PAKISTAN IN THE FINAL DECADES OF THE 20TH CENTURY
Background:
• Benazir Bhutto was the eldest daughter and the first child of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
• She was born at Karachi in 1953.
• In 1973, she graduated from Harvard University and enrolled at Oxford University.
• She also did her post-graduation from Oxford University.
• In 1977, she returned to Pakistan.
• Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto wanted his daughter to contest in the elections of 1977, but she was very young, so she served her father as an advisor.
• Zia-ul-Haq demonstrated Martial Law.
• She was imprisoned for over six years but allowed to leave Pakistan in 1984 on medical grounds.
• In 1986, she returned to Pakistan to contest in the election which made Zia-ul-Haq fearful, but he died in a plane crash in 1988.
• After the death of Zia-ul-Haq, Ghulam Ishaq Khan became the acting President of Pakistan and he held the elections.
• She became the first woman Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1988-1990.
• She again chaired as Prime Minister in 1993-1996.
• She was assassinated in 2007 in Karachi.
Policies of Benazir Bhutto:
• During the first tenure of the premiership, she was immature and young.
• However, during her second tenure, her approach was different.
Foreign Policy:
• Benazir during her premiership of 1993-1996 visited various countries.
• She wanted to bring the world's attention towards the Kashmir issues and the atrocities of India in Kashmir.
• She worked her best to strengthen the relationship between Pakistan and the United States as during the rule of Nawaz Sharif the ties between the two countries were not friendly.
• The United States pressurized Benazir Bhutto to abandon Pakistan's nuclear program but despite her wish to strengthen ties with the US, she did not show any flexibility in this matter.
• Benazir’s efforts resulted in the lift of economic and military sanctions from the country by the US.
• During her second tenure, she also showed her wish to form a stable and friendly relationship with India.
• In 1988, she held the 4th SAARC Conference in Islamabad, all member countries attended the conference including India that helped in improving ties with the country.
Economic Reforms:
• Benazir Bhutto focused on expanding the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment).
• Her government also took some restructured measures to reduce defense expenditures, increase and improve tax collection and to reduce the budget deficit.
• She also imposed a tax on agriculture.
• Despite all these, she failed to do something real to generate the revenue or to control the expenses as a result during her second tenure the tax of Pakistan was 80 percent more than its GDP.
Political Reforms:
• Restored democracy and political system in the country.
• Ended the ban that Zia-ul-Haq imposed on student unions and trade.
• She freed the prisoners that Zia-ul-Haq captured to make her rule a successful one.
• By restoring democracy, she also gave the people of Pakistan freedom of speech.
Social Reforms:
• She established the first women bank in Pakistan, created job opportunities for women and protected their rights in a male dominant society.
Military Reforms:
• She started an Integrated Research Program on missile development.
• With the cooperation of China first military satellite was developed known as “Badr-1”.
• Her efforts gave Pakistan military a satellite surveillance system.
Shortcomings of Benazir’s Rule (both tenures):
False Promises:
• Her policies failed to acknowledge the problems concerning health, inflation, unemployment and education sector even though during her election campaign she pledged to resolve these issues.
Conflict with Ghulam Ishaq Khan:
• She had serious disagreements with Ghulam Ishaq Khan, the president of Pakistan as she wanted to appoint army chiefs and judges herself to strengthen her rule.
• Her disagreements and conflicts with the president created political instability.
Confrontation with Nawaz Sharif:
• The government of the People Party under Benazir Bhutto's rule remained confrontational with the opposition throughout her second tenure.
• Nawaz Sharif also accused Benazir Bhutto of conspiracy with the president Ghulam Ishaq Khan to overthrow his government in 1993.
• During Nawaz Sharif’s first tenure as Prime Minister, PPP (Pakistan People Party) failed to develop a cordial relationship.
• Since Nawaz Sharif was the Chief Minister of Punjab, his party in opposition returned the favor using political tactics.
• In 1994 - 1995, Nawaz Sharif with the support of President Farooq Ahmed Laghari started a ‘Train March’ from Karachi to Peshawar.