Enabling Environments for Civic Movements and the Dynamics of Democratic Transition - Pakistan

Period of democratic transition: 1985
Pro-democracy civic movement: not present

General Zia Ul-haq came to power in 1977 following a military coup against President Ali Bhutto. Zia suspended the constitution following the coup – ostensibly to ensure stability until general elections were held. However, the main opposition candidate was arrested and later executed, and no elections took place. Zia ruled by decree, curtailing press freedom and freedom of association; thousands of members of the opposition were imprisoned or flogged in a violent political climate.

In January 1985, however, Zia unilaterally announced that parliamentary and provincial elections would be held in February that year. The elections were deemed relatively free and fair despite the arrest of some opposition figures. Martial law was lifted at the end of 1985, and the new Parliament legalized political parties. Seventeen political parties were quickly authorized, including the Pakistani Muslim League, headed by Prime Minister Muhhmad Khan Junejo. Both Zia and the new Parliament contributed to an amended constitution, leading to a document that included new checks on the powers of both the president and the prime minister, but also a clause that granted Zia the authority to dissolve the Parliament and dismiss the prime minister.

The civilian government remained intact for the next three years before Zia, citing government corruption and incompetence, sacked the Parliament and Prime Minister Junejo in March 1988 and called for new elections. Although Zia died in a plane crash shortly thereafter, the sacking began a cycle that would continue over the next several years, with a number of elected civilian governments being dismissed by successive presidents citing corruption or abuse of power. However, Pakistan remained a fragile democracy until General Pervez Musharraf came to power in a 1999 coup, after which political rights and civil liberties became heavily restricted.

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