Pakistan has had a complex political history since its founding in 1947. Here is a brief overview of the
political evolution of Pakistan since 1971:
1971: East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) declares independence from West Pakistan, leading to a
civil war and ultimately the formation of Bangladesh.
1977: General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq seizes power in a military coup and becomes the President of
Pakistan. He introduces Islamization policies and suppresses political opposition.General Muhammad Zia
ul-Haq was the President of Pakistan from 1978 until his death in 1988. He came to power after leading a
military coup that overthrew the civilian government of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. During his time
in office, General Zia implemented a number of policies that had a significant impact on Pakistani politics
and society.One of the most significant actions taken by General Zia was the Islamization of the country,
which involved the implementation of Islamic law and the promotion of Islamic values in government and
society. This included measures such as the introduction of the Hudood Ordinances, which imposed strict
penalties for crimes such as adultery and theft, and the implementation of the Shariat Court system to
adjudicate cases involving Islamic law.General Zia also made efforts to strengthen the military's role in
Pakistani politics and government. He centralised power in the presidency and increased the military's
influence over key government institutions and decision-making processes.Overall, General Zia's
presidency was a controversial and divisive period in Pakistani history, and his legacy is still debated by
politicians and historians today.
1988: General Zia dies in a plane crash and is succeeded by Ghulam Ishaq Khan, who becomes the
President of Pakistan.
1990: Benazir Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), is elected as the Prime Minister of
Pakistan, becoming the first woman to hold that position in a Muslim-majority country.Benazir Bhutto
was a Pakistani politician who served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan on two occasions: 1988-1990 and
1993-1996. She was the first woman in the Muslim world to lead a democratic government as prime
minister.Bhutto was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was also Prime Minister of Pakistan and was
overthrown and later executed by the military government of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq in 1979.
After her father’s death, Bhutto became active in Pakistani politics and was a leading figure in the
opposition to the military government.In 1988, after the death of General Zia in a plane crash, Bhutto was
elected Prime Minister of Pakistan in national elections. During her first term in office, Bhutto
implemented a number of economic and social reforms, including measures to reduce poverty and
promote education. However, her government was also marked by corruption and political instability,
and she was ultimately dismissed by the President in 1990 on charges of corruption and
mismanagement.Bhutto was re-elected as Prime Minister in 1993, but her second term in office was also
marked by corruption and political turmoil. In 1996, she was dismissed by the President again on corruption charges, and later went into exile in Dubai. Bhutto returned to Pakistan in 2007, but was
assassinated at a political rally in December of that year. Despite her controversial tenure as Prime
Minister, Bhutto remains a significant figure in Pakistani politics and is remembered as a symbol of
democracy in the country.
1997: Sharif is re-elected as Prime Minister.
In 1997, Sharif was elected Prime Minister for the second time after leading his party, the Pakistan Muslim
League (Nawaz), to victory in national elections. During his second term in office, Sharif implemented a
number of economic reforms, including measures to liberalize trade and industry, and worked to improve
relations with India.However, Sharif’s second term was also marked by political instability and allegations
of corruption. In 1999, he was dismissed from office by the President on charges of corruption and
mismanagement, and later sentenced to prison on similar charges. Sharif was later released from prison
on parole and went into exile in Saudi Arabia
1999: Sharif is overthrown in a military coup led by General Pervez Musharraf.
2008: Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of Benazir Bhutto, becomes the President of Pakistan after Musharraf
steps down.Asif Ali Zardari is a Pakistani politician who served as the President of Pakistan from 2008 to
2013. He is the husband of Benazir Bhutto, who was also Prime Minister of Pakistan on two
occasions.Zardari became President of Pakistan after his wife’s assassination in 2007. He was elected in a
presidential election held in 2008, and took office in September of that year.During his time in office,
Zardari faced a number of challenges, including a deteriorating security situation, economic instability,
and political tensions. He implemented a number of economic and social reforms, including measures to
improve the country’s infrastructure and promote education.However, Zardari’s presidency was also
marked by controversy and allegations of corruption. He faced criticism for his handling of the security
situation and for the perceived failure of his government to address economic and social issues. In 2013,
he completed his term as President and was succeeded by Mamnoon Hussain
2013: Nawaz Sharif, now leader of the PML-N, is elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan for the third
time.
2017: Sharif is disqualified from holding public office by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on corruption
charges. He is succeeded by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, also of the PML-N.
2018: Imran Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, is elected as the Prime Minister of
Pakistan
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