Benazir Bhutto’s First Government (1988–1990): Challenges, Reforms & Dismissal
Benazir Bhutto’s First Government (1988–1990): Hope, Struggles & Dismissal Link to Previous Era: For background, read the article on General Zia-ul-Haq’s Era (1977–1988) . Background: After the tragic death of General Zia-ul-Haq in a plane crash on 17 August 1988 —an event that also claimed the lives of senior military officers and an American ambassador—the constitutional authority shifted to the Chairman Senate, Ghulam Ishaq Khan , who became the acting President of Pakistan under the constitution. He later announced general elections to be held in November 1988 . Benazir Bhutto’s Return & Political Mobilization: Benazir Bhutto, living in exile, made a historic return to Pakistan on 10 April 1986 . Despite President Zia’s efforts to prevent her return, Prime Minister Junejo persuaded him to allow it to avoid global backlash against Pakistan’s democratic image. Upon arrival, she led a massive rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, which signaled her political power and generated ...