Ans: Muhammad Khan Junejo’s Government (1985-1988):
After his success in a controversial referendum, General Muhammad Zia-ul-
Haq took oath for the office of the president for next five years, on March 23,
1985, under restored constitution. Elections were held, on non-party basis,
and a well reputed Sindh based politician Muhammad Khan Junejo was
appointed prime minister. The Parliament passed 8th constitutional
amendment bill in December 1985. Martial law was lifted.
Salient features of 8th constitutional Bill:
Following are important features of the amendment:
All the steps so far taken by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and all changes
jr the constitution affected by him were legalized.
President’s power to dissolve the Parliament was given constitutional status.
All steps taken by General Zia, in pursuance of his Islamization policy, were
given constitutional protection.
Zia-Junejo Confrontation:
It was a general perception about Junejo that he will always follow Zia’s line
and remain loyal to him. But contrary to all expectations Junejo started to
assert the authority of the civil government. This created a rift between the
president and the prime minister, which further increased when Muhammad
Khan Junejo expressed his intention to curtail defense budget for
strengthening national economy. But the Geneva Accord proved to be the
ultimate cause for the removal of Muhammad Khan Junejo.
- The Geneva Accord:
The main purpose of Geneva talks was to set a deadline for the withdrawal
of Soviet Army from Afghanistan. General Zia was of the opinion that
Pakistan should not sign this agreement until a Mujahideen Government is
established in Kabul. In March 1988 the Junejo government called a Round
Table Conference of political parties, for discussing what position Pakistan
should take in Geneva talks.
The Dismissal of the Junejo Government:
All the politicial parties supported Junejo’s point of view which was different
from Zia-ul-Haq’s opinion. In 1988 political consensus was developed on the
basic principles of Geneva Accord. General Zia-ul-Haq was unhappy with
the prime minister because he thought that Pakistan was going to become
unsafe if Americans leave Afghanistan without setting up a stable
government in Kabul. Pakistan and Afghanistan signed the Geneva Accord
on April 14, 1988, the US and the Soviet Union signed the accord as
guarantors. Soviet Union accepted her defeat and agreed to withraw all her
troops from Afghanistan till February 15, 1989. This resulted in the end of
Afghan war. Zia-ul-Haq dismissed Junejo government on May 29, 1988.
General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq died in a plane crash on August 17, 1988.
Senate chairman Ghulam Ishaq Khan took over as president after Zia’s
death.