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.