Second Benazir Bhutto government

Second Benazir Bhutto Government

29th Cabinet of Pakistan
1993–1996
Date formed19 October 1993
Date dissolved5 November 1996
People and organisations
President of PakistanFarooq Leghari
Chief of Army StaffAbdul Waheed Kakar (1993–1995) Jehangir Karamat (1996–1998)
Prime Minister of PakistanBenazir Bhutto
Prime Minister of Pakistan's history2nd Premiership of Benazir Bhutto (1993–1996)
DG-Interservice IntelligenceJaved Ashraf Qazi (1993–1995)
Naseem Rana (1996–1998)
Total no. of members40 (incl. Prime Minister)
Member party
  •   PPP
  •   ANP
  •   PML(J)
Status in legislatureCoalition (Plurality)
Opposition party
Opposition leaderNawaz Sharif
History
Election1993 general elections
Legislature terms10th National Assembly (1993–1996)
Advice and consentParliament of Pakistan
Incoming formationQureshi caretaker government
Outgoing formationKhalid caretaker government
PredecessorFirst Nawaz Sharif government
SuccessorSecond Nawaz Sharif government
This article is part of
a series about
Benazir Bhutto
  • Political views

Elections

Prime Minister of Pakistan

  • Assassination
Benazir Bhutto's signature

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The Second Benazir Bhutto government was formed on 19 October 1993,[1] following general elections the same month and dissolved on 5 November 1996 by President Farooq Leghari.[2]: 118  During the beginning of her second term Benazir Bhutto entered into a much stronger government than in her first term and had greater experience in administration and civil-military relations.[3][4][5] This owing to Peoples Parties governments in Sindh, NWFP (with the ANP) and Punjab (with PML-Jinnah),[6] the election of PPP "loyalist" Farooq Leghari to the presidency,[7] and greater relations with the Army under COAS Abdul Waheed Kakar and DG-ISI Javed Ashraf Qazi, who provided a conduit between the Army Chief and Prime Minister,[4] as Benazir Bhutto respected the army's internal affairs and autonomy in her second term to avoid conflict.[3] However, the government's stability suffered from economic mismanagement, growing instances of ethno-sectarian violence, increasing deadlock with the opposition PML(N), an antagonized upper-judiciary after Bhutto tried to "pack" the High Courts and later a political conflict with the President.[8] The Army (now under Gen Jehangir Karamat) which previously remained neutral became concerned over the "fast deteriorating" economic and law-and-order situation, submitting the President a report warning of "economic disaster".

The last straw came in September 1996 when Bhutto's brother, Murtaza was assassinated following tensions between the two. By mid-October, senior military officials no longer believed the government had the required competence, and therefore supported Farooq Leghari in the political conflict between President and Prime Minister.[9] Prior to this Farooq Leghari had already met with Nawaz Sharif and discussed the dismissal of the government. Confident in military support and to pre-empt a PPP-PML(J) vote of no confidence in Punjab,[a] as well as due to economic conditions the President dismissed the government of Benazir Bhutto on 5 November 1996.[11][12]

  1. ^ Partner, Media Group | Publishing (2017-10-28). "Special Report: Daughter of the East 1988-1990/1993-1996". DAWN.COM. From Dawn's archives. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  2. ^ LaPorte, Robert (1997). "Pakistan in 1996: Starting Over Again". Asian Survey. 37 (2): 118–125. doi:10.2307/2645477. ISSN 0004-4687. JSTOR 2645477.
  3. ^ a b Rizvi 2000, p. 220.
  4. ^ a b Nawaz 2009, p. 474.
  5. ^ Ziring 2005, p. 233-234.
  6. ^ Khan 2017, p. 425-426.
  7. ^ Cloughley 2016, p. 185.
  8. ^ Rizvi 2000, p. 221-224.
  9. ^ Rizvi 2000, p. 224-225.
  10. ^ Talbot 2010, p. 344-345, 349.
  11. ^ Talbot 2010, p. 348-349.
  12. ^ Nawaz 2009, p. 486.


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