Politics of Opposition in Pakistan (1977-88)
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Politics of Opposition in Pakistan (1977-88) PhD Thesis Research Scholar: Abdul Qadir Mushtaq Department of History Government College University, Lahore To My Father Maher Mushtaq Ahmed Khan (Late) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT All praises and thanks for ALMIGHTY ALLAH, Merciful and compassionate who gave me health, thought, affectionate parents, talented teachers and courage of friends to present this piece of research work. I pay homage to Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) who is forever source of guidance in every sphere of life. I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim. His efforts make my work most feasible. Without his encouragement, interest and support, I would not have been able to complete this manuscript. I am also very grateful to the Department of History, for providing me the opportunity to conduct a part of research work. I am thankful to all of my teachers especially Dr Farhat Mehmood and Ghulam Ghous, GC University Lahore for their scholarly guidance. I also want to acknowledge Dr Hussain, lecturer History, for his feedback and constant support. No Acknowledgment could ever adequate to express my obligation to my elder brotherShafqat Ullah Mushtaq (Assistant Commissioner) for his strenuous efforts done for me. He has always been very supportive during this research work and his constant discussions and probing questions provided a steady challenge towards improvement of my argument. I am also thankful to my friendTohid Ahmed who arranged interviews for me and gave me company during my visits to different places. He also helped me in collection of material. Finally thanks to all those who taught any single work in my life and my beloved Mushtaq Ahmed Sani, Abdul Haq chalpi, Mahjoor Min Ullah Mushtaq, Mamoor Min Ullah Mushtaq, Abdullah Mushtaqwho prayed for me. May Allah bless them with healthy and prosperous long lives. (Ameen) Abdul Qadir Mushtaq Contents Chapter 1: Rise, Growth and development of Opposition (i) Assassination of Z.A Bhutto (ii) Inhuman treatments with political workers. (iii) Military Courts (iv) Postponement of elections (1977 &1979). (v) Rift within PNA. Chapter 2: United front and Movement for Restoration of Democracy (i) MRD was an alliance of nine political parties. Muslim Fundamentalist opposition parties like JUI (ii) Centrist opposition Parties like Muslim League (iii) Nationalist Opposition parties like NAP (iv) Leftist political Parties like Qoumi Mahaz Azadi, Mazdour Kassan Party, PPP. (v) Demand of free and fair elections (vi) Referendum and political parties (vii) Activities of Al-Zulfiqar and high jacking of Pakistani Plane Chapter 3: Non Party Based Elections- 1985 (i) stance of MRD (ii) Pro-Government candidates (iii) National Assembly (iv) Senate (v) Provincial Assemblies Chapter 4: Internal Issues of Pakistan and Opposition (i) Process of Islamization. (ii) Ojhri arms depot blast (iii) Law and Order (Sindh, Bomb blasts in Frontier) Chapter 5: Foreign Policy of Pakistan and Opposition (i) Relations with India a. Sikh Issue b. Cricket Diplomacy c. Nuclear Ambitions (ii) Afghan Muddle (iii) Relations With USA Chapter 6: Opposition and the Constitutional Amendments. (i) PCO 1981 (ii) 8th Amendment (iii) Islamic Political Order 1983 (iv) Political Parties (Amendment) Bill Conclusion Abbreviations APCL: All Pakistan Confederation of Labour C.C. Central Committee COP: Combined Opposition Parties CCP: Communist Party of Pakistan DSF: Democratic Student Front MKP: Mazdoor Kisan Party MSF: Muslim Student Federation NAP: National Awami Party NDP: National Democratic Party PDM: Pakistan Democratic Movement PNA: Pakistan National Alliance PPP: Pakistan People‟s Party PSP: Pakistan Socialist Party PTUF: Pakistan Trade Union Federation PWP: Pakistan Worker‟s Party Any fool can solve the problems of Government through Martial Law, but only a fool can regard that is the process of government (Leo yemum) Introduction The political history of Pakistan has absorbed the characteristics of unnecessary delay in constitution making, breakdowns of constitutional order, political instability, military rule and the efforts of the revival of political governments. There is a long history of constitutional development in Pakistan due to civil military oligarchy which not only created hurdles in the formulation of the constitution but also abrogated the constitution of 1956. Later on the military dictators devised his constitution and prolonged the rule as he could. It was astonishing that the first general elections were held in Pakistan in1970 that injected the confidence in the democratic forces. The politicians gave a new impetus to the state with the formulation of the constitution of 1973. The elected government laid the foundation of nuclear program and made strenuous efforts to unite the Muslim World at one plate form. It is dismal that these strenuous efforts could not create hindrances on the way of Zia coup. Z.A.Bhutto gained roots within the masses due to his popular slogans and deep rooted policies. The fear of Bhutto‟s popularity compelled the Zia government to take drastic measures against Z.A.Bhutto. For this purpose the military courts were established and the political workers were detained and trialed in courts. After the assassination of Bhutto, an opposition was developed against Zia and with the passage of time it used to stand on strong footings. The democratic forces always exist in every kind of government and no doubt they have also faced the music. The military government promoted the sectarian and regional feelings in the masses, so that the unity of opposition may be shattered on sectarian and regional bases and for this purposes, the political parties were established on sectarian and regional bases. This policy embroiled the people in minor issues and they remained busy in confrontations on sectarian bases. Zia era exploited the sentiments of the people with the slogan of Islamization in Pakistan and put democracy in the bucket of Islamic reforms. He left no stone unturned in delaying constitution at maximum level. Even he tried to ban the political activities on the name of accountability. Those religio-political parties who did not have vote bank at the grass root level encouraged the Zia government and supported military regime. Zia used anti- PPP outlook for his advantage and Jamaat-i-Islami due to its ideological differences with PPP stood with Zia. When the democratic forces felt the bad intentions of military dictator, they gathered at the plate form of MRD and demanded the free and fair elections. The pressure of the opposition parties compelled Zia to announce non-party based elections. In these elections, the pro-Zia parties were miserably defeated and could not gain majority in any area of Pakistan. It was the evident that people disliked their tilt towards Zia regime. The members who have been elected in the elections of 1985 formed the parliament and a new kind of opposition was developed within the houses of National and Provincial Assemblies. These assemblies could not work for a long time due to obnoxious designs of Zia. Within this short span of time, the members justified the rule of dictator with the approval of the constitutional amendments. A lot of books have been written on the period of General Zia-ul-Haq and his policies have been discussed and criticized but on the specific topic of the role opposition has not been discussed. The survey of literature is presented to prove the worth of the pioneering work. The book “Pakistan In Crisis” was written by Ashok Kapur. It highlights the policies of Zia government towards the religious parties and also discusses how Zia exploits the religious emotions for consolidating his rule. It exposed the intentions of Zia in conducting the elections and the reaction of the political parties in the shape of MRD. This book is also related to the soft corner of Jamaat-i-Islami for the policies of dictator. It also makes clear the Army‟s pre-eminent position in political and constitutional affaris of Pakistan. But it does not discuss the politics of Bidanda M. Chengapa in his Pakistan, Islamization, Army and Foreign Policy, divided the politics of Zia in three distinct phases, one is the interim period 1977 to 79 in which JI and PML (Pagero) retained their utility for the Zia regime and Zia used anti PPP outlook for his advantage. During this interim period, he also exploited the Islamic sentiments. Chengapa declared second period a phase of consolidation in which Zia introduced Islamic type of democracy but on the other hand the majority of the political parties demanded the free and fair elections. The writer also discusses the politics and formation of MRD. During this period, constitutional amendments also strengthened the rule of Zia. The writer declared the third period “Post Martial Law Phase” in which Zia used Islam against democracy. During this period, he introduced Blasphemy law and sharia ordinance. Hamid Khan, Constitutional and Political History of Pakistan, highlights the major events of Zia era like the assassination of Z.A.Bhutto, role of judiciary in strengthening the dictator, delaying dactictics in holding elections, obnoxious role of Jamaat-i-Islami, formation of MRD, constitutional amendments, elections of 1985 and the death of Zia. But this book has also ignored the role of opposition leaders in the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies. The role of MRD for the free and fair elections has not been discussed in detail. It also lacks of critical analysis on the policies of regionalism and provincialism introduced by the Zia government. The writer presents the issues but not in detail. Pakistan Political Roots and Development 1947-1999 by Safdar Mahmood discuss the important role PNA against the rigging the elections of 1977. He elaborates the division of Muslim League into different groups on the issue of cooperation with the military ruler. Pakistan Muslim League worked under the government supervision and an alliance was established by Zia with the help of PML (P) and JI.