DOCSLIB.ORG

Researched and Compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on 1 May 2009

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Researched and Compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on 1 May 2009 Pakistan - Researched and compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on 1 May 2009 Which political party is currently in power in Pakistan? When were they elected? In a section titled “Pakistan People's Party emerges as single largest party in election results” a report published in the South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) of the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) refers to the result of the February 2008 elections in Pakistan as follows: “The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly followed closely by the Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) in the elections held on February 18, 2008. The PPP led with 87 seats out of 272, followed by 66 for the PML-N, and 38 for the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). Among the smaller parties, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement won 19 seats and the Pakhtun nationalist Awami National Party got 10 seats. The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, a religious coalition which won 59 seats in 2002, was able to win only three this time. Other political parties – the PPP- Sherpao, the Balochistan National Party, the National People's Party and the PML-F – got one, one, two, and four seats, respectively. Independent candidates won 27 seats.” (South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) of the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) (25 February 2008) Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz agree to form coalition Government; Pakistan People's Party emerges as single largest party in election results; 19 people killed in country-wide elections) A Voice of America report on the forming of a coalition government after these elections states: “The leaders of Pakistan's two main opposition parties are scheduled to meet Thursday in Islamabad to discuss creating a coalition government that could oust President Pervez Musharraf. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) emerged victorious over Mr. Musharraf's party in parliamentary elections earlier this week.” (Voice of America (21 February 2008) Pakistani Opposition to Begin Forming Coalition Government) See also Time article which states: “Gilani's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) will form a government in coalition with the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.” (Time (22 March 2008) Pakistan's PPP Chooses Premier Robinson, Simon) An Agence France Presse report states: “Pakistan's two main opposition leaders agreed Sunday to form a coalition government, and urged President Pervez Musharraf to convene parliament without delay. Asif Ali Zardari, widower of assassinated ex-premier Benazir Bhutto, and Nawaz Sharif signed the agreement at a news conference here after a fresh round of coalition talks following last month's general election. Zardari is the de facto leader of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which won the most seats in the February 18 ballot and, along with Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), trounced Musharraf's political allies.” (Agence France Presse (9 March 2008) Pakistan parties agree to form government) In a section titled “Elections and Political Participation” the US Department of State country report for Pakistan states: “On February 18, the country held national parliamentary elections that brought former opposition parties into a coalition government led by the PPP under the leadership of Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani. The elections were postponed multiple times, the last of which was due to the assassination of PPP leader Benazir Bhutto in December 2007. In the September 6 indirect presidential election, Asif Ali Zardari, widower of Bhutto, became president succeeding Pervez Musharraf, who had resigned on August 18. The PPP and its coalition partners took control of the executive and legislative branches of the national government and three of the four provincial assemblies. PML-N took control of the Punjab provincial assembly. PML-N, originally the PPP's largest partner in the national government, withdrew from the coalition on August 25 ostensibly due to PML-N's insistence that judges deposed during the 2007 state of emergency be reinstated to their original positions.” (US Department of State (25 February 2009) 2008 Human Rights Report: Pakistan) A BBC News report refers to the break-up of this coalition as follows: “Mr Sharif pulled his PML-N party out of the coalition on Monday after a dispute over the reinstatement of judges sacked by former president Pervez Musharraf.” (BBC News (26 August 2008) Plea for Pakistan coalition unity) A World Markets Research Centre report states: “Former two-time Pakistani prime minister and head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif withdrew his party from the ruling coalition government yesterday.” (World Markets Research Centre (26 August 2008) Sharif’s Party Quits Ruling Alliance as Government Bans Pakistani Taliban Bajpaee, Chietigj) This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Refugee Documentation Centre within time constraints. This response is not and does not purport to be conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please read in full all documents referred to. References: Agence France Presse (9 March 2008) Pakistan parties agree to form government http://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/nexis (Accessed 1 May 2009) BBC News (26 August 2008) Plea for Pakistan coalition unity http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asi a/7581520.stm (Accessed 1 May 2009) South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) of the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) (25 February 2008) Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz agree to form coalition Government; Pakistan People's Party emerges as single largest party in election results; 19 people killed in country-wide elections http://www.ein.org.uk/members/country/print.shtml?cmd[113]=x-113-235181 (Accessed 1 May 2009) Time (22 March 2008) Pakistan's PPP Chooses Premier Robinson, Simon http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1724968,00.html (Accessed 1 May 2009) US Department of State (25 February 2009) 2008 Human Rights Report: Pakistan http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/sca/119139.htm (Accessed 1 May 2009) Voice of America (21 February 2008) Pakistani Opposition to Begin Forming Coalition Government http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-02/2008-02-21- voa6.cfm?CFID=189308365&CFTOKEN=78937862&jsessionid=6630a5a054194 1495780c6e5a3b617d106d7 (Accessed 1 May 2009) World Markets Research Centre (26 August 2008) Sharif’s Party Quits Ruling Alliance as Government Bans Pakistani Taliban Bajpaee, Chietigj http://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/nexis (Accessed 1 May 2009) Sources Consulted: BBC News Electronic Immigration Network Google International Crisis Group LexisNexis Refugee Documentation Centre Query Database UK Home Office US Department of State .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Pakistan: Death Plot Against Human Rights Lawyer, Asma Jahangir
    UA: 164/12 Index: ASA 33/008/2012 Pakistan Date: 7 June 2012 URGENT ACTION DEATH PLOT AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER Leading human rights lawyer and activist Asma Jahangir fears for her life, having just learned of a plot by Pakistan’s security forces to kill her. Killings of human rights defenders have increased over the last year, many of which implicate Pakistan’s Inter- Service Intelligence agency (ISI). On 4 June, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) alerted Amnesty International to information it had received of a plot by Pakistan’s security forces to kill HRCP founder and human rights lawyer Asma Jahangir. As Pakistan’s leading human rights defender, Asma Jahangir has been threatened many times before. However news of the plot to kill her is altogether different. The information available does not appear to have been intentionally circulated as means of intimidation, but leaked from within Pakistan’s security apparatus. Because of this, Asma Jahangir believes the information is highly credible and has therefore not moved from her home. Please write immediately in English, Urdu, or your own language, calling on the Pakistan authorities to: Immediately provide effective security to Asma Jahangir. Promptly conduct a full investigation into alleged plot to kill her, including all individuals and institutions suspected of being involved, including the Inter-Services Intelligence agency. Bring to justice all suspected perpetrators of attacks on human rights defenders, in trials that meet international fair trial standards and
    [Show full text]
  • Islamist Politics in South Asia After the Arab Spring: Parties and Their Proxies Working With—And Against—The State
    RETHINKING POLITICAL ISLAM SERIES August 2015 Islamist politics in South Asia after the Arab Spring: Parties and their proxies working with—and against—the state WORKING PAPER Matthew J. Nelson, SOAS, University of London SUMMARY: Mainstream Islamist parties in Pakistan such as the Jama’at-e Islami and the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam have demonstrated a tendency to combine the gradualism of Brotherhood-style electoral politics with dawa (missionary) activities and, at times, support for proxy militancy. As a result, Pakistani Islamists wield significant ideological influence in Pakistan, even as their electoral success remains limited. About this Series: The Rethinking Political Islam series is an innovative effort to understand how the developments following the Arab uprisings have shaped—and in some cases altered—the strategies, agendas, and self-conceptions of Islamist movements throughout the Muslim world. The project engages scholars of political Islam through in-depth research and dialogue to provide a systematic, cross-country comparison of the trajectory of political Islam in 12 key countries: Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Libya, Pakistan, as well as Malaysia and Indonesia. This is accomplished through three stages: A working paper for each country, produced by an author who has conducted on-the-ground research and engaged with the relevant Islamist actors. A reaction essay in which authors reflect on and respond to the other country cases. A final draft incorporating the insights gleaned from the months of dialogue and discussion. The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and policy solutions. Its mission is to conduct high-quality, independent research and, based on that research, to provide innovative, practical recommendations for policymakers and the public.
    [Show full text]
  • Pakistan: Arrival and Departure
    01-2180-2 CH 01:0545-1 10/13/11 10:47 AM Page 1 stephen p. cohen 1 Pakistan: Arrival and Departure How did Pakistan arrive at its present juncture? Pakistan was originally intended by its great leader, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, to transform the lives of British Indian Muslims by providing them a homeland sheltered from Hindu oppression. It did so for some, although they amounted to less than half of the Indian subcontinent’s total number of Muslims. The north Indian Muslim middle class that spearheaded the Pakistan movement found itself united with many Muslims who had been less than enthusiastic about forming Pak- istan, and some were hostile to the idea of an explicitly Islamic state. Pakistan was created on August 14, 1947, but in a decade self-styled field marshal Ayub Khan had replaced its shaky democratic political order with military-guided democracy, a market-oriented economy, and little effective investment in welfare or education. The Ayub experiment faltered, in part because of an unsuccessful war with India in 1965, and Ayub was replaced by another general, Yahya Khan, who could not manage the growing chaos. East Pakistan went into revolt, and with India’s assistance, the old Pakistan was bro- ken up with the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. The second attempt to transform Pakistan was short-lived. It was led by the charismatic Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who simultaneously tried to gain control over the military, diversify Pakistan’s foreign and security policy, build a nuclear weapon, and introduce an economic order based on both Islam and socialism.
    [Show full text]
  • Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Former President Asif
    Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari jointly performed ground-breaking of the US 1.6 billion dollar Thar Coal Mining & Power Project of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC)on Friday, 31st January, 2014 at Thar Coalfield Block-II near Islamkot. The project of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company will initially provide 660 MW of power for Pakistan’s energy starved industrial units. It will complete in 2017 and help spur economic development and bring energy security to the country. The two leaders of PMLN and PPP performed the ground-breaking of the project that will be carried out by Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) - a joint venture between Government of Sindh and Engro Corp. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in his address said the launch of the project along with Asif Ali Zardari, had sent a message across that the political leadership should be united when it comes to the development of the country. He said this political trend must be set in Pakistan now and the leaders need to think about the country first regardless of their differences. He thanked former President Asif Zardari for inviting him to the ground-breaking of the Thar Coal project and said it was a matter of satisfaction that “we all are together and have the same priorities. Anyone who believes in the development of Pakistan, would be pleased that the country’s political leadership is together on this national event.” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif termed the Thar Coal project a big national development project and suggested that the coal for all projects in Gaddani should be supplied from Thar.
    [Show full text]
  • Political Development, the People's Party of Pakistan and the Elections of 1970
    University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 1973 Political development, the People's Party of Pakistan and the elections of 1970. Meenakshi Gopinath University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses Gopinath, Meenakshi, "Political development, the People's Party of Pakistan and the elections of 1970." (1973). Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014. 2461. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/2461 This thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FIVE COLLEGE DEPOSITORY POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT, THE PEOPLE'S PARTY OF PAKISTAN AND THE ELECTIONS OF 1970 A Thesis Presented By Meenakshi Gopinath Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS June 1973 Political Science POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT, THE PEOPLE'S PARTY OF PAKISTAN AND THE ELECTIONS OF 1970 A Thesis Presented By Meenakshi Gopinath Approved as to style and content hy: Prof. Anwar Syed (Chairman of Committee) f. Glen Gordon (Head of Department) Prof. Fred A. Kramer (Member) June 1973 ACKNOWLEDGMENT My deepest gratitude is extended to my adviser, Professor Anwar Syed, who initiated in me an interest in Pakistani poli- tics. Working with such a dedicated educator and academician was, for me, a totally enriching experience. I wish to ex- press my sincere appreciation for his invaluable suggestions, understanding and encouragement and for synthesizing so beautifully the roles of Friend, Philosopher and Guide.
    [Show full text]
  • Pakistan's Deteriorating Economic Situation
    ISA S Insights No. 128 – 10 August 2011 469A Bukit Timah Road #07-01, Tower Block, Singapore 259770 Tel: 6516 6179 / 6516 4239 Fax: 6776 7505 / 6314 5447 Email: [email protected] Website: www.isas.nus.edu.sg Pakistan’s Deteriorating Economic Situation: How Much of it is Caused by Politics? Shahid Javed Burki1 Abstract Pakistan’s economy is in a state of deep crisis, the worst in its troubled history. While some natural disasters – an earthquake in 2005 and floods in 2010 – contributed to the poor performance of the economy, much of it was the result of weak management by the civilian government that took office in the spring of 2008. The cumulative loss to the economy during the five-year tenure of the current administration may be as high as 16 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). On a number of previous occasions the military intervened when the government in place was deemed to be performing poorly in the economic field. Such an outcome seems unlikely this time around as the military has become conscious of the latent power of the street. This has been demonstrated by the Arab Spring. The country’s youth and the civil society do not want to see the army intervene in politics once again. That said, the current government, as it prepares for the general elections that must be held before the spring of 2013, has adopted a populist approach towards economic management. This includes the recent decision by the central bank to ease the supply of money. This may win votes but may further aggravate the already weak economic situation.
    [Show full text]
  • Pakistan – NWFP – Jamaat-I-Islami – PPP – Political Violence
    Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE Research Response Number: PAK30102 Country: Pakistan Date: 11 April 2006 Keywords: Pakistan – NWFP – Jamaat-i-Islami – PPP – Political Violence This response was prepared by the Country Research Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Questions 1. Have there been any reports of significant political violence in the NWFP involving the Jamaat and the PPP since 2001? RESPONSE 1. Have there been any reports of significant political violence in the NWFP involving the Jamaat and the PPP since 2001? Jamaat and the PPP – reports of violence post-2001 Only two reports could be located in reference to the occurrence of significant political violence between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Jamaat-i-Islami (Jamaat or JI) in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) in recent times. Reporting on the situation in the NWFP during the local elections in August 2005: • A Pakistan Times bulletin states that “activists of PPP and Jamaat-i-Islami [were said to have] entered into clashes on the premises of Primary School Ghorkai and opened crossfire [sic]. The clash claimed two lives and injured another” (‘Polls-related Violence: LB Elections take 33 Lives in Pakistan’ 2005, The Pakistan Times, 26 August http://www.pakistantimes.net/2005/08/26/top.htm – Accessed 6 March 2006 – Attachment 1); • A Dawn bulletin states that “[w]orkers of People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) [had] clashed in union council Banda Gai of tehsil Talash in Lower Dir, but police intervened and brought the situation under control” (‘Low turnout, thin women attendance in NWFP’ 2005, Dawn website, 25 August http://www.dawn.com/2005/08/26/nat1.htm – Accessed 6 March 2006 – Attachment 2).
    [Show full text]
  • President Zardari in China: Cementing Old Ties
    ISAS Insights No. 107 – 16 July 2010 469A Bukit Timah Road #07-01, Tower Block, Singapore 259770 Tel: 6516 6179 / 6516 4239 Fax: 6776 7505 / 6314 5447 Email: [email protected] Website: www.isas.nus.edu.sg President Zardari in China: Cementing Old Ties Shahid Javed Burki 1 Abstract President Asif Ali Zardari's recent visit to China represents a continuation of the relationship between Pakistan and China that was started by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, his father-in-law. Zardari, however, has been pursuing China more aggressively than both Zulfikar Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. He has focused much more on economics and has now taken the initiative to factor in Afghanistan in what might become a trilateral relationship. Introduction The Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari concluded his fifth visit to China since assuming office less than two years ago. He was in China during 6-11 July 2010 and visited Beijing and Shanghai during the period. This was his first state visit as Pakistan’s president. The visit came at a time when Pakistan faces a difficult economic situation and China is engaged in the process of redefining its economic objectives. Under China’s leadership, Asia or most parts of the continent, is catching up with the more advanced countries in the global economy. Sometime soon, China will overtake Japan as the second largest economy in the world after the United States (US). China’s rise will be different for Asia as compared to the earlier rise of Japan. While Japan had anchored its economy in the West, China was focusing to a much greater extent on leading the rest of Asia 1 Shahid Javed Burki is Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, an autonomous research institute at National University of Singapore.
    [Show full text]
  • A Musharraf Order Haunts Pakistan
    ISA S Brief No. 229 – 13 February 2012 469A Bukit Timah Road #07-01, Tower Block, Singapore 259770 Tel: 6516 6179 / 6516 4239 Fax: 6776 7505 / 6314 5447 Email: [email protected] Website: www.isas.nus.edu.sg A Musharraf Order Haunts Pakistan Sajjad Ashraf1 The spectre of Pakistan’s embattled Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani being convicted for contempt of court on 13 February 2012 – for flouting court orders to write to the Swiss authorities to re-open money laundering cases against President Asif Ali Zardari – threatens to plunge the country deeper into a political crisis. Benazir Bhutto, Zardari’s slain wife and a former Prime Minister of Pakistan, was the co-accused in those money laundering cases. It is widely believed that Gilani will now be formally indicted. Earlier, after a two-day preliminary hearing, the court was ‘satisfied prima facie that there is enough case for further proceedings’. Gilani, who ‘had long stood convicted in the court of public opinion, guilty of crimes like incompetence and corruption’ (in the words of the editor of The News), may become the first sitting Prime Minister of Pakistan to be convicted for contempt of court, to be imprisoned and to stand disqualified for public office for five years. The contempt case stems from a ruling by the full-17-member Supreme Court on 16 December 2009 that the Musharraf-promulgated National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) of 5 October 2007 was illegal from the date of promulgation. As is well known, General 1 Ambassador (R) Sajjad Ashraf served as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Singapore from 2004 to 2008.
    [Show full text]
  • “Reconciliation” in Pakistan, 2006-2017: a Critical Reappraisal
    Journal of the Research Society of Pakistan Volume No. 54, Issue No. 2 (July - December 2017) Muhammad Iqbal Chawla ERA OF “RECONCILIATION” IN PAKISTAN, 2006-2017: A CRITICAL REAPPRAISAL Abstract This paper deals with an era of unusual political development which can be described as the „era of reconciliation‟ from 2006 to 2017. This era was unique in Pakistan‟s history because it brought closer all political parties for restoration, protection, and continuation of democracy in Pakistan. However, after a decade this period, sometimes also can be characterized as the era of the Charter of Democracy (COD,) seems to be losing its relevance because of surfacing of anti- democratic forces. Therefore this paper traces the causes, events and the deep impact of the policy of „reconciliation‟ and also touches upon why and how it seems to be coming to an end. As a national leader Benazir Bhutto had political acumen and she propounded the “Philosophy of Reconciliation” after having gone through some bitter political experiences as a Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition. Both Benazir and Mian Nawaz Sharif learnt the lesson when they were sent into their respective exile by General Musharraf. Having learnt their lessons both of them decided upon strengthening the culture of democracy in Pakistan. Benazir not only originated the idea of Reconciliation but also tried to translate her ideas into actions by concluding the „Charter of Democracy‟ (“COD”) with other political parties especially with the Pakistan Muslim League (hereafter “PML (N)”), in 2006”. Introduction Asif Ali Zardari1 as PPP2‟s main leader tried to implement this philosophy after the sudden death of Benazir Buhtto and particularly during his term as President of Pakistan (2008-2013).
    [Show full text]
  • List of Election Symbols Allotted to Political Parties
    116 Election Symbols Alloted to political parties 1 Aam Admi Tehreek Pakistan Mug 181 2 Aam Awam Party Wheat Bunch 322 3 Aam loeg Ittehad Pencil 196 4 Aam Log Party Pakistan Hut 144 5 All Pakistan Kissan ittehad Bulllock Cart 41 6 All Pakistan Minority Movement Pakistan Giraffe 122 7 All Pakistan Muslim League Eagle 93 8 All Pakistan Muslim League (Jinnah) Bicycle 27 9 All Pakistan Tehreek Boat 30 10 Allah-O-Akbar Tehreek Chair 55 11 Amun Taraqqi Party Tyre 309 12 Awam League Human Hand 143 13 Awami Justice Party Pakistan Tumbler 303 14 Awami Muslim League Pakistan Ink pot with Pen 146 15 Awami National Party Lantern 162 16 Awami Party Pakistan-S Aeroplane 2 17 Awami Workers Party Bulb 40 18 Balochistan Awami Party Cow 70 19 Balochistan National Party Axe 14 20 Balochistan National Party(Awami) Camel 49 21 Barabri Party Pakistan Pen 195 22 Front National Pakistan Unity 311 23 Grand Democratic Alliance Star 259 24 Hazara Democratic Party Crescent 72 25 Humdardan-e-Watan Pakistan Coat 61 26 Islami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan Football 108 27 Islami Tehreek Pakistan Two Sword 307 28 Ittehad-e-Ummat Pakistan Energy Saver 99 29 Jamat-e-Islami Pakistan Scale 232 30 Jamhoori Watan Party Wheel 323 31 Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Nazaryati Pakistan Takhti 274 32 Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan Book 31 33 Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Noorani) Key 154 34 Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam Pakistan (Imam Chitrali Cap 59 Noorani) 35 Jamiyat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan(S) Ladder 161 36 Jamote Qaumi Movement Electric Pol 95 37 Jannat Pakistan Party Fountain 111 38 Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen
    [Show full text]
  • Biographies of Main Political Leaders of Pakistan
    Biographies of main political leaders of Pakistan INCUMBENT POLITICAL LEADERS ASIF ALI ZARDARI President of Pakistan since 2008 Asif Ali Zardari is the eleventh and current President of Pa- kistan. He is the Co-Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a role he took on following the demise of his wife, Benazir Bhutto. Zardari rose to prominence in 1987 after his marriage to Benazir Bhutto, holding cabinet positions in both the 1990s PPP governments, and quickly acquired a reputation for corrupt practices. He was arrested in 1996 after the dismissal of the second government of Bena- zir Bhutto, and remained incarcerated for eight years on various charges of corruption. Released in 2004 amid ru- mours of reconciliation between Pervez Musharraf and the PPP, Zardari went into self-imposed exile in Dubai. He re- turned in December 2007 following Bhutto’s assassination. In 2008, as Co-Chairman of PPP he led his party to victory in the general elections. He was elected as President on September 6, 2008, following the resignation of Pervez Musharraf. His early years in power were characterised by widespread unrest due to his perceived reluctance to reinstate the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (who had been dismissed during the Musharraf imposed emergency of 2007). However, he has also overseen the passage of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution which effectively www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk reduced presidential powers to that of a ceremonial figure- Asif Ali Zardari, President head. He remains, however, a highly controversial figure and continues to be dogged by allegations of corruption. Mohmmad government as Minister of Housing and Public Works.
    [Show full text]