events that have taken
place during different governments and regimes in Pakistan since independence. In order to
understand these political developments and how they have helped defining Pakistan’s history,
the course will explore seven eras, from 1947 till 2019. Pakistan movement and the events that
led to the creation of Pakistan will also be examined briefly. Other than the historical review of
past events, the course has included the recent developments and debates such as 18 th
Amendment, NFC award, CPEC, Gilgit-Baltistan’s status and emerging situation in Afghanistan.

The course will also address the important topics of ethnic and religious violence, Pakistan’s
foreign policy and its relations with the regional states.

Course Objectives

 The main aim of this course is to broaden the understanding of students about the political
and social developments in Pakistan.
 The course will enable students to critically analyse the past events and the established
notions.
 To develop an understanding among students about the history of Pakistan
 The course will address a key question of how you see Pakistan in the current era, a failed
state, moving towards failure or a thriving state.

Course Outcomes

 Enabling students to critically analyse the past events.

 Develop an understanding about the major developments in Pakistan’s history.
 Gain knowledge of recent debates and issues in Pakistan.
 Encouraging students to form their opinions based on learning and knowledge.

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Teaching Methodology

Other than regular classes, guest lectures would be arranged. Field visit to historical
places/museum can be organized keeping in view the current pandemic situation. Discussions at
the end of each lecture would be mandatory. Students are expected to come to the class,
prepared.

Evaluation Criterion (tentative)

Assignments: 20 marks
Class participation: 20 marks
Quizzes: 30 marks
Final Exam: 30 marks

Consultation

Students may meet the Course Instructor during counselling hours or e-mail their queries at:
sahmad@iba.edu.pk.

Course Outline

1. Introduction

2. Pakistan movement and partition of sub-continent

3. Independence of Pakistan and the problems of new state

4. The first era 1947 – 58

a. Formation and consolidation of state

b. Refugee problem
c. East and West Pakistan
d. Delays in constitution making

5. Second era 1958 – 71

a. The first military government
b. Development and industrialization
c. Ayub Khan’s basic democracy system
d. Wars with India

6. Third era 1971 – 77

a. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Populism
b. The social and political conditions for the rise of populism
c. Nationalization

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 d. Nuclear programme

7. Fourth era 1977 – 88

a. Zial-ul-Haq, redefining Pakistan’s ideology
b. Islamization
c. Afghan Jihad

8. Fifth era 1988 – 99

a. Democracy and tenures of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif
b. Civilian governments’ problems
c. Jihad in Kashmir
d. Pakistan’s Nuclear tests and economic sanctions

9. Sixth era 1999 – 2008

a. Military rule
b. Musharraf’s enlightened moderation
c. War on terror
d. Militancy in FATA and KP
e. Violence in Pakistan
f. Lawyers’ movement

10. Seventh era 2008 – 18

a. Return of democracy
b. 18th Amendment and 7th NFC Award
c. Ethnic and religious violence
d. CPEC
e. Corruption and nepotism
f. Emergence of youth political activism and role of social media
g. Naya Pakistan
h. Economic issues

11. Issues of governance, integration of FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK

12. Pakistan’s drift into extremism? Islamic ideology and militancy