Pakistan's Domestic Political Developments

Publication Date: October 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Keywords: Pakistan

Type:

Coverage: Pakistan

Abstract:

Pakistan is a strategically important country and home to one of the world's largest Muslim populations. In October 1999, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Gen. Pervez Musharraf replaced Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup. In the wake of the military overthrow of the elected government, Islamabad faced considerable international opprobrium and was subjected to automatic coup-related U.S. sanctions. The September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and Musharraf's ensuing withdrawal of support for the Afghan Taliban regime, however, had the effect of greatly reducing Pakistan's international isolation. Congress removed restrictions, and large-scale U.S. aid to the country resumed, in the final months of 2001. The United States views Pakistan as a vital ally in the international anti-terrorism coalition. The Bush Administration has refrained from expressing any significant public criticisms of the Pakistan's internal political practices, while still asserting that the strengthening of civilian political institutions in Islamabad is a requirement for the development of a stable, moderate Islamic state. October 2002 elections in Pakistan nominally fulfilled President Musharraf's promise to restore the National Assembly that was dissolved in the wake of his extraconstitutional seizure of power. A pro-military alliance won a plurality of seats, while a coalition of Islamist parties made a surprisingly strong showing. Musharraf supporter M.Z. Jamali became Pakistan's new prime minister. The civilian government was hamstrung for more than one year by fractious debate over the legitimacy of Musharraf's August 2002 changes to the country's constitution and his continued status as Army Chief and President. A surprise December 2003 agreement between Musharraf and the Islamist opposition ended the deadlock by bringing the constitutional changes before Parliament and by eliciting a promise from Musharraf to resign his military commission before 2005. Non-Islamist opposition parties strongly criticized the arrangement as undemocratic. In 2004, Parliament established a National Security Council that may institutionalize a permanent governance role for the army; Musharraf shuffled prime ministers to seat his close ally, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz; secular opposition parties saw themselves further marginalized; and Musharraf has signaled that he may continue his role as Army Chief beyond the stated deadline. There are concerns that Pakistan's civilian democratic institutions have been weakened by these developments. In P.L. 108-106, Congress extended the President's authority to waive couprelated sanctions through FY2004. In September 2004, Congress passed H.R. 4818, which would further extend that authority through FY2005. The 9/11 Commission Report called Musharraf's government the best hope for stability in Pakistan and Afghanistan and recommends the provision of long-term and comprehensive support to Pakistan so long as its government remains committed to combating terrorism and to a policy of enlightened moderation. Pending legislation in the 108th Congress, including H.R. 5024, H.R. 10, and S. 2774, seeks to implement this and other Commission recommendations. See also CRS Issue Brief IB94041, Pakistan-U.S. Relations and CRS Report RL32259, Terrorism in South Asia. This report will be updated periodically.