BENAZIR’S SECOND

GOVERNMENT
OCTOBER 1993- NOVEMBER 1996
INTRODUCTION
Even in Benazir’s second emergence, her party (PPP) had only comparative
majority and not absolute majority despite the PMLJ’s six supporting seats.
The PPP secured 86, with the help of independents she was able the muster 121
votes as against 72 polled by Nawaz Sharif.
She got her party’s general secretary, Farooq Leghari elected as President of
Pakistan.
In her second rule, Benazir’s experience of her first rule, the support of the military
and her own party’s President, she was expected to perform better, but she failed
as she faced crisis after crises, many of her own making.
LAW AND ORDER SITUATION
Law and order situation in Karachi deteriorated.

Hundreds of civilians were murdered in act of terrorism in Karachi.

Sectarian killing, bombing on mosques, Amam Bargahs and public places in

Punjab and others took place.
FAMILY FUEDS
Benazir’s family feuds undermined her government.

Her brother Murtaza Bhutto became openly criticized her husband.

Her mother, Nusrat, supported Murtaza, the last surviving male of the Bhutto
family.
Benazir fell out with her mother and removed Nusrat as chairperson of PPP.

Murtaza was shot dead, allegedly by Zardari.

Ghinva, Murtaza’s second wife, setup her own party, PPP (Shaheed Bhutto
group), damaging Benazir’s politics.
Ghinva demanded her vote in Sindh in the February 1997 elections.
JUDGES JUDGEMENT
She appointed many judges in high courts, most of them lacked requisite
experience.
One of them came to the high court for the first time, and another was never
known to practice law.
There was some quota for a governor, CM, and a party MNA.

The chief justice of Pakistan, Sajjid Ali Shah cooperated with PPP but shortly
after, parted ways with the party.
In September 1996, the Supreme Court accepted an appeal, with majority
judgement, against the 20 judges appointed by PPP in the Lahore High Court.
The judges judgement became a precedent for future.
LEGHARI-BENAZIR RIFT
The judges’ judgement led to a rift, rather an open confrontation, between
Leghari and Benazir.
President sent a reference to the supreme court, “whether the power of the
President to make appointment to the Supreme Court and High Court are subject
to PM’s advice”
The authority-general being under Benazir opposed it.

Leghari dismissed Benazir’s government in the night of 4th 5th November 1996 by
dissolving the NA under article 58-2(B).
He appointed Mehraj Khalid as care-taker PM.