‘’History-P1-Section III Past Papers Questions & Answers’’ 2000-2021 by Dr.

Usman Hameed

Question No. 20:

Describe the main events of Muhammad Khan Junejo’s political career. (4)June 2021 5. a

• Zia-ul-Haq [1] chose him as Prime Minister [1] in 1985 [1] • Muhammad Khan Junejo worked to
develop the new Muslim League party • he called an all-Party Conference [1] in 1988 [1] to discuss
the Afghan situation [1] • he announced an inquiry into an explosion at the army weapons dump/
Ojhri Camp [1] in 1988 [1] promising justice [1] • he was dismissed from office [1] by Zia-ul-Haq [1]
on 29 May 1988 [1]

TOPIC # 27

BENAZIR & NAWAZ SHARIF 1988-1999

QUESTIONS ON BB & NS

Question No.1: What was the Pucca Qila Massacre? (4) June 2010 Q.5 a

Question No.2: Why did Benazir Bhutto fall from office in 1990? (7) Nov.2010 Q. 5 b

Question No.3: What problems did Nawaz Sharif face as Prime Minister during the 1990s? (4) June 2011 Q.5 a

Question No.4: Why did General Mushraff come to power in 1999? (7) Nov.2011 Q.5 b

Question No. 5:
Benazir Bhutto described her return from exile in her book published in 1988 as an emotional one. ‘Hundreds of coloured
balloons soared into the sky as the airport gates opened. Rose petals, not tear gas, filled the air. Garlands of flowers flew
through the air. I saw a girl whose brother had been hanged and threw a garland to her ... Benazir will come, revolution
will come.’
(a) What problems did Benazir Bhutto face as Prime Minister of Pakistan? [4] June 2012 Q. 5 a

Question No. 6: why did Benazir Bhutto fall from office for a second time in 1996? (7) June 2012 Q. 5 b

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Question No 7:
In 1997, Nawaz Sharif came back to power as Prime Minister but he faced many serious problems. Pakistan’s relations
with the USA were damaged because of Pakistan’s support for the Taliban in Afghanistan, and her army was forced to pull
back from territory it had gained in Kargil, Kashmir. Perhaps the greatest threat came from General Pervez Musharraf.
Describe General Pervez Musharraf’s coup. [4] June 2013 Q. 5 a

Question No. 8: Why did Nawaz Sharif fall from office in 1993? (7) Nov. 2013 Q. 5 b

Question No. 9:
During the 1980s, relations between India and Pakistan were fraught with difficulties. The situation in Kashmir was far
from resolved and both sides were developing nuclear weapons. Neither side was willing to sign the Nuclear Proliferation
Treaty. By the 1990s tension was increasing again regarding nuclear weapons and Kashmir. Eventually an attempt was
made to reduce tensions between the two countries by ending nuclear testing and then the Kargil Conflict happened.

What was the Kargil Conflict? [4] June 2014 Q. 5 a

Question 10:
Benazir Bhutto’s government had to deal with accusations of encouraging corruption when she was in office in the late
1980s. Faced with increasing opposition to her rule, she was dismissed from office in 1990 by the President Ghulam Ishaq
Khan. Nawaz Sharif became Prime Minister. He believed he could solve Pakistan’s problems and move away from the
corruption accusations of the previous government. However, he did encounter a number of problems, one of which was
regarding the Co-operative societies.
What was the Co-operative society’s scandal? [4] June 2014 Q. 4 a

Question No. 11:

Benazir Bhutto described her time as Prime Minister as problematic: ‘I found that people opposed me simply on the
grounds that I was a woman. The clerics took to the mosque saying that Pakistan had thrown itself outside the Muslim
world by voting for a woman, that a woman had taken a man’s place in an Islamic society. My opponents reduced
themselves to verbal abuse rather than discuss issues simply because I was a woman.’

(a) Describe the problems caused by family feuds that faced the Benazir Bhutto governments. [4]Nov. 2014 Q. 5 a

Question No. 12:

Explain why General Musharraf was able to gain power in 1999. (7)June 2015 Q. 5 b
Question No. 13:
Why was Benazir Bhutto dismissed from office a second time in 1996? (7)Nov 2015 Q. 5 b

Question No. 14: Describe General Pervez Musharraf’s rise to power in 1999. (4)Nov 2016 Q. 5a

Question No. 15:

Why did being a nuclear power create difficulties for Pakistan in the 1980s and 1990s? (7)June 2017 Q. 5 b

Question No. 16: What happened at Pucca Qila? (4)Nov. 2017 Q. 5 a

Question No. 17:
Were the challenges facing Benazir Bhutto in Sindh the main reason why she left office in 1990? Explain your answer.
(14)June 2018 Q. 5 C

Question No. 18: Explain why Benazir Bhutto’s government ended in 1996. (7)June 2020 Q No. 5b

Question No. 19: Was the collapse of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) the main reason for the
government ending in 1993? Explain your answer. (14)June 2020 Q. 5 c

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Question No. 20: To what extent did Benazir Bhutto’s privatisation policy contribute to the government being replaced in
1996? Explain your answer. (14) Nov.2020 Q. 5 c

ANSWERS ON BB & NS

Question No.1:

What was the Pucca Qila Massacre? (4) June 2010 Q.5 a

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.

Question No.2: Why did Benazir Bhutto fall from office in 1990? (7) Nov.2010 Q. 5 b

BEST ANSWER:

BB faced a lot of problems since beginning. PPP gained majority in Sindh but not in other [Link] she had
to form a coalition with MQM but she had to face fierce opposition by IJI led by Nawaz Sharif who controlled
the provincial government of Punjab. Other political parties also opposed her and within 11 months the
opposition parties organised Non Confidence Motion in the National Assembly.

BB also faced resistance from ISI; Army couldn’t support Benazir’s government. Religious community also
condemn women rule in Pakistan. Benazir also lost public support as it was unable to deliver on its promised
employment and economic development. Education and health schemes couldn’t be launched. Besides that
she faced accusations that there was a corruption within her government and her husband Asif ali Zardari was
later arrested on charges of blackmail and was jailed for two years. Her government was also faced to deal
with the country’s growing drug abuse problem.

Critical situation created when Sindhis and Mahajirs confrontation became severe. Widespread riots in Karachi
ended MQM alliance with PPP in august [Link] also had the clashes with President and a major area of
disagreements was over appointments to positions in the military and judiciary. This brought power struggle
between prime minister and president. The unemployment and labor strikes began to take place which halted
and jammed the economic wheel of the country and Benazir Bhutto was unable to solve these issues due to in
a cold war with the President. In November 1990, after a long political battle, Khan finally used the Eighth
Amendment to dismiss Benazir Bhutto’s government following charges of corruption, nepotism, and despotism.
Khan soon called for new elections in 1990 where Bhutto accepted her defeat.

Question No.3:

What problems did Nawaz Sharif face as Prime Minister during the 1990s? (4) June 2011 Q.5 a

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

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Nawaz, army Commander-in-Chief, dismissed, lost aid and support from other nations in 2nd term of office
following nuclear testing, failures in fighting in Kashmir – blamed Musharraf,
Whom he tried to sack/Over thrown.

Question No.4: Why did General Mushraff come to power in 1999? (7) Nov.2011 Q.5 b

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.
Question No. 5:
Benazir Bhutto described her return from exile in her book published in 1988 as an emotional one. ‘Hundreds
of coloured balloons soared into the sky as the airport gates opened. Rose petals, not tear gas, filled the air.
Garlands of flowers flew through the air. I saw a girl whose brother had been hanged and threw a garland to
her ... Benazir will come, revolution will come.’
(a) What problems did Benazir Bhutto face as Prime Minister of Pakistan? [4] June 2012 Q. 5 a

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, and Coalition party MQM joined with IJI, Pucca Qila massacre.

Question No. 6:
why did Benazir Bhutto fall from office for a second time in 1996? (7) June 2012 Q. 5 b

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 rumoured 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.

Question No 7:
In 1997, Nawaz Sharif came back to power as Prime Minister but he faced many serious problems. Pakistan’s
relations with the USA were damaged because of Pakistan’s support for the Taliban in Afghanistan, and her

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army was forced to pull back from territory it had gained in Kargil, Kashmir. Perhaps the greatest threat came
from General Pervez Musharraf.
Describe General Pervez Musharraf’s coup. [4] June 2013 Q. 5 a

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.

Question No. 8:
Why did Nawaz Sharif fall from office in 1993? (7) Nov. 2013 Q. 5 b

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 criticised 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.

Question No. 9:
During the 1980s, relations between India and Pakistan were fraught with difficulties. The situation in
Kashmir was far from resolved and both sides were developing nuclear weapons. Neither side was willing to
sign the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty. By the 1990s tension was increasing again regarding nuclear weapons
and Kashmir. Eventually an attempt was made to reduce tensions between the two countries by ending
nuclear testing and then the Kargil Conflict happened.
What was the Kargil Conflict? [4] June 2014 Q. 5 a
1999, Muslim Kashmiri guerrillas crossed the Line of Control and captured the Indian occupied towns of Kargil
and Drass. Pakistan government denied any involvement (but later admitted). India launched counter attack and
2 of its aircraft crossed into Pakistani airspace.
One was shot down. Pakistani forces pushed back and were eventually persuaded by USA to withdraw behind
Line of Control. A major blow to Pakistan-India relations.

Question 10:
Benazir Bhutto’s government had to deal with accusations of encouraging corruption when she was in office
in the late 1980s. Faced with increasing opposition to her rule, she was dismissed from office in 1990 by the
President Ghulam Ishaq Khan. Nawaz Sharif became Prime Minister. He believed he could solve Pakistan’s
problems and move away from the corruption accusations of the previous government. However, he did
encounter a number of problems, one of which was regarding the Co-operative societies.
What was the Co-operative society’s scandal? [4] June 2014 Q. 4 a

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Co-operative Societies accepted money from members and could make loans for purposes that were to the
benefit of the society and its members. Mismanagement of these led to a major collapse in which millions of
Pakistanis lost money by 1992. In Nawaz Sharif’s state of Punjab, 700000 poor people lost all their savings when
the societies went bankrupt. The societies had loaned billions of rupees to Nawaz Sharif’s family business. He
repaid the loans but his reputation was damaged and was one of the reasons why he lost office the following
year 1993
Question No. 11:

Benazir Bhutto described her time as Prime Minister as problematic: ‘I found that people opposed me simply
on the grounds that I was a woman. The clerics took to the mosque saying that Pakistan had thrown itself
outside the Muslim world by voting for a woman, that a woman had taken a man’s place in an Islamic society.
My opponents reduced themselves to verbal abuse rather than discuss issues simply because I was a woman.’
(a) Describe the problems caused by family feuds that faced the Benazir Bhutto governments.

[4] Nov. 2014 Q. 5 a

Quarrelled with her mother Begum Nusrat Bhutto over control of the PPP, with Begum favouring Benazir’s
brother Mir Murtaza as leader. Begum removed from a leading role in the PPP. Murtaza went into exile and
founded the Al-Zulfikar Organisation. He used this to criticise Benazir. He also opposed her husband’s
involvement in the PPP because of the allegations of corruption against him. Zardani accused of paybacks on
property and government deals and being involved in political murders. Known as Mr 10%. Murtaza arrested on
his return to Pakistan on charges of terrorism in 1993. In 1996 he was killed in a police ambush and a judicial
review of the incident found government involvement in it.

Question No. 12: Explain why General Musharraf was able to gain power in 1999. (7)June 2015 Q. 5 b
BEST ANSWER:

To lose the Kargil war would remain one of the greatest tragedies for Pakistan, and it’s still hard to find out a
culprit. Military officials from Musharraf's Joint Staff Headquarters (JS HQ) met with regional corps commanders
three times in late September 1999 in anticipation of a possible coup. To banish rumors of a fallout between
Musharraf and Sharif, Sharif officially certified Musharraf's remaining two years of his term on 30 September.
Musharraf had left for a weekend trip to take part in Sri Lanka's Army's 50th-anniversary celebrations. When
Pervez Musharraf was returning from an official visit to Colombo his flight was denied landing permissions to
Karachi International Airport after orders were issued from the Prime Minister's office. ] Upon hearing the
announcement of Nawaz Sharif, replacing Pervez Musharraf by Khwaja Ziauddin, the third replacement of the
top military commander of the country in less than two years, local military commanders began to mobilize
troops towards Islamabad from nearby Rawalpindi. The military placed Sharif under house arrest,] but in a last-
ditch effort Sharif privately ordered Karachi air traffic controllers to redirect Musharraf's flight to India. The plan
failed after soldiers in Karachi surrounded the airport control tower. At 2:50 am on 13 October, Musharraf
addressed the nation with a recorded message.]
Musharraf met with President Rafiq Tarar on 13 October to deliberate on legitimising the coup. On 15 October,
Musharraf ended emerging hopes of a quick transition to democracy after he declared a state of emergency,
suspended the Constitution and assumed power as Chief Executive. He also quickly removed the government of
political enemies, notably Ziauddin and national airline chief Shahid Khaqan Abbassi. On 17 October, he gave his
second national address and established a seven-member military-civilian council to govern the country. He
named three retired military officers and a judge as provincial administrators on 21 October. Ultimately,
Musharraf assumed executive powers but did not obtain the office of the Prime minister. The Prime minister's
secretariat (official residence of Prime minister of Pakistan) was closed by the military police and its staff was
fired by Musharraf immediately.

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There were no organized protests within the country to the coup that was widely criticized by the international
community. Consequently, Pakistan was suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations. Sharif was put under
house arrest and later exiled to Saudi Arabia on his personal request and under a contract.

Question No. 13:

Why was Benazir Bhutto dismissed from office a second time in 1996? (7)Nov 2015 Q. 5 b

Opposition from Nawaz Sharif tried to undermine her government with some success, organising strikes,
marches and critical speeches. Opposition increased when these leaders were arrested.

Family feuds over control of the PPP also highlighted the problems she faced especially as these were well
publicised. The killing of her brother Mir Murtaza in a police ambush raised suspicions of government
involvement especially when none of the police involved were arrested and some were promoted.

Her husband Asif Ali Zardari was accused of receiving money from government deals and being involved in
political murders and although the allegations were never proved, the inference was that the government was
tarred with corruption.

Question No. 14:

Describe General Pervez Musharraf’s rise to power in 1999. (4)Nov 2016 Q. 5a

•Nawaz Sharif tried to blame the Kashmir retreat on Pervez Musharraf but this was not accepted.
•Nawaz Sharif tried unsuccessfully to replace him as the chief of army when he was visiting Sri Lanka.
•Nawaz Sharif would not give permission for his plane to land in Pakistan.
•Pervez Musharraf’s army staff overthrew Nawaz Sharif, allowing his plane to land.
•He then put Pakistan under military rule.
•It was a bloodless coup which allowed life to go on as normal.

Question No. 15:

Why did being a nuclear power create difficulties for Pakistan in the 1980s and 1990s? (7)June 2017 Q. 5 b

BEST ANSWER:
It was probably the loss of East Pakistan and defeat by India that prompted Pakistan to develop nuclear weapons.
It was known that India was close to having a nuclear weapon. Pakistan’s research was carried on in great secrecy
under Dr. A. Khan. Of course foreign intelligence services were aware that something was going on. In 1989 the
USA learned that Pakistan had a nuclear warhead. This led to a cut off in military and financial aid under the
Pressler Amendment.

May 1998 witnessed the start of a new nuclear era for both nations. India exploded 5 nuclear devices without
warning on 11 and 13 May in the western state of Rajasthan. Two weeks later, on 28 and 30 May, Pakistan
replied by texting 6 nuclear devices in the deserts of Baluchistan. Now Pakistan’s nuclear programme, a secret
since 1987, was out in the open. On the other hand, the US government opposed the development and imposed
aid and trade sanctions on Pakistan. Other nations did the same. In spite of US pressure Pakistan didn’t sign Non
– proliferation Treaty.

US diplomats expressed concern that Pakistan may have nuclear weapons, and would not give aid to Pakistan,
stating Pakistan was in contravention of the 1985 Pressler Amendment.
The USA had promised $4 million in an economic package to help Pakistan to refurbish their military forces. The
reduction in aid seriously affected Pakistan. In particular, the delivery of 28 F-16 fighter jets in which weakened
Pakistan’s relationship with USA. Pakistani government always expressed concerns about the status of India as
a nuclear power.

Question No. 16:

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What happened at Pucca Qila? (4)Nov. 2017 Q. 5 a

• May 1990, in Hyderabad, supporters of Muhajir Quami Movement (MQM) killed by police
• Including women and children who held copies of the Quran over their heads as they faced the police
• The violence led to the President (Ghulam Ishaq Khan) dismissing the government in August 1990

Question No. 17:

Were the challenges facing Benazir Bhutto in Sindh the main reason why she left office in 1990? Explain your
answer. (14)June 2018 Q. 5c

Level 5:
Explains with evaluation 14 As top of Level 4 plus judgement or evaluation

Level 4:
Explains challenges in Sindh AND other reasons 9–13 (Two explanations, one on the challenges in Sindh and one on another reason are
worth 9 marks. Additional explanations awarded up to 13 marks)

Sindh

• Well educated muhajirs opposed the special rights for Sindhis introduced by Benazir Bhutto and increasingly
supported the Muhajir Quami Movement (MQM).
• Sindh was an area of growing opposition to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and growing support for the
MQM.
• Benazir Bhutto tried in vain to gain the support of the MQM to form a coalition government by promising to
protect the interests of all the people of Sindh.

Other challenges

• Her government was damaged by an unsuccessful no-confidence motion tabled by opposition parties including
Islami Jamhuri Ittehad (IJI) led by Nawaz Sharif.

• President Ghulam Ishaq Khan refused to appoint the judges and military personnel she wished, making it
difficult for her to govern Pakistan effectively.

• Promised economic development programmes and social and health reforms did not produce the effects
hoped for. The government lost support as unemployment, inflation and population grew rapidly making
progress difficult.

• Accusations from political opponents regarding mismanagement leading to the arrest and jailing of her
husband Asif Ali Zardari. Further rumours weakened the government enabling President Ghulam Ishaq Khan to
use the Eighth Amendment to dismiss the government in 1990.

Question No. 18:

Explain why Benazir Bhutto’s government ended in 1996. (7)June 2020 Q No. 5b

• The opposition (PML) undermined her government with some success by organising strikes, marches and
critical speeches, which reducing the government’s efficiency. The PPP responded by arresting senior PML
leaders which increased opposition to the government;

• Benazir Bhutto was criticised for not improving the social services or bringing in measures for women. The PPP
had campaigned on in their ‘Agenda for Change’ in the 1993 elections. Not fulfilling their election promises made
the government less popular;

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• Her government was unable to overcome multiple economic problems despite the sale of nationalised
industry. This contributed to the government losing credibility;

• The government lacked unity as there were well publicised family disputes over control of the PPP.

Question No. 19:

Was the collapse of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) the main reason for the
government ending in 1993? Explain your answer. (14)June 2020 Q. 5 c

BEST ANSWER:

Level 5:

Explains with evaluation 14 (As top Level 4 plus a judgement or evaluation)

Level 4:

Explains WHY the BCCI collapse AND other reasons were the main reason for the government ending in 1993. 9–13 (Two explanations, one
on the achievements and one on another reason, are worth nine marks. Additional explanations awarded up to 13 marks)

BCCI

• The Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) was an international bank founded in 1972 by Agha
Hasan Abedi, a Pakistani financier. The Bank was registered in Luxembourg with head offices
in Karachi and London. A decade after opening, BCCI had over 400 branches in 78 countries and assets in excess
of US$20 billion, making it the seventh largest private bank in the world.
BCCI came under the scrutiny of financial regulators and intelligence agencies in the 1980s, due to concerns that
it was poorly regulated. Subsequent investigations revealed that it was involved in massive money
laundering and other financial crimes, and had illegally gained the controlling interest in a major American bank.
BCCI became the focus of a massive regulatory battle in 1991, and, on 5 July of that year, customs and bank
regulators in seven countries raided and locked down records of its branch offices. The collapse of BCCI bank in
1991 led to investors losing huge sums of money harming Pakistan’s finances. This caused the government to
lose a lot of political support.

Sharif suffered a major loss of political support from the co-operatives societies’ scandal. These societies accept
deposits from members and can legally make loans only to members for purposes to the benefit of the
membership. However, mismanagement led to a collapse affecting millions of Pakistanis in 1992. In Punjab and
Kashmir, around 700,000 people lost their savings, and it was discovered that billions of rupees had been granted
to the Ittefaq Group of Industries– Sharif's steel mill. Although the loans were hurriedly repaid, Sharif's
reputation was severely damaged

Sharif made the nuclear weapons and energy programme one of his top priorities. He expanded the nuclear
energy program, and continued an atomic programme. This resulted in a nuclear crisis with the United States
which tightened its embargo on Pakistan in December 1990 and reportedly offered substantial economic aid to
halt the country's uranium enrichment programme. Responding to US embargo, Sharif announced that Pakistan
had no atomic bomb, and would sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty if India did as well. The embargo

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blocked plans for a French-built nuclear power plant, so Sharif's advisors intensively lobbied the International
Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA), which allowed China to establish CHASNUPP-I nuclear power plant and
upgrade KANUPP-I.

Sharif's nuclear policy was considered less aggressive towards India with its focus on public usage
through nuclear power .In 1993, Sharif established the Institute of Nuclear Engineering (INE) to promote his
policy for the peaceful use of nuclear energy but US aid was restricted and USA tried to pressurise Pakistan into
ending the nuclear programme causing further economic and political problems.
Sharif had developed serious issues of authority with conservative President Ghulam Ishaq Khan, who had raised
Sharif to prominence during the Zia dictatorship. On 18 April, ahead of the 1993 Parliamentary election, Khan
used his reserve powers (58-2b) to dissolve the National Assembly, and with the support of the army
appointed Mir Balakh Sher as interim prime minister. Sharif refused to accept this act and raised a challenge at
the Supreme Court of Pakistan. On 26 May, the Supreme Court ruled 10–1 that the presidential order was
unconstitutional, that the president could dissolve the assembly only if a constitutional breakdown had occurred
and that the government's incompetence or corruption was irrelevant.
Issues of authority continued. In July 1993, under pressure from the armed forces, Sharif resigned under an
agreement that also removed President Khan from power. Chief of Army Staff General Abdul Vahied
Kakar forced Khan to resign from the presidency and ended the political standoff, new parliamentary election
was held after three months.

Other

• US had provided support during the Soviet-Afghan war, which was reduced when the war ended causing
economic problems;

• Support for Afghan warlords had led to guns becoming freely available increasing crime, kidnappings and
murder. There were also drug problems associated with refugees from the Soviet-Afghan war flooding into
towns and cities. Both increased pressure on the government;

• The Shariat Bill was unpopular with groups in the alliance who wanted Islam to play an even greater role in
government and others in opposition who wanted it decreased.

Question No. 20:

To what extent did Benazir Bhutto’s privatisation policy contribute to the government being replaced in 1996?
Explain your answer. (14) Nov.2020 Q. 5 c

BEST ANSWER:

During her second term, Bhutto continued to follow former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's privatisation policies.
After the 1993 general elections, the privatisation programme of state-owned banks and utilities accelerated;
more than ₨ 42 billion was raised from the sale of nationalised corporations and industries, and another
US$20 billion from the foreign investment. After 1993, the country's national economy again entered in the
second period of the inflation and more roughly began bite the country's financial resources and the financial
capital. Bhutto's second government found it extremely difficult to counter the second era of inflation.

In 1996 BB attempted to privatize United Bank and raise much needed funds from the government.
Unfortunately, offers made from the bank fell well short of what was expected. Even so the government

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proposed going ahead with the sale of the bank to an apparently Saudi-based company. With claims of
corruption and that the buyers were actually a group of Pakistani businessmen, the sale was halted. This further
damaged Bhutto’s government. She was criticised for doing this by wealthy industrialists and politicians from all
sides, besides government officials made it harder to privatise nationalised industries.
Besides that opposition also came from two sides. Splits in BB party, the PPP were difficult to deal with especially
when her mother and brother, Murtaza, sided against her. But the main opposition came from her long term
adversary, Nawaz Sharif. Angry at his loss of office, he was a determined and popular leader of the opposition.
After BB installed a PPP government in NWFP Sharif mobilized the opposition with rallies and demonstrations
in Peshawar, Lahore and the capital .As rumours circulated about BBs political methods and business interests.
Sharif was able to mount a very personal attack on the PM. He criticized her for trying to manipulate the judicial
system and allowing her husband, Zardari, and other members of her family to have too much influence. He
claimed that zardari was engaged in questionable business dealings. This was successful in undermining her
position and caused her to fear that once again she might be forced out of office. Demonstrations and strikes
often led to violence including, sometimes, the deaths of demonstrators. Assassinations and bombings were
commonplace.

BB was worried that a group of army officers was planning to remove her from office. She said they wanted an
Islamic state. The conspirators had obtained weapons from tribal areas and planned to storm a meeting of
military commanders. In fact that conspiracy seems to have had very little support.

On 4rth November 1996, President Leghari dismissed BB’s government. Since the death of Zia ul Haq, military
leaders had said that they would not intervene in politics and would stick to their professional duties. In reality,
however, army chiefs were involved in many important political decisions. There is no doubt that the support of
the army chiefs made it possible for leghari to act. Army units were stationed at key points in Islamabad and
soldiers arrested the PM’s husband, Asif Ali zardari. For President Leghari, the killing of Murtaza, BB’s brother,
by police in Karachi, was the last straw. Rumours blamed both opposition and government supporters for the
killing.

Counter-arguments might include:

• In March 1996, the Supreme Court dismissed 20 judges appointed by the government including three
women judges. Claims that attempts had been made to intimidate the chief justice did terrible damage
to the government’s image. The government’s refusal to carry out the Supreme Court decision caused
a crisis.

•Manzoor Wattoo was removed as chief minister in the Punjab after he had upset the PPP and their allies by
governing in a very independent manner.

• Benazir Bhutto did not introduce the PPP’s social policies.

• Strikes and protests were organised by the opposition in 1994

• Multiple economic problems including unemployment and inflation /GDP and manufacturing growth rates
slowed

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 ‘’History-P1-Section III Past Papers Questions & Answers’’ 2000-2021 by Dr. Usman Hameed

• the strict economic policies imposed on Pakistan by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in return for a loan

• the rupee was devalued

• the USA’s financial and military embargo began to affect the economy

• the government was inefficient

• a lack of unity within the government

TOPIC # 28

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF PAKISTAN

QUESTIONS ON FOREIGN RELATIONS:

Question No. 1: Why did Pakistan leave SEATO in 1972? (7) June 2004 Q. 5 b

Question No. 2: How successful was Pakistan in its relationship with Afghanistan between 1947 and 1988?

(14) Nov. 2004 Q. 5 c

Question No. 3: Why was membership of the United Nations important to Pakistan between 1947 and 1988?

(7) June 2005 Q. 5 b

Question No. 4: How successful was Pakistan’s relationship with the USSR between 1947 and 1988? Explain your answer.

(14) Nov. 2006 Q. 5 c

Question No. 5: How successful was Pakistan in its relationship with USA between 1947 and 1988? Explain your answer.

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