Political Development Of Pakistan (2005-2012)

2005 :-

1.      Pakistan-Japan Relations : In May 2005 Japanese PM Junichiro Koizumi came over a two day trip to Pakistan, during his trip many issues were discussed between the two nations and a joint declaration was signed between the two, announcing their commitment to cooperation.

2.      KPK Assembly : In July 2005 the KPK Assembly (known as NWPF Assembly by then) passed the ''Hasba Bill'', with a majority vote.

3.      ''Earthquake-8th Oct 2005'' : On 8th Oct 2005, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes in the northern part of Pakistan, Pakistan government announces the official death toll of the quake as about 73,000 casualties. Pakistan President appeals for international help on 10th Oct.

2006 :- 

1.      Pakistan-US Terms : US President G W Bush1 arrives in Islamabad during his first ever visit to Pakistan, discussions were made to strengthen the relationships. President Musharraf expects US President to resolve Kashmir issue using his power of influence. An agreement was also signed between the two nations for trade security.

2.      Pakistan-UK Relations : PM Shaukut Aziz went on three day official visit to Britain. promoting economic, cultural and defense r elations between the two countries.

3.      New State Bank Governor : Dr.Shamshad Akhtar assumes the office of the State Bank Governor, as the''first woman governor of State Bank of Pakistan''.

4.      ''Bhasha Dam'' : President Pervez Musharraf lays the foundation stone of ''Daimir-Bhasha Dam'' in April 2006.

5.      Charter of Democracy : A charter of democracy was signed between the two former Prime Ministers of Pakistan; Benazir Bhutto & Nawaz Sharif, in London.

6.      Women Protection Bill : A ''Women Protection Bill'' was passed in 2006, claiming for maximum women rights , for women who are victims of harassment and abuse. Under the bill ordinance 1600 women from 55jails across the country were released.

7.      Bugti Operation : On 26th Aug, Nawab Akbar Bugti was killed in a military operation, when his residing cave was shelled by air strikes. He was accused of being a warlord and running his own militia called as’ Baluchistan Liberation Army'', by the Pakistan Government.

2007 :-

1.      Assassination Attempts :- In July 2007 there was another assassination attempt, when an unknown group fired at Musharraf's plane as it just took off from the runway, in Rawalpindi.

2.      Siege of ''Lal Masjid'' : Gun ship battle erupted between the lal Masjid -Red Mosque supporters and military forces. Lal Masjid was accused of being ''pro-Taliban''.

3.      Dismissal of Chief Justice of Pakistan : Musharraf suspended the Chief Justice of Pakistan ,Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and imposed corruptions charges against him. Lawyers all over Pakistan protested against this suspension, under the ''Judicial Activism Campaign''.

4.      Return of B.B  : Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto returned back to Pakistan in Oct 2007, after her 8 year long self-exile.

5.      Imposition of Emergency : On 3rd November 2007 President Musharraf declared emergency law in the country, due to rising militant violence. Telephone signals and Television channels were blocked in many cities. Emergency rule was lifted on 16th Dec, with the restoration of Constitution.

6.      Caretaker Government : Senate chairman Mian Muhammad Soomro took oath as caretaker prime ministeron the completion of five year government term

7.      Swat Evacuation : Thousands of people escape the Swat district, when a military operation started between Pakistan Army and Pro-Taliban Militants.

8.      Army Resignation : General Musharraf resigns from the office of ''chief of army staff'' and was succeeded over by General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.

9.      Nawaz Sharif's Return : Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif returned back to Pakistan after 7 years of forced exile.

10.  B.B's Election Campaign & Assassination :Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto began her election campaign in Dec, for 2008 General Elections. She was assassinated on 27th Dec 2007, during her election campaign in Rawalpindi.

2008 :-

1.      2008 General Elections : The Election Commission announces the Election date as 18th Feb,2008 ,instead of 8th Jan due to B.B's death/assassination. PPP ranked as the highest polled party, and named the former Parliament Speaker-Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, as the candidate for the next Prime Minister.

2.      Impeachment Movement & Resignation :In Aug 2008 PPP &PML-N agreed to force Musharraf, to step down from president ship, and thus began the impeachment movement. Pervez Musharraf stepped down as President of Pakistan on 18th Aug 2008. Mian Muhammad Soomro took over as the acting president.

3.       President Zardari :On 6th Sept, Asif Ali Zardari wins the presidential election with 481 votes, and on 9th Sept he took oath as the President of Pakistan.

2009 :-

1.      Restoration of Chief Justice : PM Yousaf Raza Gillani announces the restoration of the deposed Chief Justice ,Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and other judges.

2.      Truce with Taliban : Pakistan Govt. announced a truce with Taliban, accepting a system of Islamic Law in the Swat Valley.

3.      Operation Rah-e-Rast : Pakistan Aemy launched Operation Rah -e- Rast, and cleared Swat Valley of all Taliban elements. It is regarded as one of the most successful counter-insurgency operations of modern times.

4.      GHQ Attacks : In Oct 2009, Militants dressed in army fatigues, armed with automatic weapons, breached the perimeters of army headquarters in Rawalpindi, in a raid that left 23 people dead and set off a 20 hours siege.

2010 :-

1.      Adoption of 18th Amendment : Pakistan adopted 18th amendment in the Constitution, stripping President Asif Ali Zardari of key powers.

2.      Devastating Floods : Due to outrageous monsoon rainfalls, extensive flooding killed more than 20 million people ; as per information given by PM Yousaf Raza Gillani to the UN.

3.      All Pakistan Muslim League : Former President Pervez Musharraf launches his political party at a club in London named as ''ALL PAKISTAN MUSLIM LEAGUE''. During the launch, Musharraf apologizes for the ''negative actions’’ he took, whilst in power.

4.      US Military Aid : US Secretary of States Hillary Clinton announces the American Aid of 2 million US$ as ''military aid''.

2011 :-

1.      Salman Taseer Assassinated : In January Punjab Governor was shot down by his own bodyguard in Islamabad. His killer Malik Mumtaz Qadri claims his murder due to his opposition to the blasphemy law in Pakistan.

2.      Raymond Davis Incident : US Diplomat Raymond Davis killed two Pakistani men on motorbike in Lahore, allegedly in self defense.

3.      Shahbaz Bhatti's Assassination : Minister of Minority Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti was assassinated in Islamabad.

4.      Death of Osama Bin Laden : On May 2nd 2011 Al-Qaeda's former head ''Osama Bin Laden'' was killed in US Military Operation code-name ''Operation Neptune Spear'', by Special US Commando forces, in Abbotabad, Pakistan.

5.       Memogate Controversy :Pakistan Ambassador to US, Hussain Haqani resigns ! following claims of his alleged affiliation with the ''Memogate Controversy''.

2012 :-

1.      Prime Minister's Disqualification : Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani was disqualified over a contempt of court conviction, by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Instead ''Raja Pervez Ashraf'' was elected as the new Prime Minister in June 2012.

Political Development Of Pakistan(1999-2004)

Military Comes to Power Again [Oct 12, 1999] 

On October 12, 1999, the Pakistan Army once again ousted the Civilian Government. At that time Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif headed the Government. The coup immediately followed the premier’s attempt to replace the Army Chief while he was on a tour to Sri Lanka. After two days of chilling uncertainty, Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf assumed the title of Chief Executive. Although the use of the term "Martial Law" was avoided, Pakistan once again came under military rule. It was claimed that the Army was forced to take this step to save the country from "turmoil and uncertainty". 
The Supreme Court, in a ruling on May 12, 2000, accepted that a constitutional deviation had taken place in pursuit of rather noble objectives, such as economic reforms and bringing to book the corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen. The 12 judges based their ruling on the principle of "salus po puli ex supreme lex", meaning that the welfare of the people is the supreme law of any land. The court took the view that there was no other way to remove a corrupt Government except through the intervention of the armed forces. The Supreme Court also directed General Musharraf to hold general elections within three years. 

After the military takeover, the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif (his brother and former Chief Minister of Punjab) and five other officials were booked on charges of hijacking, kidnapping and attempted murder in the "Plane Conspiracy" case. The prosecution's case was based on a police report filed by an Army Colonel. Nawaz Sharif, in his capacity as Prime Minster, was accused of giving orders to the Civil Aviation Authority to prevent a Colombo-Karachi Pakistan International Airlines commercial flight, with Musharraf on board, from landing at Karachi or anywhere else in Pakistan. He was to face a charge of attempted murder endangering the lives of General Pervez Musharraf and 200 other passengers on board by disallowing the plane to land when its fuel was at a low level. The case was tried by an anti-terrorism court in Karachi, ironically established by Nawaz Sharif himself, which sentenced him to life imprisonment. In their appeal to the High Court, Mr. Sharif's lawyers maintained that no charge of corruption was proved against the former Prime Minister, and that it was the Prime Minster's constitutional right to remove the Army Chief. 
Later on, Mr. Nawaz Sharif was, however, pardoned and exiled by the military government to Saudi Arabia on conditions that he would forfeit Rupees 500 million (equivalent to roughly US$ 8 million) in property and stay out of politics for the next 21 years.

1999 :-

1.      Nawaz Sharif  Era :In the year 1999 the ruling power of  Pakistan was  resting in the hands of  one of the prominent political parties I-e ''Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz'' (PML-N ) & Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif  was by then elected as the 12th Prime Minister of  Pakistan. During his era in 1999 he met with the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the ''WAGHA BORDER'' & signed  a joined communiqué, known as the ''Lahore Declaration''.

                                                                                                            

On April 15th 1999 Pakistan conducted a series of  a nuclear-capable short range missile, ''Shaheen'', as per the orders of the Prime Minister.

In May 1999 ,an armed conflict took place between India and Pakistan known as the ''Kargil War'' in the Kargil district of Kashmir. The Kargil War officially came to an end on 26th July, with India gaining control of the occupied territory and the Pakistani military had to retreat.

1.      Coup of General Pervez Musharaf :On Oct 12th 1999 General Musharraf led the Pakistani army in coup that toppled Sharif's government; Sharif was accused of massive corruption, destroying institutions and undermining the Constitution. Nawaz Sharif was ousted from the power and was placed under house arrest. The coup of General Musharraf returned the executive powers to the president. He also passes the PCO orders in 1999

 2000:-

1.      Nawaz Sharif's imprisonment :In April 2000 Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of hijacking & terrorism. Soon he and his family were send to exile in Saudi Arabia.

1.      Supreme Court Orders :In May 2000 The Supreme Court of Pakistan validated the Oct 1999 coup and granted General Musharraf executive and legislative authority’s e Supreme Court asked Musharraf to hold National Elections by Oct 2001.

   2001 :-

1.      Elections 2001 & Referendum : The residing president Rafiq Tarar remained in office until his voluntary resignation on/in June 2001, after which Musharraf formally appointed himself as the president on 20th June 2001.While remaining the Chief of Staff too.

2.      Agra Summit: The ''Agra Summit Conference'' started in July 2001, when General Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister A.B Vajpayee held meetings and talks over long standing issues between the two countries.

3.      Anti-Terrorist Campaign :After the 9/11 attacks on America, Pakistan agreed to cooperate with the campaign against Al-Qaeda. President Musharraf agreed to support the U.S Anti-Terrorist Campaign. Meetings were held between the heads of the two states.

   2002 :-

1.      2002 General Elections : In October 2002 Pakistan held free and fair general elections, which the pro-Musharraf PML-Q won, and formed government with collaboration of other two parties; MMA & MQM.

2.      Democratic Government Rule :After elections in the first session of the Parliament President Musharraf handed over the powers of ''Chief Executive'' to the newly elected Prime Minister Zafar ullah Khan Jamali. 

3.      Prime Minister Relay :Prime Minister Jamali somehow proved to be ineffective and soon resigned. Then the next prime minister appointed was Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. Husain’s then Finance Minister ''Shaukat Aziz’ proved his worth by the Excellency of his work & being the right hand man , he was appointed as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan.

4.      Musharraf's Reforms : Musharraf  succeeded to pass the 8th Amendment under the Supreme Court supervision. He also introduced the Local Government System .Borders with Afghanistan were sealed too, to prevent the influx of refugees. The President also issued the LFO; Legal Framework Order

   2003 :-

1.      Senate Elections : The Ruling party PML-Q wins most seats in voting, in the upper house ; in February 2003. The National Assembly of Pakistan meets for the first time in Nov,2003 after coup 1999. 

2.      Musharraf's Alliances :General Musharraf meets George W Bush in ''Camp David''. US announces $3-billion five year economic assistance package for Pakistan. President Musharraf announces at the UN General Assembly in New York ; that Pakistan would be willing to send troops to Iraq.

3.      Assassination Attempts : In December 2003 President Musharraf survived two assassination attempts in Rawalpindi.

   2004 :-

1.      Vote of Confidence : General Musharraf won the vote of confidence in Senate, National Assembly & Provincial Assemblies by obtaining 658 votes out of 1170 and was deemed to be elected to the office of president.

2.      Kashmir Dispute : In 2004 Musharraf began series of talks with India to resolve the Kashmir issue. Meetings were held between him & Vajpayee by then in Islamabad.

3.      NSC Bill : The National Assembly & Senate passes the ''National Security Bill''.

4.      Commonwealth Comeback :Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group welcomed Pakistan back into the ''Commonwealth'', noting the restoration of constitution & progress made in re-building democratic institutions & restoring democracy.

Political Development Of Pakistan (1997-1999)

Nawaz Sharif becomes Prime Minister [1997] 

As scheduled, elections were held on February 3, 1997. Pakistan Muslim League won with an overwhelming majority with absolutely light and 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. 
A number of very important Constitutional Amendments were introduced during Nawaz Sharif's second term. These include the termination of the Eighth Amendment, passing of the Thirteenth Amendment and the Ehtesab Act, 1997. Nawaz Sharif faced a serious confrontation with the Judiciary and the Executive, which eventually led to the resignation of President Leghari on December 2, 1997. 
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 deter Indian adventurism. 
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 August 28, 1998, Nawaz regime introduced the Fifteenth Amendment. The Bill generated heated debate throughout the country but was passed on October 9, 1998, by the members of the National Assembly. The Bill, however, was not put before the Senate within 90 days as was required by the Constitution. The Bill was held back, as Nawaz Sharif did not had the required two-third majority in the Senate. 
The Fifteenth Amendment was presumed to be an effort by Nawaz Sharif to acquire additional powers for himself. Soon a serious conflict and confrontation emerged on the scene between him and the Military Generals. This confrontation led to the resignation of General Jehangir Karamat on October 7, 1998. General Karamat was replaced by General Pervez Musharraf. 
The Kargil Operation in its aftermath again 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. 

Thirteenth Amendment is Passed [1997] 

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 advice the President on the appointments of three forces' chiefs, the J. C. S. C. Chairman and the Governors. Thus the discretionary power to appoint the chiefs of the armed forces was taken away from the President. In the proposed Amendment Bill, clauses to restore the women parliamentarian seats and to convert the Ordinance into an act of the Parliament were also incorporated. The power of the Governor to dissolve the Provincial Assemblies under Article 112(2) b was also done away with. 
Through the Thirteenth Amendment the controversial Eighth Amendment was repealed and thereby the President was divested of much discretionary power 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. It’s 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.
Although it seemed that a complicated and sensitive constitutional issue was solved in an amicable way through consensus, and it was anticipated that through the Thirteenth Amendment a new era of democratic freedom and political stability would start, all the hopes dashed to the ground when once again the democratic process was demolished all of a sudden. A military coup not only sacked Nawaz Sharif and his Cabinet, but also dissolved the National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies. 

Fourteenth Amendment is passed [1997] 

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. 
The Anti-Defection Bill, earlier passed by the Senate and later by the National Assembly with a large majority, was a structural reform to end the practice of switching party loyalties and blackmailing party leadership for ministerial slots, bank loans and other concessions. 

Muhammad Rafiq Tarar elected as President [1998] 

Muhammad Rafiq Tarar, a former Judge of the Supreme Court and a Senator, was elected as the ninth President of Pakistan. He took oath to his office on January 1, 1998. 
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 as their presidential candidate. 
Rafiq Tarar seemed to be an unassuming and ceremonial President with a low profile, who kept away from the press. Immediately after taking over, he declared that from then onwards, the Presidency would not work in conspiring against the elected Government. He said that he would confine himself to powers available to him under the Constitution and would not aspire for anything more. He honored his word, and unlike the precedent set by his predecessors, he didn't criticize any Government policy. 
After overthrowing the Nawaz Government, the military authorities did not retain Rafiq Tarar as the President till his full term of five years. He was removed by the Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf on June 20, 2001, who himself took over the office of the President of Pakistan. 
Being associated with the Judiciary, Muhammad Rafiq Tarar was not a politician of any standing he was, however, noted for his, honesty, loyalty, devotion to justice and a firm, religious faith in Islam

Pakistan: A Nuclear Power [May 28, 1998] 

On May 28, 1998, Pakistan became a nuclear power when it successfully carried out five nuclear tests at Chaghi, in the province of Baluchistan. This was in direct response to five nuclear explosions by India, just two weeks earlier. 
Widely criticized by the international community, Pakistan maintains that its nuclear program is for self-defense, as deterrence against nuclear India. A former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, offered justification for Pakistan's nuclear program when he said that if India were to produce a bomb, Pakistan would do anything it could to get one of its own. It has always been maintained by Pakistan that a nuclear threat posed to its security can neither be met with conventional means of defense, nor by external security guarantees. 
India had already posed a nuclear threat against Pakistan ever since it tested a nuclear device in May 1974. At that time Pakistan had no nuclear weapons. India maintained that its nuclear program was based on their requirement to have a minimum nuclear deterrence, and that it was not against any specific country. 
After the tit-for-tat nuclear explosions, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution urging India and Pakistan to halt their nuclear weapons programs. The United States and other Western states imposed economic sanctions against both the countries. The U. N. Secretary General, Kofi Annan, urged both the countries to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which Pakistan agreed to sign if India did the same. 
After the tests, both sides declared that they had completed their series of nuclear testing and both announced a moratorium on future testing. Pakistan announced the moratorium on June 11, 1998, and offered to join in new peace talks with India. Even long before these tests, Pakistan has time and again proposed for a nuclear weapon-free zone in South East Asia.

The Lahore Declaration [1999] 

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 communiqué, 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.

Political Development Of Pakistan (1993-1996)

Benazir Bhutto becomes Prime Minister [1993] 

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.  
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.
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. On the domestic front she continued facing problems with M. Q. M. In spite of all her political endeavors, a smooth relationship could not be established between the Government and M. Q. M. 
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 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. 

Sardar Farooq Legahri Becomes President [1993] 

as election day approached, there were only two candidates left in the field. These were the acting President Wasim Sajjad, a nominee of the P. M. L. (N), and Sardar Farooq Leghari, a nominee of the P. P. P. As a result of voting, Leghari got 274 votes in his favor against 168 votes for Wasim Sajjad. On November 13, 1993, Sardar Farooq Leghari was appointed as the President of Pakistan for a term of five years. 
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.
Differences emerged between Benazir and Leghari, which eventually resulted in the President using the Eighth Amendment for the dissolution of the National Assembly, and the dismissal of Benazir. When Mian Nawaz Sharif was re-elected as the Prime Minister, differences arose between them. He supported the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Sajjad Ali Shah, who had also developed serious differences with the Nawaz Sharif Government. But Leghari could not overcome the heavy mandate that was bestowed upon Mian Nawaz Sharif by the public, with the result that he had to resign on December 2, 1997. Farooq Leghari's resignation brought to an end the tragic drama of conflict and conspiracy between the Judiciary, the Executive, and the Legislature. His resignation cut short his term as the President for five years by nearly one year.

Malik Meraj Khalid Becomes Caretaker Prime Minister [1996] 

President Sardar Farooq Leghari, exercising his powers through the Eighth Amendment, dismissed Benazir Bhutto's Government in November 1996, on charges of corruption and extra-judicial killings. 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. 

Political Development Of Pakistan (1989-1999)

Ghulam Ishaq Khan becomes President [1988-93] 

In 1988, President Zia-ul-Haq dissolved the Junejo Government and announced that fresh elections would be held in November 1988. But on August 17, 1988, he was killed in a C-130 plane crash in Bhawalpur, along with five senior Generals and the American Ambassador. The cause of the crash has never been ascertained and still remains a riddle. 

After the death of General Zia, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Chairman of the Senate, took over as acting President. The conflict between the President and the Prime Minister had its drop scene on August 6, 1990, when the President dissolved the National Assembly and Benazir Bhutto was dismissed from power. The dissolution of the National Assembly was soon followed by the dissolution of the Provincial Assemblies. Fresh elections were scheduled on October 24, 1990. President Ghulam Ishaq Khan appointed Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi as the caretaker Prime Minister. 

Elections for the National and Provincial Assemblies were held on October 24 and 27, 1990, respectively.

Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi becomes caretaker Prime Minister [1990] 

As a result of the changes made in the Constitution by the R. C. O. and the Eighth Amendment, the President had the power to appoint a caretaker Prime Minister and a caretaker Cabinet at the Federal as well at Provincial level. Using these powers, President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dissolved the National and Provincial Assemblies on August 6, 1990, and declared a state of emergency in the country. Elections were scheduled to be held on October 24, 1990. 

Ghulam Ishaq Khan did not appoint a neutral or non-partisan caretaker Cabinet or Prime Minister. He chose the leader of the opposition in the former National Assembly, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, as the new caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan. 

Nawaz Sharif Becomes Prime Minister [1990] 

After the ouster 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.

During his tenure as the Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif made efforts to strengthen the industrial sector with the help of the private sector. Projects like Ghazi Brotha and the Gawadar miniport were initiated. 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. 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. 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. 

Nawaz Sharif's Government remained in power till April 18 1993, when President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dissolved the National Assembly, once again exercising his power through the Eighth Amendment. 

Balakh Sher Mazari Becomes Caretaker Prime Minister [1993] 

President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dissolved the National and Provincial Assemblies on April 19, 1993, and appointed Mir Balakh Sher Khan Mazari as the Caretaker Prime Minister. General Elections were scheduled to be held on July 14, 1993. 

Balakh Sher Mazari's tenure as Caretaker Prime Minister ended on May 26, 1993, when the Supreme Court revoked the Presidential Order and reinstated Nawaz Sharif as the Prime Minister. 

Moin Qureshi Becomes Caretaker Prime Minister [1993] 

On May 26, 1993, the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared the Presidential Order of the Assemblies' dissolution as unconstitutional and ruled for restoring the Nawaz Government and the National Assembly. However, because of the serious differences between the President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, both resigned from their offices on July 18, 1993, along with the dissolution of the Central and Provincial Assemblies. 

Moin Qureshi, a top World Bank official, was appointed as the Caretaker Prime Minister and Ghulam Ishaq Khan was appointed as the caretaker President. At the time of his appointment, Moin Qureshi was totally unknown in Pakistan; it was, however, felt that as he was a political outsider, he would remain neutral. 

Despite the fact the Moin Qureshi was new to the economic and political environment of Pakistan, he made his presence felt during his short tenure of 90 days. During this time he undertook numerous steps, which were appreciated by the general public. One of the steps included his effort to expose the misdeeds of the previous governments by publishing the lists of defaulters of bank loans and taxpayers. These lists exposed a number of affluent persons who were involved in abusing the banking system and dodging the tax collectors. Moin Qureshi made the State Bank of Pakistan an autonomous body with an effort to keep out political interference in the working of the bank. He took numerous other steps including the imposition of a nominal tax on agriculture, making Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan autonomous, downsizing of the administrative machinery and abolishing the discretionary power of the Prime Minster and the Chief Ministers of allotting residential plots to their favorites. It goes to his credit that he undertook various endeavors in a short period of time and made a serious effort to recover Government dues. 

The only blot on Moin Qureshi's tenure as Prime Minister was that, in his last days, he made a large number of promotions and other administrative decisions in favor of his relatives. 

Political Development Of Pakistan (1985-1988)

Muhammad Khan Junejo Becomes Prime Minister [1985] 

After the Presidential referendum of December 1984, elections for the National and Provincial Assemblies were held in February 1985 on a non-party basis. President Zia-ul-Haq nominated Muhammad Khan Junejo as the Prime Minister of Pakistan on March 20, 1985. 
On being nominated, Muhammad Khan Junejo promised the nation that he would lift the Martial Law and restore a civilian government as soon as possible. Junejo's position was weak and vulnerable under the constitutional amendments made by Zia, which made the position of the President paramount and that of the Prime Minister subordinate. Despite his weak position, Junejo, after being sworn in as the Prime Minister, carried out his promise of lifting the Martial Law and the restoration of fundamental rights, but at the price of the Eight Amendment and validating the Revival of the Constitutional Order

After the lifting of Martial Law, Junejo tried to take a course independent of Zia. He annoyed military generals by withdrawing big staff cars from them and replacing them with small cars. He tried to conduct an independent foreign policy, particularly on Afghanistan, by taking into confidence and consulting leaders of political parties, including Benazir Bhutto, the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party. His government even tried to probe into the military fiasco at the Ojheri Camp near Islamabad on April 10, 1988, which resulted in the death and serious injuries to a large number of civilians. This probe perhaps became the immediate cause for the dismissal of his government. 
Junejo's regime met its sudden and unexpected end while he was returning from a visit to South Korea on May 29, 1988. General Zia dismissed Junejo's Government using the controversial rule under Article 58(2) b of the Constitution. According to General Zia, Junejo's Government had been dismissed because the law and order situation had broken down to an alarming extent and the government could not be run in accordance with the Constitution. Not only were the Junejo Government dismissed, but also were the Federal and Provincial Assemblies and the Provincial Cabinets and their Chief Ministers. General Zia installed a new caretaker government in the Center and Provinces. Fresh elections were promised after 90 days but were eventually held on November 16, 1988, three months after Zia's death in a plane crash.

Historic 8th Amendment is passed [1985] 

1.President could not exercise his powers without the concurrence of the Prime Minister

2.The President was given the right to nominate the Prime Minister, Governors of the provinces, and Judges of the High Court and Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice.

3.The president had the power to be informed about the decisions relating to the administrative affairs of the federation and proposals of legislation.

4.The President could ask the Prime Minister to get a vote of confidence from the Assembly, issue ordinances, set dates for the elections for the National Assembly and appoint caretaker government.

5.The President had the power of appointing service chiefs and other important federal officers. He could also call a referendum on an issue of great national importance. 

6.the President under the Article 58(2) b, which was the power of dissolution of the National Assembly at his own discretion. (After the passing of Article 58(2) b, the National Assemblies were dissolved on four occasions using its powers.)
7.Article 51 increased the number of the National Assembly seats from 200 to 207.
8.The number of the Senate seats was increased from 63 to 87 under Article 59.

The Eighth Amendment is considered as a landmark in the constitutional history of Pakistan. It not only altered the very form of the Constitution from purely Parliamentary to semi-Presidential, but also changed the constitutional and political history of the country. 

Death of General Zia-ul-Haq [1988] 

General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq was killed in an air crash on August 17, 1988. He had gone to Bhawalpur to see a demonstration of tanks where he was accompanied by a number of Generals, including the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chief of General Staff, high-ranking Military Attaches, as well as the U. S. Ambassador to Pakistan. On his return journey, his military transport aircraft, a C-130, exploded in mid-air a few minutes after takeoff from Bhawalpur airport, killing all passengers aboard including the President.
After the crash, a high level meeting was held in Islamabad to decide the question of succession. Some of the participants in the meeting were in favor of imposition of Martial Law. However the military Chief present did not support the idea. Under the Constitution, whenever the office of President becomes vacant by reason of death or resignation, or removal of the President, the Chairman of Senate acts as the President until a new President is elected. As a result Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Chairman of the Senate, became the next acting President of Pakistan.

Benazir Bhutto Becomes Prime Minister [1988] 

In the 1988 elections, Pakistan Peoples 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.

Soon after taking oath, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto announced that the ban on Student Unions and Trade Unions would be lifted. The P. P. P. Government hosted the fourth S. A. A. R. C. Summit Conference in December 1988. As a result of the Conference, Pakistan and India finalized three peace agreements. 
But soon, Benazir's Government started facing problems on the political front. A. N. P. deserted the Pakistan People Party and on November 1, 1989, a no-confidence motion was moved against the Prime Minister by the opposition. Benazir was barely able to pull through with 12 votes to her advantage. M. Q. M., which had formed an alliance with the P. P. P. also broke away and started creating trouble in Sindh. 
Serious conceptual differences arose between the P. P. P. Government and the Establishment. Less than two years later, on August 6, 1990, her Government was accused of corruption and dismissed by the President, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, who exercised his power through the controversial Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.

Political Development of Pakistan (1973-1985)

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto becomes Prime Minister [1973] 

After the promulgation of the 1973 Constitution, the elections for the President, Prime Minister, Chairman of Senate, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly was to be undertaken. The 1973 Constitution had adopted a federal parliamentary system for the country in which the President was only a figurehead and the real power lay with the Prime Minister. 
Z. A. Bhutto was sworn in as the Prime Minister of the country on August 14, 1973, after he had secured 108 votes in a house of 146 members. Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry was elected as the President under the new Constitution. 
During his period, six amendments were carried out in the 1973 Constitution

Amendments:

1.recognition of Bangladesh

2.Ahmadis declared as non-Muslims

3.rights of the detained were limited

4. the powers and jurisdiction of the courts for providing relief to political opponents      curtailed

5.power and jurisdiction of the Judiciary curtailed.

6. the term of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and the High Courts beyond the age of retirement extended.

Industrial reforms

1.Steel, chemical and cement industries nationalized

2.Banks were nationalized

3.Flour, cotton and rice mills all over the country were nationalized.

nationalization process was not as successful as Bhutto expected., nationalization caused colossal loss not only to the national treasury but also to the people of Pakistan. During his period as the Prime Minister, a number of land reforms were also introduced. The important land reforms included the reduction of land ceilings and introducing the security of tenancy to tenant farmers. The land ceiling was fixed to 150 acres of irrigated land and 300 acres of non-irrigated land. Another step that Bhutto took was to democratize Pakistan's Civil Service.

Fazal Ilahi becomes President [1973] 

Fazal Ilahi was a mere figurehead since all power and authority rested with the Prime Minister. He was allowed to continue as the President of Pakistan till 1978, although the army took over the reigns of power in July, 1977. He was relinquished from the office at his own request on September 16, 1978. 

General Elections 1977 

According to the original schedule, the second general elections in the history of Pakistan, and the first after the dismemberment of the country, were to be held in the second half of 1977. However, on January 7, 1977, Bhutto announced that the elections would be held earlier. On January 10, Justice Sajjad Ahmad Jan, Chief Election Commissioner, announced the election schedule and declared January 19 and 22 as the last date for receipt of nominations for National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies, respectively. Two hundred and fifty five Returning Officers were appointed for the National Assembly elections by the Election Commission. 
Immediately after the announcement, Bhutto started his election campaign. The first step he took was the allocation of tickets to his party men. Unlike the 1970 elections, when Pakistan Peoples Party mainly banked on socialistic slogans, this time Bhutto also relied on political heavyweights. A number of feudal lords and other influential persons were allocated party tickets. Bhutto himself held public meetings all over the country, and to get further support from the common man, he announced labor reforms on January 4, and a second set of land reforms on January 5. The attendance in the public meetings was amazing in all parts of the country, especially in interior Sindh and Punjab. The opposition blamed Bhutto for using Government machinery in running his election campaign. Bhutto was opposed by P.N.A strongly which was a hurdle for him.

P. N. A. managed to exploit anti-Bhutto sentiments among a huge section of masses and thus their election campaign received an unexpectedly positive response. Their claim, that their manifesto was Quran, also helped them in winning over a sizable number of voters from all over Pakistan. The attendance in P. N. A. public meetings and rallies was at times unexpected, even for the Alliance leadership itself. 

Results of elections.
Pakistan Peoples Party managed to win 155 out of 200 seats in the National Assembly. Pakistan National Alliance was only able to win 36 National Assembly seats, the Alliance could only win 8 out of 116 seats of the National Assembly from Punjab. Overall P. P. P. gained 99 percent seats.
the elections were said to be unfair and corrupted.

Ouster of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto 

P. N. A. leadership did not accept the results and accused the Government of systematic rigging. P. N. A. Executive Council decided to boycott the Provincial Assemblies' polls and demanded for immediate resignation of Bhutto, replacement of the Chief Election Commissioner, and fresh election of National Assembly seats under the supervision of Judiciary and the Army. 
When Bhutto refused to accept the demands of P. N. A., leadership of the Alliance decided to bring the people onto the streets, to break law deliberately, and to confront the police and the security forces. P. N. A. leaders called upon the people to stage countrywide strikes and organize protest marches. The followers fully responded to the call and a full-fledged political movement started. The business community wholeheartedly joined Alliance. P. N. A. used mosques to stimulate the masses and tried to create an impression that they were only working for the enforcement of Nizam-i-Mustafa. They criticized the socialistic attitude of Bhutto and alleged that he had lost his faith in Islam. The ulema whipped up emotions for a Jihad to save Islam, which they thought was in danger from an evil regime. The bar associations across the country also began to register their strong protest against the electoral fraud and denounced the post-election policy of repression. 
Initially Bhutto put a deaf ear to the demands of P. N. A. and debunked opposition's charges that his landslide victory was a result of rigging. He used police and F. S. F. against Alliance's activities and its top leadership was arrested and put behind the bars. Martial Law was enforced in three main cities of Karachi, Lahore and Hyderabad. Curfew was imposed in the rest of the big cities of the country and Army was called to maintain law and order. 
However, the intensity of the situation made Bhutto realize that it was not possible to suppress the movement by force. In the beginning of May, Bhutto changed his policy and started to explore the option of a dialog. Some P. N. A. leaders were released and brought to Sihala for negotiations in the first week of June. Bhutto showed his willingness to hold elections in November 1977, and offered five ministries to the P. N. A. candidates during the interim period. But P. N. A. team insisted on 50 percent representation in the Cabinet and demanded elections before August 14. Bhutto eventually accepted almost all the demands of P. N. A. and the stage was set for a compromise. Signing of the agreement was held in abeyance as he went abroad for a tour of Saudi Arabia, Libya, U. A. E., Kuwait and Iran. His tour was termed as dilatory tactics and again there seemed to be a deadlock. 
It was in these conditions that Chief of the Army Staff, General Zia-ul-Haq, imposed Martial Law in the country on July 5, 1977, and sent Bhutto behind the bars. General Zia said, "Had an agreement reached between the opposition and the Government, I would certainly never have done what I did". 

Martial Law under General Zia-ul-Haq [1977-1985] 

Elections were held on March 7, 1977. The Pakistan Peoples Party won these elections, but was accused by their opponents, Pakistan National Alliance, of rigging the elections. On March 14, 1977, the Alliance started a series of nationwide protests. Talks between the Alliance and Bhutto government were held in June 1977 and an agreement was reached, but it could not be implemented. 
Fresh elections were announced for October 15, 1977. But on July 5, 1977, the Chief of Army Staff, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, imposed Martial Law and the elections were postponed. General Zia-ul-Haq announced holding of elections within 90 days. 
A conference of political leaders was held in February 1978, but a year later, in 1979, General Zia-ul-Haq declared political parties to be defunct and certain political leaders were disqualified. 
Under General Zia's Martial Law, there was steady economic growth favoring the private sector, and efforts were made to Islamize the political, legal and economic structures. Pakistan gained the status of Most Favored Nation from the United States following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979. Vast amounts of military equipment and aid were donated to Pakistan to help the four million Afghan refugees who crossed into Baluchistan and North West Frontier Province. 
On February 6, 1981, Movement for Restoration of Democracy was established to return democracy to Pakistan. A provisional Constitution was enforced on March 23, 1981, as the Constitution of 1973 had been suspended with the imposition of Martial Law. 
Finally, after the nomination of Muhammad Khan Junejo as Prime Minister of Pakistan on March 20, 1985, Junejo fulfilled his promise of lifting the Martial Law and the restoration of the fundamental rights, but at the price of enforcement of the Eighth Amendment and the validation of the Revival of the Constitutional Order. 

The Afghan war settlement:

After the September 11 tragedy of 2001, world attention again focused on Afghanistan as they considered it as training grounds of terrorists responsible for the tragedy. The Talibans were removed by power and a U. S. led coalition installed an interim government in Afghanistan, which till today keeps a fragile peace in the country. Meanwhile Pakistan continues to suffer numerous problems from the legacy of the Afghan War such as refugees, drugs, guns, crime, and terrorism.