“REVOCATION AND REVITALIZATION OF DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN (1970 to 2010) AN ANALYTICAL STUDY” Researcher: Muhammad Abbas Haider Khan Roll: No, 18 Session 2010-2013 Ph.D (History) Supervised by: Dr. Aftab Hussain Gilani Associate Professor Department of History The Islamia University of Bahawalpur i The Islamia University of Bahawalpur DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY DECLARATION I hereby declare that this thesis entitled ―Revocation and Revitalization of Democracy in Pakistan (1970-2010). An Analytical Study” is a result of my personal research, except where I have indicated my indebtedness to other sources. I hereby certify that this thesis has not been submitted for any other degree. Muhammad Abbas Haider Khan Roll No. 18 Ph.D. (History) Session: 2010-2013 - ii The Islamia University of Bahawalpur DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY Certificate I hereby recommend the thesis prepared under my supervision by Muhammad Abbas Haider Khan entitled ―Revocation and Revitalization of Democracy in Pakistan (1970 to 2010). An Analytical Study” is accepted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Ph.D. in History. Dr. Aftab Hussain Gillani Associate Professor Chairman Department of Pakistan Studies The Islamia University of Bahawalpur iii The Islamia University of Bahawalpur DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY Date: _____________ Final Approval It is certified that the dissertation entitled ―Revocation and Revitalization of Democracy in Pakistan (1970 to 2010). An Analytical Study” Submitted by Muhammad Abbas Haider Khan S/O Muhammad Afzal Khan in our judgement is of sufficient standard to warrant its acceptance by The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, for the award of the degree of Ph.D. in History. Supervisor: __________________________ External Examiner: ___________________________ External Examiner: _____________________________ Chairman: ______________________________ Department of History iv Dedication To My Parents whose love and affection can never be forgotten. Their prayers are authenticity of success for me. v Preface The history of Pakistan is an imagery of social, economic and political paradigms, which reflect the true essence of democratic procedure. After a careful pondering, it becomes clear that some of the features of democratic process like attempt at building constitution, holding fair and free elections, regulating judicial process, role of feudalism, raising business class in form of authoritarians and the political unrest, need to be addressed. In Pakistan, political, social, economic and cultural progress under the democratic process has remained a debatable matter till date. Therefore, we are to put an end to all objections regarding democratization in Pakistan forthwith for the welfare of the masses. Pakistan came into being on August 14, 1947 with an inherited British administration. Pakistan did not have its own constitution, the British government handed over Independence Act 1947 after some necessary changes. It was actually India act 1935. After the death of the founder Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Khawaja Nazmuddin came as the successor of Quaid-i-Azam. At Liaqat Ali Khan martyrdom, he stepped down from the post of Governor General and became Prime Minister. Malik Ghuhlam Muhammad succeeded the offices of Governor General and he dismissed Khawaja Nazmudin without permitting him to test his right to remain in the office through a vote of confidence in the Assembly. Mohammad Ali Bogra was appointed as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan. When he wanted to reduce the power of Governor General to dismiss Prime Minister in India Act 1935, Guhlam Muhammad had dissolved the assembly. This matter was challenged in the court. The court gave verdict to hold new elections. Consequently, Pakistan Muslim League (PML) came in the position to make government successfully under the leadership of Chuadhary Mohammad Ali. He set up a committee to frame a constitution. After the debate of more than eight years, a constitution was finally agreed upon in 1956. Sikindar Mirza who had been replaced by Guhlam Muhammad, was declared as the first President of Pakistan, according to constitution 1956. Pakistan suffered in democratic predicaments during the year of 1957. Sikindar Mirza called General Ayub vi Khan to declare the state of emergency on October 7, 1958. Later on, Ayub Khan abrogated the constitution of 1956 and promulgated Martial Law on October 27, 1958. Now an authoritarian rule was started in Pakistan. General Ayub Khan introduced local self-government system known as Basic Democratic System. He promulgated the constitution 1962. His efforts, to give progress in industrial zone, were praise-worthy because masses could get benefits from them and even Pakistan was making progress economically by leaps and bound. He resigned from the office of President because of the agitation of masses in 1969. He handed over the sway to the Chief of Army Staff Yahiya Khan. This step weakened the democracy because the constitution 1962 did not allow him to do so. However, he got over power to Yahiya Khan without caring the constitutional obligation. Yahiya Khan held the elections 1970. Pakistan People‘s Party (PPP) and Awami League got success in these elections. A long political conversation had been started between Sheikh Mujeeb-ur-Rehman and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, which ended without any result. Consequently, East Pakistan was separated from West Pakistan. The elections of 1970 had declared the PPP as the second-largest party, now had become first-largest party in the National Assembly after the separation of East Pakistan. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto remained the only leader in West Pakistan, who was in the position of ruling the country. Therefore, he took reign of the country without any hurdle. This period is considered as democratic regime for spreading the connotations of liberty, freedom, self- sovereignty and self-dominion in the masses. It deals with the charismatic Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto‘s familiarity in masses and development of democracy under the banner of Islamic socialism. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto gave us the Constitution 1973 and new administrative structure, which became a source of inspiration for the coming bureaucracy. He bred idealistic people, who provided the society a divergent democratic, rational approach. After the sway of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Zia-ul-Haq‘s regime was started, which was famous for his Islamization policy. He held non-party elections, which provided authoritarian sort of so-called democratic system. The period of reconstruction of democracy from 1988-1999 had a significance in democratic history of Pakistan. The governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif with specific periods did give vii nothing to masses except disappointments. Both the leaders discharged their democratic duties without keeping the sentiments of masses in view. However, democracy could not do anything except to adopt unconceivable dimensional approach, which was condemnable in any circle of democratization. General Perviaz Musharraf took over on October 12, 1999. H abrogated the constitution 1973, and dismissed democracy. Later, he took over the charge of Chief Executive. He named the regime of PML-N as the sham democratic time. However, his effort for the genuine democracy was not appreciated in political circle. It was regrettable that the damage to the democratic process through martial law was not for the first time in the democratic history of Pakistan. Musharraf introduced local self- government policies, Legal Framework Order (LFO) and Seventeenth Constitutional Amendment for his personal interest. PPP and PML-N signed the ―Charter of Democracy‖, in London during the month of May 2006. The basic agenda of this accord was to restore the democracy in Pakistan and make some future programs to strengthen the democracy. The National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) commenced a new argument among the political parties and Musharraf. This deal was struck between Benazir Bhutto and Musharraf. Benazir came back to Pakistan. Later on, even Mian Nawaz achieved opportunity to come back to the country and to take part in politics. Musharraf created conflicts with judiciary to dismiss the Chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary. It became the cause of starting Lawyer‘s Movement countrywide. Later on, the reinstatement of the Chief Justice proved its significance in Pakistan democratic process due to its historical victory. It changed the political scenario and created courage in the democratic spheres to put forward their democratic manifestoes. In 2008 elections, PPP and PML-N got the historical victory. PPP made a collation government, which could not run more than six months. PPP government passed the 18th and 19th Amendment Bills, recommending the NFC award, which was a marvelous achievement. The role of judiciary remained pro-active in this regime. The Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhary took suo-mooto actions for several times to ease the situation. PPP government considered it intervention in the administrative viii work. Consequently, a confrontation was commenced between the two institutions, which were pernicious for the democratization in each and every respect. It was an urgent need of time that both the institutions should have worked keeping in view the respect of one another. Later on, there were so many endeavors done for the survival of democracy and strengthening of the reconciliation. Moreover, it is the need of the day that this endeavors would continue with more emphasise to pursue the people in order to adopt the democratization for their upward