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POLITICAL HISTORY OF PAKISTAN
Muhammad Naeem Zafar
Pakistan a newly born state in south Asia was the result of a political struggle. Its political history from
1947 to 2022 may be divided into different eras.
➢ 1947 – 1958
➢ 1958 – 1969
➢ 1969 – 1971
➢ 1971 – 1977
➢ 1977 – 1988
➢ 1988 – 1999
➢ 1999 – 2008
➢ 2008 – 2022
1947 – 1958
With effect from 14 August 1947, the Government of India act 1935, with certain adaptations became
the working constitutions of Pakistan. Mr. Jinnah became Governor General and Liaquat Ali Khan
was the Prime Minister. All vital policy decisions were being taken by Mr. Jinnah till his death on 11
September 1948. Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din was second Governor General but policy steps were being
taken by Liaquat Ali Khan. After Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan was popular with the masses but some
political forces were aligned against him that resulted the formation of twenty one 21 political parties.
Liaquat Ali Khan had put Pakistan on the road to progress when he was assassinated on 16 October
1951 in Rawalpindi. The assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan was followed by a period of political
instability that six prime minister served during the 7 years.
Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din stepped down as Governor General to become the second Prime Minister.
Malik Ghulam Muhammad was new Governor General who had given himself over riding powers.
Malik Ghulam Muhammad dismissed Khawaja Nazim as prime minister on 17 April 1954 and
Muhammad Ali Bogra was new Prime Minister. The running Muslim League was defeated by the
“JUGTO FRONT” (United Front) in East Pakistan in 1954 provincial elections. The governor general

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dissolve the Constituent Assembly on 24 October 1954. The speaker of the Assembly challenged the
action in the Sindh High court that upheld the stand of the speaker. But the federal court decided in the
favour of the governor general on 10 May 1955. Muhammad Ali Bogra was without a popular base
and was eased out of office on 10 August 1955. The new Prime Minister, Chaudhary Muhammad Ali
was a bureaucrat. Chaudhary Muhammad Ali was first Prime Minister to give Pakistan a
constitution that was imposed on 23 March 1956. But he was forced to resign on 8 September 1956.
The next Prime Minister Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy was a seasoned politician. On 18 October
1957, Suhrawardy was replaced by Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar who remain for a short term since
16 December 1957. He resigned over the question on separate or joint elections. The next Prime
Minister Sir Feroz Khan Noon remained Prime Minister from December 1957 to 7 October 1958 and
this democratic but unstable era was ended by Pakistan's first military coup.
1958 – 1969
On 7 October 1958, Martial Law was announced (proclaimed, imposed) by the President Sikandar
Mirza. The Military Chief General Muhammad Ayoub Khan was appointed as Chief Martial law
Administrator (CMLA) on 27 October 1958, he exiled Sikandar Mirza and occupied the office of the
president.
Ayoub Khan introduced a system of indirect elections called Basic Democracies System (BDS).
These 80,000 (1,20,000 after 1967) BD members would be directly elected to form the electoral
college. These basic democrats would then elect the president and there after the members of National
and Provincial Assemblies. These BDs would also run local government and union councils. On 8
June 1962, president Ayoub khan lifted Martial Law and promulgated Pakistan's second constitution,
which was presidential.
The presidential elections were held in 1965. Miss Fatima Jinnah was chosen as presidential
candidate by Combined Opposition Parties (COP) against Ayoub Khan. Ayoub Khan won with a
majority of 64%. An Anti-Ayoub mass movement was started in the last of 1966 after “TASHKENT
TREATY”. The movement was sustained for three years leading ultimately to Ayoub’s resignation on
25 March 1969.

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1969 – 1971
On March 25, 1969, Ayoub Khan (Field Martial) abrogate the 1962 constitution and transferred the
offices of Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA) and president to General Yahya Khan. He
temporarily banned all political activities. On 28 November 1969, he announced the dissolution of the
one unit, the restoration of the three West Pakistan provinces and the creation of Baluchistan province.
“Legal Framework Order” (LFO) was promulgated on 30 March 1970.
The first general elections on the basis of direct and universal adult franchise were held on 7 December
1970. In East Pakistan, Awami League won 167 out of 169 seats while Pakistan People’s Party
(PPP) got 8l out of 144 seats allotted to the provinces of West Pakistan. But there was a crisis to the
course of ethnic violence. Cross-border terrorism was started in East Pakistan with Indian help to
“MUKTI BAHNI”, the Bengali Militant Cadre that was organized and was being trained by the
Indian government. East Pakistan was separated on 16 December 1971. Yahya Khan attempted to
retain power even after the fall of Dhaka but 20 December 1971 he was forced to resign.
1971 – 1977
On 20 December 1971, the office of the Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA) and President was
transferred to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. The “SIMLA ACCORD” was signed between India and Pakistan
on 2 July 1972.
The third constitution of Pakistan was formally came into force on 14 August 1973. Chaudhary Fazal
Elahi was sworn in as President and Bhutto became the Prime Minister. Bhutto laid the foundation of
the nuclear programme which enabled Pakistan to become a nuclear power. In March 1977, general
elections were held and the PPP became the majority party. The Pakistan National Alliance (PNA)
refused to accept the results claiming that the polls had been rigged. A mass movement was launched
against Bhutto. The table talk was started between government and opposition. The PPP and PNA had
reached an agreement but General Zia-Ul-Haq, the Military Chief imposed martial law on 5 July
1977.

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1977 – 1988
General Zia-Ul-Haq, became the head of state as CMLA on 5 July 1977, and after that he became
President. He banned the political activities. The political parties made an alliance, Movement for the
Restoration of Democracy (MRD) against Zia-Ul-Haq. General Zia-Ul-Haq held a referendum on
his President ship. In February 1985, non-party elections were held and Muhammad Khan Junejo
was nominated as Prime Minister on 23 March 1985. The 58 clause of eight amendment empowered
the President to dismiss and dissolve the assembly. On 31 December 1985 martial law was lifted but
Zia-Ul-Haq remained President as well as Chief of Army Staff. On 17 August 1988, Zia-Ul-Haq was
killed in an air crash. The chairman of senate Ghulam Ishaq Khan became President.
1988 – 1999
In November 1988 elections the Pakistan People’s Party emerged with the largest numbers of seats.
On 03 December 1988, Benazir Bhutto became Prime Minister. On 01 November 1989, a non-
confidence motion was started against Prime Minister but ended in a failure. A conflict between the
president and the Prime Minister was started in 1990 which had its drop scene on 06 August 1990;
When the President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dismissed the government and the National Assembly. The
leader of opposition in National Assembly, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi was appointed as caretaker Prime
Minister.
In the general elections held in October 1990, the Islami Jamhori Ittehad (IJI) took majority.
Pakistan Democrat Alliance was the losing Alliance. Mian Nawaz Sharif was elected Prime minister
with two third majority. Ghulam Ishaq Khan remained president. The relationship between the
President and Prime Minister had been cordial, but it turned sour in 1993.
On April 1993, Ishaq Khan ordered to dissolve the National Assembly and dismissed the Prime
Minister and his cabinet. Mir Balakh Sher Mazari was caretaker Prime Minister. On 26 May 1993,
the Supreme Court restored the Assembly and Prime Minister. President Ghulam Ishaq Khan stuck to
office despite this judicial rebuff, but a situation in which the relations between the President and the
Prime Minister were openly strained was proving detrimental to the state and on 18 July 1993, each
had to resign his office. Wasim Sajjad, the chairman of senate became President and Moin Qureshi
as caretaker Prime Minister. The elections were held on 6 October 1993 and PPP became majority
party. With the help of independent members and small parties, Benazir Bhutto became Prime

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Minister on 19 October 1993. Farooq Laghari of PPP became the President. In 1996, differences had
been rowing between the President Laghari and Prime Minister which resulted the dissolution of
National Assembly and dismissing of the government on 4 November 1996. Meraj Khalid was
appointed caretaker Prime Minister.
According to the results of general elections held on 3 February 1997, the PML (N) won a two third
majority in the National Assembly and Nawaz Sharif became Prime Minister. Justice (R) Rafiq
Tarar was the president. During this Nawaz era the thirteenth amendment was made by the parliament
which proved to be the end of the eighth amendment. On 12 October 1999, Nawaz Sharif dismissed
Pervaiz Musharraf as Army Chief but it was not accepted.
1999 – 2008
After 12 October 1999, it was first military regime which did not declare Martial Law and General
Pervaiz became Chief Executive. On 20 June 2001, he assumed the office of President after obtaining
the resignation of President Rafiq Tarar by force. Pervaiz Musharraf held a referendum to confirm
himself as President on 30 April 2002. It was a so-called referendum. In October 2002, general
elections were held but General Pervaiz did not transfer power to the parliament. The first Prime
Minister under Pervaiz Musharraf was Zafarullah Jamali who held office from 29 November 2002
to 26 June 2004. Then Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain Served as Prime Minister for 45 days. Shaukat
Aziz remained Prime Minister from August 2004 to 2007. On 27 December 2007, PPP leader Benazir
Bhutto was assassinated at Rawalpindi.
2008 – 2022
The general elections were held on 13 February 2008. PPP and PML (N) reached a power sharing
agreement and PPP made a government in coalition with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam JUI (F) and Awami
National Party (ANP) on 24 March 2008. Yousaf Raza Gillani was elected as Prime Minister and
Pervaiz Musharraf remained the President. The coalition between PPP and PML (N) broke on 25
August 2008 but PPP government sustained itself. On 9 September 2008, Asif Ali Zardari became
President. Gillani leave the premiership on the order of Supreme Court in 2012. In 2012 Raja Pervaiz
Ashraf was new Prime Minister. In 2013 the tenure of the government was completed. On 25 March

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2013, Mir Hazar Khan became caretaker Prime Minister. New elections were held, PML (N) won the
elections and Nawaz Sharif was elected as Prime Minister. In September 2013 President Asif Ali
Zardari was replaced by Mamnoon Hussain. In 2017 Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif and
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was new Prime Minister. In 2018 Justice (R) Nasir-Ul-Mulk was appointed
as caretaker Prime Minister. New elections were held in 2018 which were won by Pakistan Tehreek-
e-Insaf (PTI) and Imran Khan was new Prime Minister. Dr Arif Alvi was elected as President after
Mamnoon Hussain. In March 2022 a No Confidence Motion was presented against Imran Khan that
became successful and Shahbaz Sharif of PML (N) became Prime Minister on April 11 , 2022
through a constitutional and democratic process.