Political Developments of Pakistan 1947-2006 Essays

Political Developments of Pakistan 1947-2006 Essays Political Developments of Pakistan 1947-2006 Essay Political Developments of Pakistan 1947-2006 Essay Pakistan came into being in 14th August, 1947 after a long struggle of the Muslims of the subcontinent under the platform of All India Muslim League. Since her birth Pakistan has been ruled by various leaders both civilian and military and has experienced different governing systems. This paper will discuss the 59 year developments of the country and the leaders who took part in these developments and the leaders who reacted to these developments. The paper will also identify the two most effective leaders of Pakistan.Early Post-Independence Period:The early post-independence period of Pakistan is marked by political instability and loss of leadership. The founder of the Nation and the first governor general Mohammad Ali Jinnah died a year later in September, 1948, but his firm standing for making Urdu the sole national language of the country has already sparked anger in East Pakistan. Liaqat Ali Khan his successor tried to draft a constitution but was assassinated in 1951.   Kwaj ah Nazimuddin became his successor while Gulam Muhammad became the governor-general. The Constitutional Assembly tried to balance the power by taking some executive powers from the governor-general, but the governor-general dissolved the assembly and two generals Iskander Mirza and Mohammad Ayub Khan were introduced in the prime minister’s cabinet.In 1955 Iskander Mirza replaced Ghulam Muhammad as governor-general. The new Prime Minister Chaudhry Mohammad Ali finally convinced the politicians to agree on the constitutional draft which was officially sanctioned in February, 1956. The same year Prime Minister Chaudhry Mohammad Ali was forced to resign when he lost majority in the assembly because of a revolt against him by his Muslim League parliamentarians. Suhrawardy then attained office as a successor of Mohammad Ali but soon President Iskander Mirza suspended the constitution and a dispute over the constitution forced Suhrawardy to resign.First Military Government:Dissatisf ied by the politicians and the working of the democracy in 1958 President Iskander Mirza announced the abolition of political parties and the abrogation of the constitution. He announced that the country is under martial law and General Mohammad Ayub Khan is the Chief Martial Law administrator. Later Ayub Khan assumed the post of prime minister while three generals were entitled for ministries in the cabinet. Among the 8 civilian members of the cabinet Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was also introduced for the first time. 20 days later the President was deposed in coup led by the Chief Martial Law administrator General Mohammad Ayub Khan and exiled to London, while Ayub Khan himself assumed the presidency. Martial Law remained sanctioned for almost two years after that Ayub Khan drafted a new constitution in 1962 and introduced basic democracy and local unit administration through out the country. The basic democrats elected him himself president. Ayub Khan did some remarkable reforms both eco nomical and social, which not only boosted the economy of the country but also helped in reshaping the future social structure of the country. Outlawing polygamy is one of these examples. Ayub Khan was the person who launched the skirmishes against India in order to take the Indian army in Kashmir under siege, which resulted in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war. After the Ayub defeated Fatimah Jinnah in the elections but faced challenges in 1968. After an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate him he accused his former foreign minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of manipulating the plot. He also arrested Awami Leagues leader Mujibur Rahman. Amid widespread protest and strikes he resigned in March 1969. He transferred power to General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan who immediately imposed martial law and also assumed the post of president.The Civil War:In 1970 the general elections were held and surprisingly the Awami League led by Mujibur Rahman won by absolute majority in the East Pakistan gaining majori ty in the country as well while the Bhutto’s PPP won by majority in West Pakistan. Bhutto and Yahya refused to transfer power to Mujib and he subsequently demanded absolute autonomy. Yahya Khan used military force to restore order in East Pakistan which crushed the Bengalis brutally thus giving the Indian army a justification to intervene after a short interval of fighting the Pakistani forces in the East Pakistan surrendered to them.Yahya Khan resigned after the war and Bhutto became the Prime minister of the country. He introduced the third constitution of the nation in 1973. But his autocracies led to further disturbances and after the 1977 elections wide spread protest sparked through out the country accusing him of poll rigging. He was ousted in a military coup led by General Zia ul-Haq and was executed on allegation of murdering an opposition politician. Zia ul-Haq introduced several Islamic reforms in the country. Under his premiership the country played a pivotal role in afghan soviet war. He lifted martial law in 1985 and handpicked Mohammad Khan Junejo as the prime minister. In the later 80s ethnic violence erupted in the urban areas of Sindh and Zia is accused of using the ethnic sentiment in the region to reduce the popularity of PPP in Sindh. In 1988 he dissolved the assembly and proclaimed that the new elections will be held in November.Post Zia Democratic Rulers:But Zia was killed in a plane crash and in the new elections Benazir Bhutto the daughter of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto win with majority and assumed the office. She was ousted after governing for only 20 months and in the new elections Mohammad Nawaz Sharif succeeded her. But President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dismissed him three years later with allegations of corruption and dissolved the assembly. Benazir won back again in the elections but she was again dismissed by her own elected president and in the 1997 elections Nawaz Sharif assumed the office with two third majority. With such power he made amendments in the constitution taking the power of the president to dismiss the government as well as he also forced an army chief and Supreme Court chief justice to resign. In response to Indian nuclear tests Nawaz Sharif also detonated Pakistani nuclear bombs. His attempt to depose the Army Chief in 1999 failed and General Musharaf ousted his regime and arrested him on charges of traison. He was later sent in exile to Saudia Arabia.Musharraf’s Regime:President Musharaf later assumed the post of president after winning in the nation wide referendum. He held elections in 2002 where his favorite PMLQ won majority and formed government. Jamali was elected Prime Minister but later the finance minister Shaukat Aziz took the post. Musharaf has taken several measures to curb violence and religious extremism throughout the country. His support to U.S. led war against terror has sparked anger among many of Pakistani religious people. He is still facing violence and trouble in W aziristan region.Ayub Khan and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto are the two most effective leaders of Pakistan as Ayub led the country’s economy to a boost while Bhutto drafted the current constitution of Pakistan and his political legacy is still one the most powerful political forces of the country.