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 ofPakistan
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 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
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 toSouth 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
Junejo's regime met its sudden and unexpected end while he was returning from a visit to
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.
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
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
After the crash, a high level meeting was held in
Benazir Bhutto Becomes Prime Minister [1988]
In the 1988 elections,
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,
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment