The turbulent history of Pakistan's Prime Ministers
In its seven decades Pakistan has yet to see a PM complete his/her tenure. Photo: Dunya News
(Web Desk) – As Pakistan gears to celebrate its 70th independence this August, the country is faced with a myriad of challenges, ensuring a stable democratic system being one. Since its inception in 1947, the country has yet to witness a prime minister that has been able to complete the 5-year tenure.
This Friday another Prime Minister’s term ended abruptly, just one year ahead of the next General Elections, when the Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif in an unprecedented verdict. This was the third time Nawaz Sharif’s premiership was cut short leaving the country in search of yet another premier.
Here’s a look at the Prime Ministers the country has had and their incomplete tenures:
Liaquat Ali Khan
He was the first Prime Minister of Pakistan who took charge of the office on August 15, 1947. He was assassinated on October 16 1951.
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First Prime Minister of Pakistan , Liaquat Ali Khan. Photo: Encyclopedia Britannica
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
After 13 years of martial law, Bhutto came into power and remained the president under special arrangements till the passage of the 1973 Constitution. He became the Prime Minister after succeeding in the 1973 elections. In July 1977, he was removed from the office after Gen. Zia ul Haq imposed a martial law after which Bhutto was implicated in the Nawab Muhammad Ahmad Khan murder and sentenced to death.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto remained the Prime Minister from 1973 to 1977. Photo: Reuters
Muhammad Khan Junejo
In the 1985 non-party elections, Junejo was elected the Prime Minister. However, his government was dismissed in May 1988 following the Ojhri Camp tragedy in Rawalpindi.
Muhammad Khan Junejo was elected the PM in 1985. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Benazir Bhutto
Bhutto was elected as the Prime Minister twice. She was elected to the public office in 1988 and just two years later, in 1990, her government was toppled by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan by invoking the Article 58(2)B. She was again elected the Prime Minister for a second time in 1993. But her government met the same fate as before when President Farooq Khan Leghari toppled the government in 1996.
Benazir Bhutto was elected as the Prime Minister twice. Photo: Reuters
Nawaz Sharif
Sharif was elected as Prime Minister for the first time in 1990. But his fist tenure was cut short in 1993, when he was forced to resign. In 1997, Sharif was elected for a second time. But with Gen. Pervez Musharraf imposing an emergency in October of 1999, Sharif’s government was toppled once again.
Nawaz Sharif was elected into office thrice, each time failing to complete his premiership tenure. Photo: AFP
During the Musharraf era, three prime ministers served the country including Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Shaukat Aziz.
Yousuf Raza Gilani
Following the 2008 general elections, Yousaf Raza Gilani of the PPP became the Prime Minister. In 2012, he was disqualified for contempt of court for failing to follow through reopening of corruption cases and reaching out to Swiss authorities for the same. The remaining of the PPP-led government’s tenure was completed by Raja Pervaiz Ashraf till March 2013 right before the general elections were to be held in May.
Gilani served as PM in 2008 after the PPP came into power but was disqualified in 2012 for contempt of court. Photo: AFP
