Governments in the 1990s

Governments in the 1990s

A decade of instability

After Zia's death (August 1988) Pakistan returned to democracy, but in eleven years there were four elected governments, each dismissed or forced out before its term ended. Presidents used the Eighth Amendment (Article 58(2)(b)) to dismiss them. In 1999, the army took over.

Benazir Bhutto, 1988–90

Background. The daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and the first woman Prime Minister of a Muslim country. The PPP won the 1988 elections (the largest party), but the Army and the President limited her authority, and the Opposition controlled the Punjab (where Nawaz Sharif was Chief Minister).

Problems and failures.

• Conflict with Nawaz Sharif: the Punjab government (IJI) fought the Centre; the two leaders blocked each other.
• Separatist movements grew: Sindh (ethnic violence and the MQM in Karachi) and the situation in Kashmir (the uprising from 1989).
• Differences with President Ishaq Khan: over the appointment of judges (the judiciary) and the army chiefs.
• A no-confidence motion (November 1989) by the opposition: she survived by a narrow margin.
• Economy: inflation and unemployment grew; corruption charges were made.
• Dismissal: on 6 August 1990 President Ishaq Khan dismissed her under the Eighth Amendment on charges of corruption and inefficiency.

Achievements. Released political prisoners, lifted press and student union bans, and restored a democratic atmosphere; she signed an agreement with India (no attack on nuclear sites, 1988) and rejoined the Commonwealth (1989).

Caretaker governments. Each dismissal was followed by a caretaker government and new elections: Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi (August–November 1990; elections 24 October 1990), Moeen Qureshi (July–October 1993, a former World Bank official; elections 6 October 1993) and Malik Meraj Khalid (November 1996–February 1997; elections 3 February 1997).

Nawaz Sharif, 1990–93

Background. Leader of the IJI alliance (Islami Jamhoori Ittehad), which won the 1990 elections.

Policies.

• Privatisation policy: sold state industries and banks and allowed foreign currency accounts. It increased investment, but critics said that it encouraged profiteering by friends of the government.
• Motorway and "yellow cab" schemes and Islamic measures (the Shariat Act, 1991).
• The Gulf War (1990–91): Sharif's government (and the army chief) criticised the US-led war on Iraq. The USA reacted by cutting aid (under the Pressler Amendment of 1985, the US President had to certify each year that Pakistan had no nuclear weapon; in October 1990 he refused, and aid was cut off over Pakistan's nuclear programme), and relations with the Gulf states suffered.
• The BCCI scandal (1991): the collapse of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (a bank with Pakistani links) hurt savers and the economy, and caused accusations of corruption.
• Other projects: the Ghazi Barotha hydel scheme and the Gwadar mini-port were begun, and land was given to landless peasants in Sindh.
• Cooperative societies scandal: the collapse of finance societies, with allegations that loans had gone to firms connected with the Sharif family, damaged his image.
• The army chief dispute: after the death of Gen. Asif Nawaz Janjua (January 1993) the President and Prime Minister disagreed over the successor (Gen. Abdul Waheed Kakar was appointed).
• Kashmir: support for the uprising increased tension with India.
• Conflict with President Ishaq Khan: over the army chief and the use of the Eighth Amendment. He was dismissed in April 1993, the Supreme Court restored him, but the deadlock led to both resigning in July 1993.

Benazir Bhutto, 1993–96

Problems.

• Kashmir: continued tensions with India.
• Opposition demonstrations ("train march" from Karachi to Peshawar in 1994 and a "wheel-jam" strike) led by Nawaz Sharif.
• Her own party was split: her brother Murtaza Bhutto, who opposed her husband's role, was killed in a police encounter in September 1996.
• Successes: a visit by the US First Lady Hillary Clinton (1995) improved Pakistan's image, and the US Brown Amendment (1995) eased some of the restrictions of the Pressler Amendment.
• Unemployment and inflation; the devaluation of the rupee (1993) led to the IMF demanding cuts; IMF concerns about the budget deficit and the balance of payments.
• Karachi violence (MQM and the army operation) and sectarian killings.
• The dismissal of the Chief Minister of the Punjab (Manzoor Wattoo) caused political quarrels between the Centre and the Punjab.
• Dismissal: in November 1996, President Farooq Leghari, her own party colleague, dismissed her (amid the killing of her brother Murtaza Bhutto, and corruption charges against her husband Asif Ali Zardari).

Nawaz Sharif, 1997–99

• He won a huge majority in February 1997 and removed the Eighth Amendment powers with the Thirteenth Amendment (1997) (the President could no longer dismiss the Assembly). The Fourteenth Amendment (1997) banned floor-crossing. The Ehtesab Act (1997) set up a body to investigate corruption, but it was mainly used against his opponents. President Leghari resigned in December 1997 after the clash with the Prime Minister. The proposed Fifteenth Amendment (to make Islamic law supreme and strengthen the Prime Minister) was seen by critics as a power grab.
• He tried to dominate the judiciary (the clash with Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, 1997, and an attack on the Supreme Court by his supporters), and the press.
• Nuclear tests (May 1998): after India's tests, Pakistan tested its own nuclear devices at Chaghi (28 and 30 May). They were popular, but led to sanctions and a financial crisis (foreign currency accounts were frozen).
• Lahore Declaration (February 1999) with the Indian PM Vajpayee.
• Kargil (May–July 1999): fighting in Kashmir with India, which Sharif withdrew from under US pressure. This caused a rift with the army.
• The Musharraf coup: on 12 October 1999, Sharif tried to dismiss General Pervez Musharraf, the army chief, while he was flying home from Sri Lanka. The army seized power, and arrested Sharif.

Why did General Musharraf take power in 1999?

How effective were the governments?

Outline. Strengths: democratic freedoms; the first female PM; relations with Commonwealth and others; social programmes. Weaknesses: conflict with Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Khan; inflation and unemployment; the Karachi violence; IMF problems; Kashmir tension; corruption charges; dismissed twice. Judgement: limited success, as she was often blocked by the President and the army.