Pakistan's Domestic Political Developments: Issues for Congress

Publication Date: September 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Type:

Coverage: Pakistan

Abstract:

In October 2002, Pakistani national elections nominally fulfilled President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's promise to restore the National Assembly that was dissolved in the wake of his extra-constitutional seizure of power in October 1999. 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 vowing to maintain Musharraf's foreign and economic policies. Increasingly fractious debate over the legitimacy of Musharraf's August 2002 changes to the country's constitution has hamstrung the civilian government.

Many of the changes greatly augment the President's already considerable powers and institutionalize a permanent governance role for the military, which Musharraf still heads. The 1999 coup triggered restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance, restrictions waived in October 2001 and again in March 2003 by President Bush. In response to continued perceived antidemocratic practices in Islamabad, there is legislation in the 108th Congress aimed at restoring aid restrictions through removal of the U.S. President's waiver authority (H.R. 1403). Sections of S. 1161 and S. 790 would extend the President's waiver authority through FY2004 or FY2005, respectively. This report will be updated periodically.