Pakistan

B

Political Parties

During the period of martial law (1977-1985) political parties were first severely limited in their activities and then, in October 1979, banned outright. They were allowed to resume their activities in December 1985. The first proper elections after the ending of military rule were won by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), founded in the 1960s by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and the dominant party in the country in the period before martial law. Bhutto’s daughter, Benazir, became prime minister, but was dismissed by the president in August 1990. After a short period of emergency rule, new elections in October 1990 were won by the Islamic Democratic Alliance. The PPP became the main opposition party until 1993 when a new crisis led to the dismissal of the prime minister and a general election, which returned the PPP and Benazir Bhutto to power. The Pakistan Muslim League (PML) under Nawaz Sharif then emerged as the main opposition party, and won the 1997 elections with a huge majority. But just two years later, in October 1999, the military led a bloodless coup and took control of the government. Political parties have not, however, been banned and at the 2002 legislative elections more than a dozen political parties stood. The largest parties in the new government are the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) (PMLQ), the Muttahhida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan (MMA), and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PMLN).

C

Judiciary

The highest court in Pakistan is the Supreme Court. The judicial system in each province is headed by a High Court. A Federal Shari’ah Court has been established to determine whether any law is wholly or partially un-Islamic. In 1991 parliament passed a law obliging the criminal code to conform to Islamic law. In 1992 the death penalty, in abeyance since 1986, was reintroduced. Under the present military regime, courts are answerable to the president.

D

Local Government

Pakistan is divided into four provinces—Baluchistan, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, and Sindh—the Federal Capital Territory of Islamabad, and the federally administered tribal areas along the north-west border with Afghanistan. During civil rule, provincial governors, appointed by the president of Pakistan, were assisted by elected provincial legislative assemblies (the governors were dismissed with the declaration of martial law). For local government purposes, the provinces are subdivided into divisions, districts, and agencies. The tribal areas—Khyber, Kurram, Malakand, Mohmand, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan—were officially administered by political agents responsible to the federal government. The laws of Pakistan did not operate in these areas, and they were administered according to the traditional customs of their people.

Azad Kashmir, the western part of the area of Jammu and Kashmir controlled by Pakistan, has its own government, president, prime minister, and courts. The northern portion—Gilgit, Diamir, and Baltistan—is directly administered by the federal government.

E

Health and Welfare

Health services in Pakistan are limited by a lack of finance and facilities. In 1994 the country had about 66,200 doctors (1 per 2,064 people) and some 80,900 beds in hospitals and clinics. In 1976 an old-age pension system was inaugurated, but it covers relatively few Pakistanis. In 2008 the infant mortality rate was 67 deaths for every 1,000 live births. Pakistan spends an estimated 3.5 per cent of GDP on health care.

F

Defence

Military service in Pakistan is voluntary. In 2004 the country’s armed forces had about 619,000 members, with 550,000 in the army, 45,000 in the air force, and 24,000 in the navy. Pakistan is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and officially became a nuclear power when it conducted underground tests in May 1998. As a percentage of government expenditure, Pakistan’s spending on defence is approximately 18 and amounts to around three times that of its main rival nation, India. Arms imports in 1993 amounted to US$430 million. The army has played a highly significant part in the country’s political history.