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Research Paper:-
(1988 TO 1999)
Problems of democracy in Pakistan from 1988 to 1999
run by people, and with out of active participation the democracy could not flourish,
Three major problems have been singled out for this purpose: the ethnic
structure, the political structure and the role of the military Holmqvist, Mats (2010).
This research paper also shows how similar problems have appeared throughout
Pakistan’s history especially from 88 to 99 and for this reason the obstacles to
and generally guest has limited powers in a host’s house so that democracy could not
flourish. But unfortunately Pakistan has been lacking strong and efficient party
system which is very vital ingredient of Democracy. Democracy can neither exist nor
can consolidate its process without strong, vibrant, vigilant and efficient political
parties. There were four elections held in this era but all were fully rigged and
manipulated. Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif came to power twice each, amidst
by Zia, became acting president. He was elected president by the assemblies on Dec.
13, 1988. 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,
Ghulam Ishaq Khan was the chairman of senate in the rule of Zia, but after
the death of Zia he became president of Pakistan. In the election of 1988 Pakistan
people parity got 94 seats and with the coalition of 8seats of MQM and 13 seats of
Federal Administered Tribal Areas, Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto,
became a president of Pakistan. Benazir became the first female Prime Minister of
At the time of swearing in, she was merely 35 hence the youngest Prime
Minister at the time. Benazir, the eldest of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s four children was
born on 21 June 1953. She was educated from the top universities of the world like
Harvard and Oxford. Her father envisaged for her a career in Foreign Service that
exactly was the reason that she accompanied Z.A. Bhutto on such occasion like Simla
Agreement. However it was not meant to be her destiny. Her father’s deposition from
office and later on execution at the hands of Zia regime gave a new twist to her
career.
She lifted up the ban on students and trade unions first of all. She had a secret
deal with Ghulam Ishaq Khan that she would be the prime minister of Pakistan and
G I Khan would be the president of country. So people party was in favor of G I Khan
and Islamic Democratic Alliance was also in favor G I Khan in election of president.
People party had to face many difficulties from political side. MQM broke the
alliance with Pakistan people party after few months of election. A N P also started
opposing of government. Less than two years later, on August 6, 1990, her
Fresh elections were scheduled on October 24, 1990. President Ghulam Ishaq
Khan appointed Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi as the caretaker Prime Minister.The Pakistan
General elections, 1990 took place on 24 October 1990 to elect 217 MPs to the
(IDA), a massive conservative front led under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif. The
IDA compete for the Prime minister secretariat and initially campaign on
privatization and national conservative polices, meanwhile the MQM, a liberal front,
led under Altaf Hussain tightened its support in Sindh Province. The result was a
victory for Islami Jamhoori Ittehad, which won 106 of the 207 seats. Voter turnout
was 45.5%.
Two Army Generals – Mirza Aslam Baig and Asad Durrani (Head of the ISI)
– along with President Ghulam Ishaq Khan provided financial assistance to favored
parties. On 18 July 1993, following reported pressure from the military, Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif (Pakistan Muslim League-PML) and President of the Republic
Ghulam Ishaq Khan resigned to end their heated power struggle and a caretaker
government headed by Acting Prime Minister Moeen Qureshi was sworn in five days
This interim administration was widely praised for stabilising the country
while an often bitter one-month campaign was waged. Provincial assembly elections
People’s Party (PPP) of former Prime Minister (from 1988 to 1990) Benazir Bhutto.
As the two parties had largely similar platforms, the personalities of their leaders took
on added importance. Mr. Sharif pledged justice, education and jobs for all while Ms.
Bhutto criticized his economic policy, promising to pursue reforms in the sector
Altogether 1,485 candidates were in the running for the National Assembly’s
Polling day, monitored by foreign observers and supervised by the army was
of the main parties gained a controlling majority, PPP obtaining 86 seats to PML’s
72. For their part, Islamic fundamentalist candidates did not fare well. Given this
inconclusive outcome, the National Assembly met to elect the new Prime Minister;
Ms. Bhutto was sworn in to this post on 19 October after securing added support from
minor parties and independents and thus being chosen by 121 votes to 71 for Mr.
Sharif. She then named a coalition Cabinet, smaller in size than before. The results of
the provincial elections favored the PPP and were regarded as strengthening the
former PPP Foreign Minister Ahmed Leghari was elected President by members of
The PPP won the largest number of seats in the 1993 election and Benazir
government 2 years early for alleged corruption and abuse of power. The allegations
independence and violating the constitution. A number of PPP party members were
detained including Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari who was accused of taking
A former speaker and member of the PPP Miraj Khalid was appointed interim
prime minister. The National Assembly and provincial assemblies were dissolved and
elections called for 3 February 1997. Bhutto denied all the charges against her and
petitioned the Supreme Court to reverse her dismissal. However, the court ruled in
January that there was sufficient evidence for the dismissal to be justified legally.
The Pakistan general election of 1997 was held in on 3 February 1997 to elect
the National Assembly of Pakistan and the four provincial assemblies. The election
featured a fierce contest between ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by
incumbent prime minister Benazir Bhutto and the PML(N) led by conservative leader
Nawaz Sharif. Nawaz Sharif was highly benefited and aided by the controversial
death of populist leader Murtaza Bhutto, the worsening economy at home and won
the election in a landslide, receiving the highest number of votes ever won by a no
incumbent prime ministerial candidate. Sharif subsequently became the 12th prime
minister of Pakistan.
The election took place after the previous Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
issues with Supreme court, the serious violation of the constitution, and leaders in
PPP, notably Murtaza Bhutto, who were determined to end Zadora’s involvement in
government affairs. The Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) of Nawaz Sharif won a
landslide victory in the election, for the first time in the history of Pakistan. Sharif
was sworn in as Prime Minister on 17 February. Voter turnout was 36.0%. Pakistan
Muslim League (N) won 137 seats and PPP won 18 seats out of 207.1
Sharif took the risk of moving against the military establishment, by pushing
right to dissolve the National Assembly at his personal discretion. That was regarded
by the leadership of the armed forces as an attack on the military’s core interests and
1
Election result of 88, 90, 93, 97 in Pakistan (vikepedia)
brought Sharif closer to his political end, as proven shortly afterwards (Plamen,
Tonchev 2002).
In this way our democracy went to back in a plane from where this came, as
earlier I have explained that in era of 88 to 99 our democracy came from a plane
crash of Zia and went in plane case of Musharaf. Once again, at the end of this period
of democratic rule it turned out that civilian governments in Pakistan were too weak
to oppose the military establishment. Worse still, the general impression is that the
Bhutto-Sharif years inflicted a grave blow to the credibility of any dynamism that
There were four governments in this period but due to lack of democratic
practice there was very less turnout in this period. We are also used to the
interventions of military in our political system in Pakistan due to weak party system.
not only in 88 to 99 but also from birth of Pakistan. Especially in this era the
government came from dictator rule so the influence of military was there in grass
roots of political system, because our political party system was frail and weak so it
could not protect the pure democracy. Mostly Pakistani politicians were on dictation
of army generals and agencies. Army generals and agencies also used the political
parties and particularly some politicians for there purpose and some benefits. Political
above all, have found it difficult to develop the National Assembly as the primary
Pakistan. People in Pakistan in bulk are uneducated so they had no idea of vote.
Mostly people coasted their vote on the behalf of either baradari system or due to
some minor interest like a bag of flour, plate of brayani, and some sweets items etc.
achieve it there are many important issues to be solved, like unity and sincerity in
nation, economically condition, education and ration among nation also required.
patience, time and, most importantly, a consensus among the powerful groups and
elites in a society on the desirability of rule of law and governance through the
consent of the people. Thus, the onus of responsibility for constructing democracy,
principles is on the elites. Political leaders and elites through their actions and
conduct, influence the formation of democratic norms at the popular level. A large
number of people in a society have to accept and demonstrate faith in democratic
principles.
2- Saeed, Shafqat (1998), the Pakistan Development Review 37: 4 Part II (Winter
https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/17214/abstract-eng.pdf?sequence=1
http://www.eias.org/sites/default/files/EIAS_Briefing_Paper_March_2002_Plamen_T
onchev.pdf
http://www.democracy-asia.org/qa/pakistan/Hasan%20Askari.pdf