This photo of Benazir Bhutto was taken during the election campaign in Nowshera in 2007. (Photo: AFP)
It was a matter of those days when Islamabad used to be quite cool and cold in November, but let’s also agree that even then the political temperature had reached such a level that heated debates took place in the corridors of the chambers of the federal capital. Like the debates and the long winter nights, the political confrontations were getting longer and the situation indicated the arrival of a storm.
But call it a game of power or bad luck, the protracted battles within Benazir Bhutto’s brothers, trusted friends and family played a greater role in the end of Benazir Bhutto’s second term than political opponents. If we study the pages of history, then the opposition party of that time took advantage of this situation, but they did not push the government of Benazir Bhutto, who was weakening day by day, as a falling wall, but with the grace of their own Benazir government. Burdened under the burden of the party.
Consider it a mere coincidence that when the Benazir government was overthrown on November 5, 1996, the presidential elections were being held in the United States and the presidential elections are still going on.
The political situation in Pakistan had been in chaos for a long time and analysts were predicting a major change, but for the people this decision was sudden and like an explosion. The overthrow of Benazir’s government by Farooq Leghari was surprising because Leghari himself belonged to Benazir’s party, and was considered a close associate of Benazir. Benazir had brought Farooq Leghari to the Presidency to block any interference by the President on her government and to avoid the war of 58-2B.
According to analysts, the assassination of Murtaza Bhutto, the changing behavior of Farooq Leghari, tensions with the judiciary and internal problems in the army ultimately paved the way for the downfall of the Benazir regime.
From Farooq Leghari, Benazir’s brother to the disliked President wielding the sword of 58 To B
Farooq Laghari, who hails from Choti Lower Dera Ghazi Khan, was considered a close associate of Benazir Bhutto and Benazir used to call him brother.
An incident in the journalistic and political history of Pakistan is narrated in many gatherings that when Benazir Bhutto came to know that Farooq Leghari was going to end her government, she went to meet him in the Presidential Palace. During the conversation, when Benazir referred to him as Farooq Bhai instead of Mr. Leghari or Mr. President, Farooq Leghari asked the Military Secretary to tell Begum Sahiba that her Nand had come to meet him.
It is said about Farooq Leghari that he wanted to become the Finance Minister but Benazir Bhutto found him trustworthy and got him elected President and for this purpose he personally worked hard and appointed former President Ghulam Ishaq Khan as the President. Convinced the candidate to withdraw his papers.
But Farooq Leghari ended the Benazir government by taking advantage of the day-to-day accusations of corruption, the deteriorating law and order situation and the internal strife of the Bhutto family.
Thus at one time Benazir Bhutto’s most favorite and outspoken brother Farooq Leghari became her most disliked and lifelong detestable character. Asif Zardari’s statement expressing regret on his death was also such that it reflected the views of the People’s Party regarding Farooq Leghari.
Conflict with provinces and judiciary
In the first year of Benazir Bhutto’s government, he got the opportunity to appoint a Chief Justice of his choice in the judiciary. On June 5, 1994, Sajjad Ali Shah was appointed as the Chief Justice, bypassing two senior judges. In the same year, the government suspended the coalition government of Muslim League (N) and ANP by imposing governor’s rule in NWFP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) under Article 234 and appointed Aftab Ahmed Sherpao of People’s Party as the chief minister.
A similar situation arose in Punjab a year later. The Center imposed Governor’s Rule under Article 234 against Chief Minister Manzoor Vito of the Muslim League (J) government formed with the support of the People’s Party. Later, Sardar Arif Nakai was made the Chief Minister, but Manzoor Vito petitioned the Lahore High Court for his reinstatement and the court reinstated his government a year later.
The People’s Party was accused of appointing its supporters judges in the Sindh and Lahore High Courts and making many unsuitable persons as judges. Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid was sent from the Sindh High Court to the Federal Sharia Court and the favorite people were appointed as judges in the Sindh and Lahore High Courts.
According to Hamid Khan, out of 20 judges appointed in Lahore High Court, 10 were barely meritorious. A case was filed by Wahab Al Khairi in the Supreme Court, as a result of which the unsuitable persons were dismissed.
Differences between Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Murtaza Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto and Murtaza’s murder
During the second term of Benazir Bhutto’s rule, the Bhutto family was constantly at odds with each other. Begum Nusrat Bhutto, who stood by her daughter all her life, also became a complainer about Benazir’s political decisions, but also about her political future.
The reason for their disagreement was Mir Murtaza Bhutto becoming Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s political successor. Murtaza Bhutto resisted the government by Zulfiqar during the Ziaul Haq regime, but returned to Pakistan in 1993. A difference arose between him and Benazir Bhutto on the issue of political succession. Nusrat Bhutto considered her son Murtaza as her political successor, while Benazir was trying to maintain her position.
1994 On Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s birthday, Nusrat Bhutto planned to go to Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, while Benazir held a mushaira near her father’s grave. An attempt was made to stop Nusrat Bhutto’s procession due to security concerns, which led to clashes and several people were injured. This incident increased sympathy for Murtaza Bhutto and in 1995 he formed a separate party called People’s Party (Shaheed Bhutto).
Murtaza Bhutto’s growing political influence worried many people. On September 20, Murtaza spoke at a press conference about the conspiracy against him and held the police officers responsible. That same evening when they reached 70 Clifton, the police stopped them and there was an exchange of fire in which Murtaza Bhutto was seriously injured and could not survive on reaching the hospital.
58 To B: Abolition of Presidential Authority
While Farooq Leghari’s decision to overthrow Benazir Bhutto’s government changed the political landscape of Pakistan, it also sparked a debate on the use of Article 58 to B. In 1997, through the 13th Amendment, this clause was removed from the Constitution and the powers of the Prime Minister were further consolidated.
However, even the abolition of 58 to B did not guarantee political stability. This clause will be remembered in Pakistan’s constitutional history for having sent four prime ministers home prematurely, and the clause has always been a controversial subject, with supporters arguing that its use is essential for accountability. While according to critics, it remained an obstacle in the way of democracy.
58 After the end of 2B, the President’s powers were limited, but Pakistan’s political history has repeatedly shown that the real power in political affairs has not been the Parliament or the Prime Minister’s House, but rather the extra-constitutional powers that have exercised their will from time to time. It has played a key role in forming and overthrowing popular governments.
Effects of removal of Benazir government on Pakistani politics
After the end of the second government of Benazir Bhutto, there were significant changes in the politics of Pakistan. After his removal, the problems of political stability in the country came to the fore and the debate on strengthening democracy gained momentum. Political parties united to reduce the powers of the president and strengthen the parliamentary system. After Benazir’s ouster, general elections were held in 1997, in which Nawaz Sharif and his party, the Pakistan Muslim League (N), won a two-thirds majority.
Taking advantage of this situation, Nawaz Sharif’s government decided to abolish the powerful clause of 58 2B so that the future presidents could not easily dismiss the elected governments. After this change, there was a new hope of political stability in Pakistan, but despite this, after some time, various political conflicts resurfaced.
After the end of the Benazir government, various factions and political differences increased in the country’s politics. Benazir had to go into exile while her husband had to stay in jail for a long time. Bitterness grew between the People’s Party and the Muslim League (N), which later ended with an agreement called the Charter of Democracy, and the two political rivals united on a democratic agenda. This agreement was signed in 2006 by both parties to strengthen democracy and oppose undemocratic measures.
These events after the end of the Benazir regime turned the Pakistani politics in a new direction, where the relationship between the democratic forces paved the way for maturity and reconciliation.
