Pakistan’s March to Democracy and Liberalism

The idea of creating a separate state for the Muslims of the Indian sub-continent was conceived and promoted by the poet and philosopher, Dr. Mohammed Iqbal in 1930 and was incorporated in the programme of the Muslim League in 1940 through the famous Lahore resolution of the 23rd March. Pakistan came into being as an independent sovereign state on August 14, 1947, made up of areas where the majority of population professed Islam and which were situated in the north-west and north-east of the sub-continent. In an interview to Doon Campbell, Reuter's correspondent in Delhi in 1946, the Quaid-e-Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the father of the nation, stated very clearly that the new state would be a modern democratic state with a parliamentary form of government on the British pattern. The military rule of Pakistan by Ayub Khan and Yahaya Khan continued for thirteen years up till the secession of East Pakistan and formation of Bangladesh. That brought Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in power. Four years later, the military general Zia-ul-Haqsanatched power from him. He gave internal stability to the country and improved its image abroad. It was unfortunate that he died in an air crash near Bhawalpur in August, 1988. Ghulam Ishaq Khan succeeded him as the president of Pakistan. He ordered the general elections in the country which brought Pakistan People's Party to power and Benazir Bhutto became the Prime Minister. It is indeed encouraging that the general election of October 1993 was held in a free and fearless atmosphere brought into power Benazir Bhutto again, the Pakistan People's party in coalition with other splinter groups forming the government. Thus Pakistan stands today on the threshold of a very bright future, with an established two-party system of the West Minister model under the stewardship of two young leaders, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif of new generation. The present study, Pakistan's March to Democracy and Liberalism provides a penetrating account of the political developments spread over last five decades. It is both an interesting and instructive study for political analysts at home and abroad to foster better understanding of Pakistan.