Role of Benazir Bhutto in Restoration of Democracy in Pakistan (1977-1988

Abstract

Benazir Bhutto has the distinction of being the first popularly elected female prime minister in any Muslim country in the world. But this distinction was preceded by her more than a decade long struggle against dictatorship of General Ziaul Haq. Aspiring to join diplomatic corps or media as a journalist, she entered in politics under the force of circumstances in 1977 after the government of her father, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was toppled in a coup. Gradually, she occupied the center stage in the politics of Pakistan through her sheer struggle against dictatorship and for restoration of democracy in the country. In the process, she was subjected to repeated detentions, intimidation, coercion as well as physical and mental hardships to abandon her struggle. However, she was able to sustain those hardships and finally paved the way towards restoration of democracy in Pakistan in 1988.

Electoral Performance of Religiopolitical Alliance (IJI) in Election 1988: An Assessment

“…23 It was said that Director General ISI General Hameed Gul was the real founder of this coalition and two other high profile military officers including Brigadier Imtiaz and Major Amir supported him. 24 The basic purpose of this alliance was to keep away the socialist PPP from power. 25 IJI selected "bicycle" for election symbol 26 and distributed her new manifesto in public on November 8, 1988 just before the commencement of elections.…”