Democratic Era 1988-99
Q Describe General Pervez Musharraf’s coup. [4]
1999, Nawaz tried to blame Kashmir retreat on Pervez Musharraf but not accepted. Nawaz
Sharif tried to sack him when he was visiting Sri Lanka and not allowing him to return to
Pakistan. His army staff overthrew Nawaz Sharif and Pervez Musharraf returned and put
Pakistan under military rule. A bloodless coup, life allowed to get on as normal.
(c) How successful was Benazir Bhutto as Prime Minister of Pakistan in the years 1988–90
and 1993–96?
Successes
1988–90
• First woman to head a government of a Muslim nation
• Secured transfer of already purchased US weapons
• Ended a ban on trade unions and released political prisoners, restored students’ unions
• Pakistan re-joined the Commonwealth and hosted the 4th SAARC which ended with
Pakistan and India signing 3 peace agreements
• Visited USA.
1993–96
• Entered into co-operative arrangements with United States re United Nations’
peacekeeping operations. 5000 troops to Somalia
• Some reduction in Pakistan’s trade deficit
• Slight rise in foreign exchange reserves
• Loan and grant assistance from World Bank and IMF
• United States lifted economic and military sanctions
• Hillary Clinton visited Pakistan.
Failures
1988–90
• Conflict with Nawaz Sharif and problems with relations with growth of Separatist
movements
• Difference over appointment of judges amongst others between Bhutto and President
Ghulan Ishaq
• No confidence motion by opposition – failed but damaging
• Inflation and unemployment
• Drug trafficking
• Use of family members in government
• Problems in Kashmir/India
• Inept visit to Kuwait on eve of Iraqi invasion.
1993–96
• Kashmir tension
• Family feuding. Bhutto’s brother murdered in 1996
• Nawaz Sharif and opposition demonstrations
• Prosecution of opposition members
• Terrorism/bombings 1995. 2000 people murdered
• Unemployment/inflation
• Unrest in army/arrest of 40 army officers in 1995
• Chief Minister of Punjab dismissed
• IMF concerns 1996 follows devaluation of Pakistan rupee. Balance of payments worsened
(Q) Why did Nawaz Sharif fall from office in 1993?
• He attempted to solve Pakistan’s unemployment problem by providing cheap loans to
men to buy taxis that he had imported. Few of the loans were repaid which put a strain on
the economy.
• This was made worse when he tried to finance major investment projects that
depended upon foreign aid especially from the USA. This aid was in decline and placed a
severe strain on Pakistan’s finances.
• The closure of a major bank also made matters worse. As a result of these policies
Sharif and his government were blamed. The mismanagement of the Cooperative societies
led to millions of Pakistanis losing their money and again the government was blamed. In
particular his family’s association with loans that were made led to his image being harmed.
• Violence in Pakistan that related to drugs and the use of guns led to a strong
response from Sharif but his actions were criticized by the opposition parties for being too
repressive.
• Sharif came into conflict with the President over the appointment of an army chief of
staff and also with the Eighth Amendment. Sharif was dismissed on charges of corruption.
(Q) What problems did Benazir Bhutto face as Prime Minister of Pakistan? [4]
1988-90, 1993-96. Faced opposition from politicians who wanted her to fail, Husband Zardari
accused of corruption, divisions within her party (PPP), IJI criticised government of being
close to USA. Confrontations with provincial govts, violent protests, Coalition party MQM
joined with IJI, Pucca Qila massacre
(Q) Why did Benazir Bhutto fall from office for a second time in 1996?
• She was opposed by all sides, her own party the PPP and especially from her mother
and brother who was eventually killed by police in Karachi. This was the last straw for the
president as rumours blamed opposition and government involvement in the killing.
• Nawaz Sharif mounted a personal attack on Bhutto focussing on her business
interests and political methods and also held rallies and demonstrations in several cities.
• There was much violence and killing as a result which reflected badly on her
government.
• Her husband Zardari was rumored to be involved in shady business dealings that
undermined her position.
• Pakistan’s economic problems led to a request for a loan from the IMF which led to
strict financial controls that were blamed on the government. Finally the government refused
to carry out the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss 20 judges appointed by the government
which caused a political crisis.
• The dismissal of the Chief Minister in the Punjab after he had upset the PPP also
attracted much criticism of Bhutto’s handling of the matter.
(Q) What problems did Nawaz Sharif face as Prime Minister during the 1990s? [4]
Divided nation, supporters of BB wanted him to fail, difficult to promote economic progress
and religious ideas at same time, lost USA aid, accused of involvement in death of Asif
Nawaz, army Commander-in-Chief, dismissed, lost aid and support form other nations in
2ndterm of office following nuclear testing, failures in fighting in Kashmir – blamed
Musharraf, whom he tried to sack. Overthrown.
(Q) Why did General Musharraf come to power in 1999?
• Sharif was giving support for the Taliban in Afghanistan and this damaged relations
with USA, as they refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, suspected of bombing the US
embassy in Kenya.
• Pakistan also tested nuclear weapons, which angered a number of countries who
then halted aid to Pakistan and brought Sharif much criticism.
• He also blamed Musharraf for the embarrassing retreat from the fighting in Kashmir.
The army refused to accept this criticism. Sharif tried to sack Musharraf whilst he was
visiting Sri Lanka and, as a result, the army decided to intervene in the government and
overthrew Sharif.
Q What was the Pucca Qila massacre? [4]
May 1990, in Hyderabad, 40 supporters of MQM killed by police. Women and children
included. Such violence led to the President (Ghulam Ishaq Khan) dismissing her
government in August 1990.
Q Why did Benazir Bhutto fall from office in 1990? [7]
• She was criticised by many for the alleged corruption of her husband Asif Ali Zardari
and PPP leaders were suspected of being involved; this tainted her own reputation.
• She came into confrontation with provincial governments especially as she had to
work in a coalition with the MQM which was a party that represented Muslims who had
migrated from India to Pakistan and settled in Sindh. This angered many PPP members in
Sindh. Violent protests throughout Pakistan led to the MQM leaving the coalition and joining
with the opposition which meant that her majority was gone.
• Further violence and deaths led to her dismissal because she and her government
were blamed for the breakdown of law and order.
