Overview of

Government
timeline in
Pakistan
with their
features
This document presents Made
the changes
byin Pakistans government structure
from time of independency up to the present day. This article also
Zubair
represents the events occurred
during different rulings and what
successes and failures were
there, in reference to specific governments.
Sattar

BBE-1238

Assignment for
Analysis of
Pakistani
Industries with
Mr.Saif Ur Rehman

Introduction
Pakistan as we all know came into being August 14th, 1947 and since then the nation is facing stumbling
governance and has not yet achieved economic or political stability. Since the time of its being, we have
faced different economic and social conditions under the rule of different governments that include civil
and military dictatorships. In the first era that is rather called the flat fifties in terms of advancement, has
no significant changes, neither positive nor negative in terms of prosperity in our nation. However this
period was not at all satisfactory as we had to bear severe losses in term of governance i.e. Death of
Quaid-e-Azam right after independence and Assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan in the years following.
Which led our nations moral to let down in the very beginning. Other than that there were other matters
as well which we had to overcome in order to prevail as an independent nation. Governments that ruled in
this era are as under:

Founders ruling First Five Year Plan

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the first Governor General of newly formed Pakistan
and along with him, Liaquat Ali khan was the First Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Under section 8 of Indian independence act, 1947 which was derived and formed by recent action
plan allowed Pakistan to set the Government of India Act,1935 as constitution of Pakistan with
certain adaptations and changes.
In 1948, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah died, because of Tuberculosis and this set back
was doubled with Start of Kashmir quarrel with opposing neighbor country India.
Khuwaja Nizamuddin of Muslim league became the second Governor General of Pakistan, who
previously served as Chief Minister of Bengal. War for Kashmir was followed in his rule.
A significant advancement that was recorded in this era was the initiation of first five year plan to
help stable the stumbling economy which was initiated by Ministry of Pakistan.
State Bank of Pakistan was also established to be the helping hand for ourselves in terms of
economic startup and Major expansions were in place in regards to Infrastructure to proceed with
progression for the nation.
Later on with assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan, events led to mismanaged organization of affairs
in the state.
Natural disasters in the state were first experienced during that time by the troubled nation which
had not even settled in their homeland and shook the very basics of progress in the state.
Governor General Khuwaja Nizamuddin eventually had to end the five year plan initiative
program, followed by an aid request to United States and other helping hands.

Second Ruling - Revival of Five year Plan:

Khuwaja Nizamuddin became the second Prime Minister of Pakistan and Finance Minister Malik
Ghulam Muhammad became the third Governer General of Pakistan. Both related to Muslim
League.

In 1953, Governor General Malik Ghulam Muhammad dismissed the Prime Minister and a not
well-known leader from East Pakistan Muhammad Ali Bogra became the third Prime Minister for
the state.
It is notable that not in the very long period from coming into being, these consecutively
changing governments led economy of the state to a trembling structure.
Newly appointed Prime Minister again revived the Five year plan in 1955 and it was published
later in 1956. This plan was strongly focused on Agricultural development and along with it, the
development efforts in East Pakistan and in the areas of West Pakistan were the major focused
emphasis of this plan.
During that time, a notable change was also the appointment of Iskander Mirza as Governor of
East Pakistan to bring peace to the part of the state which was politically unstable. After his
appointment, arresting of influential political and divas took place and this sowed a seed of hatred
in hearts of East Pakistani People. This later on led to separation of East Pakistan into formation
of Bangladesh. In October, 1954 Governor General declared state of emergency and Bogras
constituent assembly was dissolved.

Turn of events - Last Governor General and first president

along with several new Prime Ministers:

Bogra resigned as Prime Minister in 1955 and Chaudhary Muhammad Ali became fourth Prime
Minister for the state.
Governor General Ghulam Muhammad also resigns from his position right after.
Iskander Mirza of Military became last Governor General of Pakistan.
First constitution in his rule was instated and proclaimed Pakistan as Islamic Republic of Pakistan
and Iskander Mirza became first President of Pakistan.
Choudhary Muhammad Ali, resigned after adaption of the constitution.
Hussein Shaheed Suharwardy of Awami league became fifth Prime Minister of Pakistan.
This newly appointed Prime Minister focused on Five year Plan in terms of food development,
agriculture and social development but due to lacking of essential information and basic statistics
where as physical assistance and technical expertise was out of place to drive this plan to success
so this plan was failed despite of utter need of its success.
In the chain of events, Suharwardy resigned due to presidents refusal over matter of vote of
confidence.
Law minister in the Federal Cabinet I.I Chundrigar of Muslim League became the Sixth Prime
Minister but shortly he was forced to resign due to issue with maintaining the support of his
coalition partners. He is the only Prime Minister to hold position for less than 2 months.
Malik Feroze Khan Noon of Republican Party takes over at Prime Minister Office, becoming the
seventh Prime Minister.

Military Takes Charge Implementing Second Five Year

Plan and the one after it:

President Mirza abrogated the constitution and with help of Martial law Administrator,
Gen. Ayub Khan enforced First Martial Law in the state as law and order situation was
worsening in East Pakistan.
Chief of Army takes charge and martial law was declared.
Later on, General Ayub resigned from Office of Martial Law and took charge as prime
minister of Pakistan.
As Mirzas presidency ended and he was sent into exile, Gen Ayub assumed presidency
for himself and became second president and resigned from Prime Ministers position.
In 1962, constitution was adopted for the second time and Gereral Ayub becomes
president again.
Second Five Year Plan was initiated; it was highly focused on industrial and scientific
development. Its motto was to advance the country as far as possible. Its aim was to
boost countrys national income by 20%.
Second Five Year Plan was a huge success in itself after the failure of first plan. It
achieved its goals with notable progress in countrys economy.
Unemployment was tackled at huge by this plan.
A notable event is the war of 1965 in between Pakistan and India over Kashmir for the
second time and remarkable success for Pakistan.
In January, 1966 cease fire agreement was signed in between gen. Ayub and Indian Prime
Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent, which led to resignation of Minister of foreign
affairs, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
Third Five Year plan was designed and implemented as per the achievements of its
predecessor but only managed to provide modest growth at the rate of 10%. Urbanization
was on its peak and most of the population was moving to urban areas rather than to live
in rural areas. This plan however kept its most focus promoting the activities of Private
sector investment and to increase the productivity of financial sector. It focused of growth
of GNP wihich increased at 122%. This program ran through its first three years
successfully but failed to prove itself in the years following rather proved to be a
disappointment in terms of achieving its proclaimed goals.
Governing charge was handed over to Gen.Yahya, who promised the return of Civilian
Rule in the state and for then, Martial law takes place and Gen.Yahya takes charge as
third President. General Ayub also resigns from Prime Minister Office.
In 1970, first general elections were held and Sheikh Mujib ur Rehman acquires majority
in new National Assembly. Gen.Yahyas military government declines to assemble
assembly. Pre sown hatred in hearts of East Pakistani People boosts and attempts to break
East Pakistan from West started. Civil War begins and East Pakistan declares
independency asBangladesh.
There in the chain of events, India intervenes on behalf of Bengali separatists and
Pakistani Military surrenders to Indian Armed forces.
Noor Ul Amin of Pakistan Peoples Party takes charge as ninth Prime Minister but later
on resigns along with Gen. Yahya as president.

Democratic Ruling with ignorance to traditional Five Year

Plans:

In 1971, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan Peoples party takes charge as President
All fourth Five Year Planning was bypassed and only annual plans were prepared ad yet ignored
at large
Nationalization plan was introduced which gave clear winds to biasness and favoritism in
government sector. Privatization was ridiculed in whole.
This planning rather resembled to fourth Five Year plan just in terms of scientific development as
Pakistan was to be driven as Scientific Superpower in the world.
In 1972, signed Simla Agreement defining new line of control.
In 1973, new constitution goes into effect and Bhutto resigns from presidency, making Fazal Ilahi
President and becomes tenth Prime Minister.
In 1974, when India tests its nuclear device, Bhutto sets up Nuclear Program for the state as well.
Diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh were developed.

Military Comes Again with planned approach:

Riots erupt over allegations of rigging in general election by Pakistan Peoples Party and Gen.Zia
ul Haq declares Martial Law again.
Zia became eleventh Prime Minister.
In 1978, President resigns and Zia takes charge as President of Pakistan.
Zia Government has its plans to move along with planning in the state. Sixth Five Year Plan was
initiated with approach to stabilize the economy and improvising the living standard in the state
for poor. It focused well on defense expenditures. Some of the goals for this plan were achieved
nevertheless. Many of the controls of nationalization were removed with liberation of Industries.
Pakistan was on its way to self-sufficiency for itself in terms of basic food.
Islamization takes effect in
Zia introduces Islamic penal code in state
Later on, first elected Prime Minister, Zulfiqar Bhutto was hanged.
Zia, in 1983 announces that he will lift Martial Law but Military will have its key role in future
governments.
Sixth Five Year Plan was initiated and showed a remarkable progress toward the private sector
development. It was designed to go against some major problems of economy that were low
investments and saving ratios, lower literacy rate. Economy grew at targeted average rate of 6.5%
during planned period but droughts of 1986 and 1987 made it not possible to fully fulfill the
expectations.
Later in 1985, Martial Law and Ban On political activities were lifted and general elections were
held under military ruling.
Notable change that also under go was passing of eighth amendment which was rather
controversial.

Zia resigns from Prime Ministers Position and Muhammad Khan Junejo of Muslim League
becomes twelfth Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Due to widening Rifts, Zia dissolves the parliament, Junejo Government was dismissed and
another election was promised in 90 days.
Zia died in plane crash in August 1988.

Another Democratic era with rope of power in tension:

General elections are held, with the PPP (led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's daughter, Benazir)
winning a majority of seats. Bhutto is sworn in as prime minister.

Seventh Five year Plan was initited and private investment was its major factor.

President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dissolves the National Assembly, dismissing Bhutto's
government on charges of alleged corruption and incompetence. Fresh elections are held,
and Nawaz Sharif, groomed under Zia as the head of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI), is
elected prime minister.

The National Assembly adopts the Shariat bill, codifying elements of Islamic law into
Pakistan's legal system.

Nawaz's government initiates a military operation against violence in Karachi, the

country's largest city. The operation is largely seen to target members of the Muhajir
Qaumi Movement (MQM), a political party with its base in the city.

President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dismisses Sharif's government for alleged corruption and
incompetence. He himself resigns later in the year. General elections are held, with
Benazir Bhutto elected prime minister for her second term. Farooq Leghari, a member of
the PPP, is elected as the country's president.

Five year Planning loses its charm to the government and annual planning takes place
instead

President Farooq Leghari dissolves the National Assembly, dismissing Benazir Bhutto's
government, which was operating under a cloud of corruption allegations.

General elections are held, the fourth time such polls have taken place since 1988. Nawaz
Sharif's PML-N party wins in a landslide, and he is elected prime minister for the second
time. Rafiq Tarar is sworn in as President the next year.

Pakistan conducts nuclear tests in the Chaghai Hills of Balochistan, in response to similar
Indian tests days earlier. The international community imposes strict economic sanctions
on the country in response.

Military takes the place back once again with

implementing a newer planning scenario:

After the Kargil War, Nawaz Sharif attempts to replace General Pervez Musharraf, his
army chief. Musharraf takes power in a coup, placing Nawaz Sharif and other political
leaders under house arrest

The Supreme Court validates Musharraf's coup and gives him executive and legislative
authority for a period of three years. Nawaz Sharif and his family flee to exile in Saudi
Arabia.

General Pervez Musharraf assumes the office of president, while remaining chief of army
staff.

Musharraf wins a referendum on his presidency, granting him five more years in the job.
The government claims he wins the poll by more than 95 per cent. A general election is
also held, with the PML-Q, a party created by Musharraf and loyal to the president,
winning most seats. The PML-Q's Zafarullah Khan Jamali is elected prime minister.
Musharraf, meanwhile, institutes a raft of amendments to the 1973 constitution.

Zafaraullah Khan Jamali is replaced by Shaukat Aziz, then the finance minister, as prime
minister of Pakistan.

From June 2004, planning commission gave a new name to the five year plan Medium
term development framework. Several working groups then produced the MTDF for
years 2005-2010

President Musharraf dismisses Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Iftikhar Muhammad
Chaudhry, prompting a nationwide protest movement for his reinstatement.

Chaudhry is eventually restored, but Musharraf imposes a state of emergency later in the
year ahead of a key apex court ruling on the legality of his rule.

The National Assembly, meanwhile, completes its five-year term for the first time in
Pakistan's history.

Benazir Bhutto, who returned to the country to campaign in the general elections after the
passage of a controversial blanket corruption amnesty deal, is killed in a bomb attack in
Rawalpindi.

Democracy hits again for long:

General elections are held, with the PPP winning the majority of seats in the national
assembly. Yousuf Raza Gilani is elected prime minister, with Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's
widower and now co-chairman of the PPP, replacing Musharraf as president.

After heightening tensions over the issue, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and his
colleagues in the judiciary are restored to their positions, having been dismissed by
Pervez Musharraf after his 2007 state of emergency.

Pakistan's parliament passes the 18th amendment to the 1973 consitution, which, among
other things, reverses some of the changes brought about by Musharraf and also removes
the President's power to dissolve the parliament unilaterally under Article 58-2(b).

Caught amidst scandals involving both corruption probes and the so-called "Memogate"
affair, the PPP government comes under increasing pressure from the opposition to hold
early elections.

After being found guilty of having committed contempt of court for not implementing a
Supreme Court order to reopen a corruption case involving President Asif Ali Zardari,
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is deemed to be ineligible to hold public office. He
loses his seat in parliament, but not before he becomes the longest serving prime minister
in Pakistan's history. He is succeeded as PM by Raja Pervez Ashraf, another leading PPP
member and Zardari loyalist.

The PPP-led coalition government becomes Pakistan's first democratically elected

civilian-led government to complete its five-year term in office. A caretaker government
is appointed and a general election is set for May 11.

Current Era :
After winning general elections 2013, PML-N takes charge of the government and currently
working towards progress in Pakistan with their terms.