1970 Pakistani general election

General elections were held in Pakistan on 7 December 1970 to elect members of the National
Assembly. They were the first general elections since the independence of Pakistan and
ultimately the only ones held prior to the independence of Bangladesh. Voting took place in 300
constituencies, of which 162 were in East Pakistan and 138 in West Pakistan.
The elections were a fierce contest between two social democratic parties, the west-based
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the east-based Awami League. The Awami League was the
sole major party in the east wing, while in the west wing, the PPP faced severe competition from
the conservative factions of Muslim League, the largest of which was Muslim League (Qayyum),
as well as Islamist parties like Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and Jamiat
Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP).
The result was a victory for the Awami League, which won an absolute majority of 160 seats, all
of which were in East Pakistan. The PPP won only 81 seats, all in West Pakistan. In the
provincial elections held ten days later, the Awami League again dominated in East Pakistan,
while the PPP were the winning party in Punjab and Sindh. The Marxist National Awami Party
emerged victorious in Northwest Frontier Province and Balochistan.
The National Assembly was initially not inaugurated as President Yahya Khan and the PPP
chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto did not want a party from East Pakistan in federal government.
Instead, Yahya appointed the veteran Bengali politician Nurul Amin as Prime Minister, asking
him to reach a compromise between the PPP and Awami League. However, this move failed as
the delay in inauguration had already caused significant unrest in East Pakistan. The situation
escalated into a civil war that led to the formation of the independent state of Bangladesh. The
Assembly was eventually inaugurated in 1972 after Yahya resigned and handed power to
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Separation East Pakistan

After the termination of British government in the Indian sub-continent (200 long-years) marked
the birth of two nations-Pakistan, and India. Pakistan celebrate their independence on 14 August,
1947, and India celebrate their independence on 15 August, 1947. Pakistan had two parts one
was East-Pakistan (now is Bangladesh) and West-Pakistan ( the current Pakistan in which we are
living ); it was Muslim majority areas, 65 million people  were in East-Pakistan and 58 million
people in West-Pakistan, 147610 square kilometers and 881913 square kilometers respectfully.
India was Hindu majority area that get independence from British reign on 15 August, 1947. 
During the partition Pakistan received very low resources and facilities from the Indian due to
the dishonest distribution of resources and facilities and especially of man-power (skillful and
educated people) had also gone on the Indian account. So on the initial stages Pakistan roots
remain weak (Mansergh, Winter, 1965/1966).

As we know that Pakistan had two parts East-Pakistan and West-Pakistan which were separated
by about 1000 miles;
there is a lot of reasons about the separation of East-Pakistan from West-Pakistan, first reason
was that East-Pakistan was very far away from West-Pakistan and all surrounded by Indian
territory. The second reason is that these people have different culture and language although
have similar religion. The third reason, West-Pakistani leaders have humiliated East-Pakistani in
every aspect either that are resources or facilities, they discriminated East-Pakistani every time,
they don’t have serious concerns to solve their problems; in which one of them is the 1970
“Bhola Cyclone” had caused the death of 500,000 people. In that Cyclone, infrastructure,
transport, and other serves were totally damaged and the central government of Pakistan had
blamed for the slow response and misuse of funds. The fourth and most important reason was the
“War of Power” between “Zulfiqar Ali Butto” and “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman”. The fourth reason
was very problematic and very huge that escalated the Indo-Pak 1971 War (story of Pakistan,
multimedia journey, n.d.).

Political instability in East-Pakistan and people response

In Decembers 1970 Awami league win the remarkable victory and get clear majority with 160 in
the National Assembly and 298 of the 310 seats in the provincial Assembly of East-Pakistan. The
PPP won only 81 seats in the National Assembly, but were the winning party in Punjab and
Sindh. By this majority the next Prime Minister was Sheikh Mujeeb Rahman but that’s didn’t
happen because Butto don’t want to share power with Mujeeb. General Yahya Khan tried to
share power between Butto and Mujeeb and they didn’t success. Actually they were pro
Butto(story of Pakistan, multimedia journey, n.d.).

Due high level of chaotic and instable situation in East-Pakistan civil insurgency started against
Pak-Army. Mukti Bahini and other guerrilla groups incentivized and trained by Indian Army
against Pak-Army. Most of the East-Bengali military fled to India and joined Mukti Bahini and
other several guerrilla groups and labeled themselves Bengali liberation force. On 25 March
1971 “Operation search light” was started by Pak-Army against the Bengali Nationalist
movement, to curb them and arrested Sheikh Mujeeb Rahman and transferred into secret place;
so that’s created a more chaotic and dangerous situation. Due to this act Bengali military and
civil people joined Mukti Bhini like guerilla groups and showed a hard resistance to Pak-Army.

India Propaganda against Pakistan Army

It was the time to tackle accounts with Pakistan with huge cost. When people of East-Pakistan
started hatred from West-Pakistan that created an uncertain situation and that uncertain situation
was utilized by Indian Government very properly. They started diplomatic, political and
economical and logistical support to the people of Eest-Pakistan. Mukti Bhini (the guerillas
resistance movement) and several other guerilla forces were trained and equipped by Indian
Army. For the defamation of Pak-Army Indian forces were wearing Pak-Army uniforms and
raped Bengali women and girls. That’s type of acts created a lot of hates in the hearts of East-
Pakistan people. In Mukti Bhini a lot of Indian career military officers and soldiers, they perform
atrocities and massacre in the East-Pakistan and then blamed Pak-Army.A thousands of Awami
league miscreants were trained and backed by RAW and Indian military. The guerilla
movements became the “liberation of Bangladesh” from West-Pakistan. A lot of atrocities and
genocides were done by Mukti Bhini, and Awami league miscreants and blamed Pak-Army for
this acts. These all things were politically hijacked by Sheikh Mujeeb Rahman and Indian Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi for its own personal interests (Mohammad Zubair Iqbal, Shabir Hussain,
2018).

1971 War

It was direct confrontation between Indian and Pakistani Army. It was a full scale war. Due to
the Mukti Bhini and Awami league miscreants local insurgency were on the top in East-Pakistan
and Pakistani forces were trying to eliminate the insurgents. The environment was very favorable
to foreign forces to intervene on the name of violation of human rights by Pak-Army in East-
Pakistan. The war lasted just for just 13 days, and one of the shortest war in history. The military
confrontation between India and Pakistan occurred from 3 December 1971 to the fall of Dhaka
on 16 December 1971. It is estimated that between 300,000 and 3, 00,000 civilian were killed in
Bangladesh and about 3900 Indian soldiers died, 9851 wounded and 93,000 Pakistani were taken
“Prisoners of the War” but this figure is very suspicious some reports says that this figure is
round about 34000 soldiers were taken Prisoners of War. In this war Pakistan suffered a lot of
damages because Indian military had cut up the logistic line and blockade seas and Air-ways;
that is the backbone of any Army in any war. There was none supply chain of ammunition,
military soldiers and foods, everything was under controlled of unified forces of Mukti Bhini and
Indian military. The reason of the loose of war, that Pakistani Army were surrounded from all
sides by Indian military and guerilla forces and second reason Pak-Army were less in numbers
compare 200,000 Indian Army. Citizens and intellectuals were main target of this mass genocide
by Mukti Bhini and Indian Military. The fall of the city to the Indian Army on 16 December
1971 marked the creation of the independent state of Bangladesh. Dhaka became the capital of
Bangladesh (JENKINS, July, 1974).

Conclusion

In this whole article I have reached on two points; the first is that whenever you behave your
most friendly and dearest friend discriminately and dislikely that will turn down you and will
behave you in the same manner like you have towards them. The second thing is that foreigners
will take advantage of the situation. Its mean that third party will properly utilize your hostility
for its own interests. So thoroughly never underestimate the power of a common and weak
people they can create very big problem in the future. That’s all were happened in East-Pakistan.
The result was separation of East-Pakistan from West-Pakistan.

Zulfiqar ali Bhutto 1973

Bhutto was sworn in as the prime minister of the country on 14 August 1973, after he had
secured 108 votes in a house of 146 members. Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry was elected as the president
under the new constitution. During his five years of government, the Bhutto government made
extensive reforms at every level of government Pakistan's capital and Western reforms that were
begun and built in 1947 throughout the 1970s, were transformed and replaced with Socialist
system. His policies were seen people friendly, but it did not produce long-lasting effects as the
civil disorder against Bhutto began to take place in 1977.
Constitutional reforms

Bhutto is considered the main architect of 1973 constitution as part of his vision to put Pakistan
to road to parliamentary democracy. One of the major achievements in Bhutto's life was drafting
of Pakistan's first ever consensus constitution to the country. Bhutto supervised the promulgation
of 1973 constitution that triggered an unstoppable constitutional revolution through his politics
wedded to the emancipation of the downtrodden masses, by first giving people a voice in the
Parliament, and introducing radical changes in the economic sphere for their benefit .

During his period in office the government carried out seven major amendments to the 1973
Constitution. The First Amendment led to Pakistan's recognition of and diplomatic ties with
Bangladesh. The Second Amendment in the constitution declared the Ahmadis as non-Muslims,
and defined the term non-Muslim. The rights of the detained were limited under the Third
Amendment while the powers and jurisdiction of the courts for providing relief to political
opponents were curtailed under the Fourth Amendment. The Fifth Amendment passed on 15
September 1976, focused on curtailing the power and jurisdiction of the Judiciary. This
amendment was highly criticised by lawyers and political leaders. The main provision of the
Sixth Amendment extended the term of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and the High
Courts beyond the age of retirement. This Amendment was made in the Constitution to favour
the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who was supposed to be a friend of Bhutto.

Industrial reforms

The Bhutto government carried out a number of reforms in the industrial sector. His reforms
were twofold: nationalization, and the improvement of workers' rights. In the first phase, basic
industries like steel, chemical and cement were nationalized. This was done in 1972. The next
major step in nationalization took place on 1 January 1974, when Bhutto nationalised all banks.
The last step in the series was the nationalization of all flour, rice and cotton mills throughout the
country.This nationalisation process was not as successful as Bhutto expected. Most of the
nationalized units were small businesses that could not be described as industrial units, hence
making no sense for the step that was taken. Consequently, a considerable number of small
businessmen and traders were ruined, displaced or rendered unemployed. In the concluding
analysis, nationalisation caused colossal loss not only to the national treasury but also to the
people of Pakistan.

The Bhutto government established a large number of rural and urban schools, including around
6,500 elementary schools, 900 middle schools, 407 high schools, 51 intermediate colleges and 21
junior colleges. Bhutto also abandoned the Western education system and most of the literature
was sent back to Western world; instead his government encouraged the local academicians to
publish books on their respected fields. Though the local books were made cheaper to the public,
these reforms came with controversy. His government made Islamic and Pakistan studies
compulsory in schools. Book banks were created in most institutions and over 400,000 copies of
text-books were supplied to students.

Bhutto is credited for establishing the world class Quaid-e-Azam University and Allama Iqbal
Open University in Islamabad in 1974, as well as establishing Gomal University Dera Ismail
Khan in 1973. In his role as Foreign Minister, and in 1967 with the help of Abdus Salam,
established the Institute of Theoretical Physics. As Prime Minister, Bhutto made revolutionary
efforts to expand the web of education. Bhutto established the Allama Iqbal Medical College in
1975. In 1974, with the help of Abdus Salam, Bhutto gave authorisation of the International
Nathiagali Summer College on Contemporary Physics (INSC) at the Nathiagali and as even as of
today, INSC conference is still held on Pakistan, where thousands of scientists from all over the
world are delegated to Pakistan to interact with Pakistan's academic scientists. In 1976, Bhutto
established the Engineering Council, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Pakistan Academy of
Letters and Cadet college Razmak in North Waziristan. A further four new Universities which
have been established at Multan, Bahawalpur, and Khairpur. The People's Open University is
another innovative venture which has started functioning from Islamabad. The Government's
Education Policy provides for the remission of fees and the grant of a number of scholarships for
higher education to the children of low-paid employees.

Seven thousand new hostel seats were planned to be added to the existing accommodation after
the 1977 election. Bhutto said in 1975 he was aware "of the difficulties and deficiencies faced by
college students in many of the existing hostels. Directions have, therefore, been issued that fans,
water-coolers and pay-telephones must be provided in each and every hostel in as short a time as
physically possible."

Land, flood and agriculture reforms

During his period as prime minister, a number of land reforms were also introduced.The
important land reforms included the reduction of land ceilings and introducing the security of
tenancy to tenant farmers.[58] The land ceiling was fixed to 150 acres (0.61 km2) of irrigated
land and 300 acres (1.2 km2) of non-irrigated land. Another step that Bhutto took was to
democratise Pakistan's Civil Service. In Balochistan, the pernicious practice of Shishak and
Sardari System was abolished. In 1976, the Bhutto government carried out the establishment of
Federal Flood Commission (FFC), and was tasked to prepare national flood protection plans, and
flood forecasting and research to harness floodwater. Bhutto later went on to upgrade a number
of dams and barrages built in Sindh Province.

Bhutto was a strong advocate of empowering small farmers. He argued that if farmers were weak
and demoralised then Pakistan's agricultural strength would be fragile, believing that farmers
would not feel psychologically safe unless the country achieved self-sufficiency in
food.Therefore, the Bhutto government launched programs to put the country on road to self-
sufficiency in rice hulling, sugar-milling and wheat husking industries. Bhutto's government
intensified the control of rice hulling, sugar and wheat husking factories, initially believing that
public sector involvement would reduce the influence of multi-national corporations creating
monopolies.The Government initiated schemes for combating water logging and salinity. Tax
exceptions were also introduced for small landowners to encourage the growth of agriculture.
His nationalisation of Sindh-based industries heavily benefited the poor, but badly upset the
influential feudal lords.

Economic policy

Bhutto introduced socialist economics policies while working to prevent any further division of
the country. Major heavy mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineering industries were
immediately nationalised by Bhutto, and all of the industries came under direct control of
government. Industries, such as KESC were under complete government control with no private
influence in KESC decision. Bhutto abandoned Ayub Khan's state capitalism policies, and
introduced socialist policies in a move to reduce income inequality. Bhutto also established the
Port Qasim, Pakistan Steel Mills, the Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC) and several cement
factories.However, the growth rate of economy relative to that of the 1960s when East Pakistan
was still part of Pakistan and large generous aid from the United States declined, after the global
oil crises in 1973, which also had a negative impact on the economy.[ Despite the initiatives
undertaken by Bhutto's government to boost the country's economy, the economical growth
remained at equilibrium level.[58] But Bhutto's policy largely benefited the poor and working
class when the level of absolute poverty was sharply reduced, with the percentage of the
population estimated to be living in absolute poverty falling from 46.50% by the end of 1979–80,
under the General Zia-ul-Haq's military rule, to 30.78%.] The land reform programme provided
increased economic support to landless tenants, and development spending was substantially
increased, particularly on health and education, in both rural and urban areas, and provided
"material support" to rural wage workers, landless peasants, and urban wage workers.

Bhutto's nationalisation policies were initiated with an aim to put workers in control of the tools
of production and to protect workers and small businesses.However, economical historians
argued that the nationalisation program initially effected the small industries and had devastating
effects on Pakistan's economy shrunk Bhutto's credibility. Conservative critics believed the
nationalisation policies had damaged investor's confidence and government corruption in
nationalised industries grew, although no serious corruption cases were ever proved against
Bhutto by the military junta. In 1974, Bhutto maintained that foreign companies and industries in
Pakistan were except from nationalisation policies and his government would be willing to
receive foreign investment to put up factories. While commenting on his policies in 1973, Bhutto
told the group of investors that belonged to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(LCCI) that "activity of public sector or state sector prevents the concentration of economic
power in few hands, and protects the small and medium entrepreneurs from the clutches of giant
enterprises and vested interests.
Bhutto's shift away from some socialist policies badly upset his democratic socialist alliance and
many in the Pakistan Peoples Party, many of his colleagues, most notable Malik Mirage left
Bhutto and departed to Soviet Union after resigning from Law Minister. Continuous
disagreement led the government's socialist alliance to collapse and further uniting with secular
Independence Movement led by Asghar Khan.

As part of his investment policies, Bhutto founded the National Development Finance
Corporation (NDFC). In July 1973, this financial institute began operation with an initial
government investment of 100 million PRs. It aim was finance public sector industrial
enterprises but, later on, its charter was modified to provide finance to the private sector as well.
The NDFC is currently the largest development finance institution of Pakistan performing
diversified activities in the field of industrial financing and investment banking. 42 projects
financed by NDFC have contributed Rs. 10,761 million to Pakistan's GDP and generated Rs. 690
million after-tax profits and 40,465 jobs. By the mid-1990s NDFC had a pool of resources
amounting to US$878 million The Bhutto government increased the level of investment, private
and public, in the economy from less than Rs. 7,000 million in 1971–72 to more than Rs. 17,000
million in 1974–75.

Banking and Export expansion

Main article: Banking in Pakistan

Banking reforms were introduced to provide more opportunities to small farmers and business
such as forcing banks to ensure 70% of institutional lending should be for small land holders of
12.5 acres or less, which was a revolutionary idea at a time when banks only clients were the
privileged classes. The number of bank branches rose by 75% from December 1971 to
November 1976, from 3,295 to 5,727. It was one of the most radical move made by Bhutto, and
the Bank infrastructure was expanded covering all towns and villages with a population of 5,000
in accordance with targets set after the nationalisation of banks.

By end of the Bhutto government concentration of wealth had declined compared to height of the
Ayub Khan era when 22 families owned 66% of industrial capital, and also controlled banking
and 97% of insurance.

Measures taken in the first few months of 1972 set a new framework for the revival of the
economy. The diversion of trade from East Pakistan to international markets was completed
within a short period. By 1974, exports exceeded one billion dollars, showing a 60% increase
over the combined exports of East and West Pakistan before separation, it was achieved and
benefited with world was in the midst of the major 1973 oil crisis and in the middle of global
recession the national income of Pakistan increased by 15% and industrial production by as
much as 20% in four years.
Balochistan

Military operation ..Following the secession of East Pakistan, calls for the independence of
Balochistan by Baloch nationalists grew immensely. Surveying the political instability, Bhutto's
central government sacked two provincial governments within six months, arrested the two chief
ministers, two governors and forty-four MNAs and MPAs, obtained an order from the Supreme
Court banning the National People's Party on the recommendation of Akbar Bugti, and charged
everyone with high treason to be tried by a specially constituted Hyderabad tribunal of hand-
picked judges.

In January 1973, Bhutto ordered the Pakistan Armed Forces to suppress a rising insurgency in
the province of Balochistan. He dismissed the governments in Balochistan and the North-West
Frontier Province once more. Following the alleged discovery of Iraqi arms in Islamabad in
February 1973, Bhutto dissolved the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan. The operation, under
General Tikka Khan, soon took shape in a five-year conflict with the Baloch separatists. The
sporadic fighting between the insurgency and the army started in 1973 with the largest
confrontation taking place in September 1974. Later on, Pakistan Navy, under Vice-Admiral
Patrick Julius Simpson, also jumped in the conflict as it had applied naval blockades to
Balochistan's port. The Navy began its separate operations to seized the shipments sent to aid
Baloch separatists. Pakistan Air Force also launched air operations, and with the support of navy
and army, the air force had pounded the mountainous hidden heavens of the Separatists. The
Iranian military, also fearing a spread of the greater Baloch resistance in Iran, aided the Pakistani
military as well. Among Iran's contribution were 30 Huey cobra attack helicopters and $200
million in aid.

Labour policy and social security

The labour policy was among the most important cornerstones of Bhutto's government and a
comprehensive labour reforms initiated by the Bhutto government. Shortly after assuming
control, Bhutto's government imposed some conditions on the dismissal of workers. In 1973, the
government instituted Labour Courts for the speedy redress of workers' grievances and the
government also introduced a scheme for workers' participation in management, through the
nationalisation policy. This scheme provided for 20% participation by workers in management
committees set up at factory level. The Government abolished the workers' contribution to the
Social Security Fund; instead, the employers were made to increase their contribution from 4 to
6%. The government enhanced compensation rates under the Worker's Compensation Act.
In 1972 the Bhutto government initially provided for some old age benefits for workers through
group insurance, increased rates of compensation and higher rates of gratuity. However, the
policy did not benefited immediately, therefore, the government introduced a pension scheme of
old age benefits which would provide a payment of Rs.75 a month to workers after retirement at
the age of 55 for men and 50 for women, on condition that the worker had completed a minimum
of 15 years insurable employment. This applied to all factories, industries, and establishments
employing ten or more workers drawing monthly wages up to Rs. 1,000.Skilled workers who
become invalid after five years of insurable employment were also made entitled to benefits
under this scheme.

Bhutto did not want to go for the western model where workers generally contribute along with
the employers towards their old age benefits. In view of Pakistan's conditions, Bhutto's
government did not wish the financial burden of this scheme to fall even partly on the worker.
[54] It was decided that the scheme be founded through a contribution from employers to the
extent of 5% of the wage bill.

Foreign policy

After assuming power, Bhutto sought to diversify Pakistan's relations away from the United
States and, soon Pakistan left CENTO and SEATO. Bhutto developed close and strengthened the
Arab relations, and Sino-Pak relations.[79] Bhutto in believed an independent Foreign Policy
which had hitherto been the hand maiden of the Western Power, particularly independent from
the United States' sphere of influence.[80] With Bhutto as Foreign minister, and Prime minister,
Pakistan and Iran had cemented a special relationship, as Iran had provided military assistance to
Pakistan.[80] The Sino-Pak relations were immensely improved, and Pakistan, under Bhutto, had
built a strategic relationship with People's Republic of China, when PRC was isolated.[79] In
1974, Bhutto hosted the second Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in 1974 where he
delegated and invited leaders from the Muslim world to Lahore, Punjab Province of Pakistan.[6]
Bhutto was a strong advocate of Afro-Asian Solidarity and had cemented ties with Afro-Asian
and Islamic countries and by 1976 had emerged as the Leader of the Third World.

era Muhammad zia ul Haq -1977

Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (12 August 1924 – 17 August 1988) was a Pakistani four-star general
who became the sixth President of Pakistan after declaring martial law in 1977. He served as the
head of state from 1978 until his death in 1988. He remains the country’s longest-serving head of
state.

Formation of Majlis-e-Shoora

Although ostensibly only holding office until free elections could be held, General Zia, like the
previous military governments, disapproved of the lack of discipline and orderliness that often
accompanies multiparty "parliamentary democracy." He preferred a "presidential" form of
government and a system of decision making by technical experts, or "technocracy". His first
replacement for the parliament or National Assembly was a Majlis-e-Shoora, or "consultative
council." After banning all political parties in 1979 he disbanded Parliament and at the end of
1981 set up the majlis, which was to act as a sort of board of advisors to the President and assist
with the process of Islamization. The 350 members of the Shoora were to be nominated by the
President and possessed only the power to consult with him, and in reality served only to endorse
decisions already taken by the government. Most members of the Shoora were intellectuals,
scholars, ulema, journalists, economists, and professionals in different fields.

Zia's parliament and his military government reflect the idea of "military-bureaucratic
technocracy" (MBT) where professionals, engineers, and high-profile military officers were
initially part of his military government. His antipathy for the politicians led the promotion of
bureaucratic-technocracy which was seen a strong weapon of countering the politicians and their
political strongholds. Senior statesman and technocrats were included physicist-turned diplomat
Agha Shahi, jurist Sharifuddin Perzada, corporate leader Nawaz Sharif, economist Mahbub ul
Haq, and senior statesman Aftab Kazie, Roedad Khan, and chemist-turned diplomat Ghulam
Ishaq Khan

Referendum of 1984

After Bhutto's execution, momentum to hold elections began to mount both internationally and
within Pakistan. But before handing over power to elected representatives, Zia-ul-Haq attempted
to secure his position as the head of state. A referendum was held on 19 December 1984 with the
option being to elect or reject the General as the future President, the wording of the referendum
making a vote against Zia appear to be a vote against Islam.[61] According to official figures
97.8% of votes were cast in favour of Zia, however only 20% of the electorate participated in the
referendum.

1985 elections and constitutional amendments

After holding the 1984 referendum, Zia succumbed to international pressure and gave permission
to election commission to hold national wide general elections but without political parties in
February 1985.] Most of the major opposing political parties decided to boycott the elections but
election results showed that many victors belonged to one party or the other. Critics complained
that ethnic and sectarian mobilisation filled the void left by banning political parties (or making
elections "non-partisan"), to the detriment of national integration.

The General worked to give himself the power to dismiss the Prime Minister dissolve the
National Assembly, appoint provincial governors and the chief of the armed forces. His prime
minister Muhammad Khan Junejo was known as a unassuming and soft-spoken Sindhi.

Before handing over the power to the new government and lifting the martial law, Zia got the
new legislature to retroactively accept all of Zia's actions of the past eight years, including his
coup of 1977. He also managed to get several amendments passed, most notably the Eighth
Amendment, which granted "reserve powers" to the president to dissolve the Parliament.
However, this amendment considerably reduced the power he'd previously granted himself to
dissolve the legislature, at least on paper. The text of the amendment permitted Zia to dissolve
the Parliament only if the government had been toppled by a vote of no confidence and it was
obvious that no one could form a government or the government could not function in a
constitutional manner.[12]

Economic policy

In general Zia gave economic development and policy a fairly low priority (aside from
Islamization) and delegating its management to technocrats such as Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Aftab

Qazi and Vaseem Jaffrey. However, between 1977 and 1986, the country experienced an average
annual growth in the GNP of 6.8%—the highest in the world at that time—thanks in large part to
remittances from the overseas workers, rather than government policy. The first year of Zia's
government coincided with a dramatic rise in remittances, which totalled $3.2 billion/year for
most of the 1980s, accounted for 10 percent of Pakistans's GDP; 45 percent of its current account
receipts, and 40 percent of total foreign exchange earnings.

By the time General Zia had initiated the coup against Prime Minister Zulfikar Bhutto, the
economic cycle process of nationalisation program was completed. The socialist orientation and
nationalisation program was slowly reversed; the idea of corporatisation was heavily favoured by
President Zia-ul-Haq to direct the authoritarianism in the nationalised industries. One of his well-
known and earliest initiatives were aimed to Islamize the national economy which featured the
Interest-free economic cycle. No actions towards privatising the industries were ordered by
President Zia; only three steel mill industries were returned to its previous owners.

By the end of 1987, the Finance ministry had begun studying the process of engaging the gradual
privatization and economic liberalization a few of the leading technocratic figures in his military
government,

Soviet-Afghan War and Strategic initiatives Soviet invasion and Soviet–Afghan War

On 25 December 1979, the Soviet Union (USSR) intervened in Afghanistan. Following this
invasion, Zia chaired a meeting and was asked by several cabinet members to refrain from
interfering in the war, owing to the vastly superior military power of the USSR. Zia, however,
was ideologically opposed to the idea of communism taking over a neighbouring country,
supported by the fear of Soviet advancement into Pakistan, particularly Balochistan, in search of
warm waters, and made no secret about his intentions of monetarily and militarily aiding the
Afghan resistance (the Mujahideen) with major assistance from the United States

During this meeting, the Director-General of the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)
then-Lieutenant-General Akhtar Abdur Rahman advocated for a covert operation in Afghanistan
by arming Islamic Extremists. After this meeting, Zia authorised this operation under General
Rahman, and it was later merged with Operation Cyclone, a programme funded by the United
States and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
In November 1982, Zia travelled to Moscow to attend the funeral of Leonid Brezhnev, the late
General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei
Gromyko and new Secretary General Yuri Andropov met with Zia there. Andropov expressed
indignation over Pakistan's support of the Afghan resistance against the Soviet Union and its
satellite state, Socialist Afghanistan. Zia took his hand and assured him, "General Secretary,
believe me, Pakistan wants nothing but very good relations with the Soviet Union".According to
Gromyko, Zia's sincerity convinced them, but Zia's actions didn't live up to his words.

Zia reversed many of Bhutto's foreign policy initiatives by first establishing stronger links with
the United States, Japan, and the Western world. Zia broken off relations with the Socialist state
and State capitalism became his major economic policy. US politician Charlie Wilson claims that
he worked with Zia and the CIA to channel Soviet weapons that Israel captured from the PLO in
Lebanon to fighters in Afghanistan. Wilson claims that Zia remarked to him: "Just don't put any
stars of David on the boxes"

Consolidation of atomic bomb programmed

One of the earliest initiatives taken by Zia in 1977, was to militarise the integrated atomic energy
programme which was founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1972.During the first stages, the
programme was under the control of Bhutto and the Directorate for Science, under Science
Advisor Dr. Mubashir Hassan, who was heading the civilian committee that supervised the
construction of the facilities and laboratories. This atomic bomb project had no boundaries with
Munir Ahmad Khan and Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan leading their efforts separately and reported to
Bhutto and his science adviser Dr. Hassan who had little interest in the atomic bomb project.
Major-General Zahid Ali Akbar, an engineering officer, had little role in the atomic project; Zia
responded by taking over the programme under military control and disbanded the civilian
directorate when he ordered the arrest of Hassan. This whole giant nuclear energy project was
transferred into the administrative hands of Major-General Akbar who was soon made the
Lieutenant-General and Engineer-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers to deal with
the authorities whose co-operation was required. Akbar consolidated the entire project by placing
the scientific research under military control, setting boundaries and goals. Akbar proved to be
an extremely capable officer in the matters of science and technology when he aggressively led
the development of nuclear weapons under Munir Ahmad Khan and Abdul Qadeer Khan in a
matter of five years.

By the time, Zia assumed control, the research facilities became fully functional and 90% of the
work on atom bomb project was completed. Both the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
(PAEC) and the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) had built the extensive research
infrastructure started by Bhutto. Akbar's office was shifted to Army's General Headquarters
(GHQ) and Akbar guided Zia on key matters of nuclear science and atomic bomb production. He
became the first engineering officer to have acknowledge Zia about the success of this energy
project into a fully matured programme. On the recommendation of Akbar, Zia approved the
appointment of Munir Ahmad Khan as the scientific director of the atomic bomb project, as Zia
was convinced by Akbar that civilian scientists under Munir Khan's directorship were at their
best to counter international pressure.

This was proved when the PAEC conducted the cold-fission test of a fission device, codename
Kirana-I on 11 March 1983 at the Weapon-Testing Laboratories-I, under the leadership of
weapon-testing laboratory's director Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad. Lieutenant-General Zahid Akbar went to
GHQ and notified Zia about the success of this test. The PAEC responded by conducting several
cold-tests throughout the 1980s, a policy also continued by Benazir Bhutto in the 1990s.
According to the reference in the book, "Eating Grass", Zia was so deeply convinced of the
infiltration of Western and American moles and spies into the project, that he extended his role
in the atomic bomb, which reflected extreme "paranoia", in both his personal and professional
life. He virtually had PAEC and KRL separated from each other and made critical administrative
decisions rather than putting

scientists in charge of the aspects of the atomic programmes. His actions spurred innovation in
the atomic bomb project and an intense secrecy and security culture permeated PAEC and KRL.

Nuclear diplomacy

Unlike Bhutto, who faced rogue criticism and a heated diplomatic war with the United States
throughout the 1970s, Zia took different diplomatic approaches to counter the international
pressure. From 1979 to 1983, the country was made a subject of attack by international
organisation for not signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT); Zia deftly neutralised
international pressure by tagging Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme to the nuclear designs
of the neighbouring Indian nuclear programme. Zia, with the help of Munir Ahmad Khan and
Agha Shahi, Foreign Minister, drew a five-point proposal as a practical rejoinder to world
pressure on Pakistan to sign the NPT; the points including the renouncing of the use of nuclear
weapons.

 Vernon Walters, 1981,

Following the success of Operation Opera— in which an Israeli Air Force strike took place to
destroy the Iraqi nuclear programme in 1981— suspicion grew in Pakistan that the Indian Air
Force had similar plans for Pakistan. In a private meeting with General Anwar Shamim, then-
Chief of Air Staff, Zia had notified General Shamim that the Indian Air Force had plans to
infiltrate Pakistan's nuclear energy project, citing solid evidence. Shamim felt that the Air Force
was unable to divert such attacks, therefore, he advised Zia to use diplomacy through Munir
Ahmad Khan to divert the attacks. At Vienna, Munir Ahmad Khan met with Indian physicist
Raja Ramanna and notified him that such an attack would provoke a nuclear war between the
two countries. In the meantime, Shamim decided to start the programme to acquire the F-16
Falcons and A-5 Fanton jets for the Pakistan Air Force. Shamim launched Operation Sentinel- a
counter operation that thwarted the Israeli Air Force attempt to sabotage Pakistan's nuclear
energy project—forced Indian Premier Indira Gandhi to hold talks with Pakistan on nuclear
issues and directed a high delegation to Pakistan where both countries pledged not to assist or
attack each other's facilities. In 1985, following the induction of the F-16 Falcons and A-5
Fantons, Shamim commissioned the Air Force Strategic Command to protect and battle the
weapons of mass destruction.

In 1977, Zia ultimately adopted the policy of "Nuclear opacity" to deliberately deny the atomic
bomb programmes. This policy of nuclear ambiguity was adopted after witnessing the success of
Israel's nuclear programme and on multiple occasions Zia broke his words and promises
concerning the nature of the country's atomic bomb project. On nuclear policy issues, Zia
deliberately misguided the United States and concealed classified information from the outside
world. The United States trusted Zia's sincerity and his promises made to the United States; Zia
gave assurances to the United States not to produce weapons-grade plutonium and highly
enriched uranium (HEU) above a 5% level. However, the Deputy Director of the Central
Intelligence Agency, Vernon Walter, confronted Zia on his secret trip to Pakistan in October
1981. Confronted with the evidence, Zia acknowledged that the information "must be true," but
then denied everything, leading Walters to conclude that: "either Zia "did not know the facts" or
was the "most superb and patriotic liar I have ever met..

Nuclear proliferation

Soon after the coup, the clandestine nuclear energy project was no longer a secret to the outside
world. Part of his strategy was the promotion of nuclear proliferation in anti-western states (such
as North Korea, Iran, and communist China) to aid their own nuclear ambitions, to divert
international attention which was difficult. In 1981, Zia contracted with China when he sent
weapon-grade uranium to China and also built the centrifuge laboratory which increasingly
enhanced the Chinese nuclear programme. This act encouraged Abdul Qadeer Khan, who
allegedly tried to aid the Libyan nuclear programme but because Libya–Pakistan relations were
strained, Khan was warned of serious consequences. This policy envisaged that this would
deflect international pressure onto these countries, and Pakistan would be spared the
international community's wrath.

After Zia's death, his successor General Mirza Aslam Beg, as Chief of Army Staff, encouraged
Abdul Qadeer Khan and gave him a free hand to work with some like-minded nations such as
North Korea, Iran and Libya which also wanted to pursue their nuclear ambitions for a variety of
reasons. In 2004, Abdul Khan's dismissal from the nuclear weapons programme was considered
a face saving exercise by the Pakistan Armed Forces and political establishment under the then
Chief of Army Staff and President General Pervez Musharraf. Zia's nuclear proliferation policy
had a deep impact on the world, especially anti-western states, most nominally North Korea and
Iran. In the 2000s (decade), North Korea would soon follow the same suit after it was targeted by
the international community for its on-going nuclear programme. In the 2000s (decade), North
Korea attempted to aid the Syrian and Iranian nuclear programmes in the 1990s. The North
Korean connection to the Syrian nuclear programme was exposed in 2007 by Israel in its
successful strategic operation, Orchard, which resulted in them sabotaging the Syrian nuclear
programme as well as the deaths of 10 senior North-Korean scientists who were aiding the
nuclear program.

Expansion

Even though Zia had removed the Bhutto sentiment in the nuclear energy project, Zia did not
completely disband Bhutto's policy on nuclear weapons. After the retirement of Zahid Ali Akbar,
Zia transferred control of the nuclear weapons programme to Bhutto's close aide Munir Ahmad
Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. Soon, Zia promoted Khan as the
technical director of the entire programme as well as appointing Khan as his Science
Adviser.With the support of handpicked civilian Prime Minister Muhammad Juneijo, Zia
sanctioned the launch of the 50 Megawatt (MW) heavy water plutonium production reactor,
known as Khushab-I, at Khushab in 1985. Zia also took initiatives to launched the space projects
as spin-off to nuclear project. Zia appointed nuclear engineer Salim Mehmud as the
Administrator of the Space Research Commission. Zia also launched the work on the country's
first satellite, Badr-1, a military satellite.In 1987, Zia launched the clandestine aerospace project,
the Integrated Missile Research Programme under General Anwar Shamim in 1985, and later
under Lieutenant-General Talat Masood in 1987.

The war legacy

The rise of the illicit drug trade and its spread through Pakistan to the rest of the world increased
tremendously during the Soviet-Afghan war. Afghanistan's drug industry began to take off after
the Soviet invasion in 1979. Desperate for cash with which to buy weapons, various elements in
the anti-Communist resistance turned to the drug trade. This was tolerated if not condoned by
their American sponsors such as the CIA