Time line of Islamic India to Pakistan

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This is a timeline of Islaamic India to Pakistan.

Pakistan is a country that we all love due to its beloved Muslims that we interact with and have islaamic bonds with, regardless if we come from there or not.

I took the time to paste it here but you can also view it here in sections:

www.khilafah.com/pak_conf/timeline.htm

was-salaam

Ma'ruf





TimeLine Main
Islamic India
The British in India
Pakistan established
The Lahore Offensive
Current state


Islamic India
2nd Century AH

Mohammad Bin Qasim-Al-Thaqafi, a brilliant 19 year-old Arab general from Basra (Iraq) marched into Pakistan by way of Persia and Balochistan with the army of 60,000 men. He employed a method of warfare never before seen in the subcontinent - large carriage-drawn catapults capable of hurling heavy stones and missiles across the distances of about 200 yards. He marched all the way to Nerun (Hyderabad) where he engaged Raja Dahir, the local Hindu ruler and his massive army of 20,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry. Mohammad Bin Qasim defeated Raja Dahir with contemptuous ease. This was under the Khilafah of Al-Wahid-bin-Abdal Malik, though he was deputised by the Wali (governor) of Iraq Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf. Through this Sindh came under the authority of Islam.

Under the rule of Khaleefah Hisham, Islamic rule extended to Kashmir and Kangra.

Under Mansur II Qandahar was annexed and a lot of South Asia consolidated.

Under Harun Ar-Rashid the frontiers of Islamic rule were extended westwards to Gujrat.



3rd Century AH

361- 421 AH – Mahmud Al-Ghaznawi was born, he lead great battles against Kufr, spreading the authority of Islam throughout the Indian subcontinent. He gave the pledge of obedience (Bai’ah) to the Abbasid Khaleefah AI-Kadir Billah. He managed to spread the reach of Islam beyond Kashmir and Punjab and to destroy their idols. He converted the Punjab region to Islam with Muslim governors appointed by Ghaznawids based in Lahore. By the end of the fourth century, Mahmud al Ghaznawi added the Punjab, the Multan and Bengal regions; these regions constitute today the two states of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Mujaddid Alf Thani was born on 14th of Shawwal, in the year 971AH. His major contribution for Islam was to oppose the corruption of Akbar who led the Moghul Empire. Akbar combined Islam, Hinduism and Christianity together to a form a new religion, he opposed this and succeeded in his opposition to this new heresy. This wouldn’t be the first time in the Indian subcontinent that such a plan would be instituted!


The British in India



The British in India - The Colonisation of the East India Company
In 1583 CE, the English Monarch Elizabeth I sent the Ship ‘Tyger’ to scout for potential trade in India.

1599 – The Queen provided special trading rights to a group of businessman in London.

Traders from the East India Company plying their trade to the locals

1614, the British East India Company opened it's first office in Bombay.

By the Middle of the 18th Century the East India Company, in the guise of a purely economic venture sought dominance politically over the markets in India.

After the battle of Plassey in 1757, the English began the systematic conquest of the Indian subcontinent.

1857 war of Independence – Soldiers from Indian locals who had fought with the British now rebelled against them. This war was quelled; the British laid the blame for what they termed the ‘mutiny’, squarely in the hands of the Muslims of India.

A scene from the war of Independence

Sir Sayed Ahmed Khan opposed the Jihad on behalf of the Muslims against the British as unlawful from the point of view of Islam, he even went as far as saying the Muslims were Musat’amin (protected under British rule).

The complete opposite was the case, as the British after 1857 began to confiscate the properties of Muslims, and stopped Muslims from taking up prominent positions in India.

Indeed in 1871 Dr. William Hunter, a British civil servant in Bengal, published his famous book The Indian Mussalmans, in which he raised questions about the loyalty of the Muslims to the British government. He wrote:

"The Muslims of India are, and have been for many years, a source of chronic danger to the British power in India".

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1885 - A retired British civil servant, Allan Octavian Hume established the Indian National Congress in Simla.

1906 – All India Muslim League founded - Sir Aga Khan appointed as its first President.

It was founded upon three objectives:

1. To inculcate among Muslims a feeling of loyalty to the Government and to disabuse their minds of mis-understandings and misconceptions out of it's actions and intentions.

2. To protect and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslims of India and to represent to the Government from time to time, their needs and aspirations.

3. To prevent the growth of ill-will between Muslims and other nationalities without prejudice to its own purposes.

1914-1918 – World War I

1916 – Lucknow Pact, a joint declaration between Congress and the Muslim league to co-operate in areas including the call for self rule.

1919-1924 – The Khilafat Movement was launched by the Ali brothers who witnessed the overtaking of the lands of the Muslims and the takeover of much of the holy lands of the Muslims.

Picture of the Ali brothers taken during their imprisonment by the British in 1921

“boli amma Muhammad Ali ki Jan beta Khilafat pai dedo”

A slogan in Urdu, which translates to: "so spoke the mother of Muhammad Ali. Son ! lay down your life for the sake of Khilafah"

One of the main actions of the Khilafat movement was to oppose the post-war settlement vis a vis the Uthmaniya Khilafah. This treaty placed the Islamic holy places under the control of the Allies. They countered that the Prophet (saw), who with dying breath had bidden them never to surrender the Jazirat-ul-Arab (Arabia, Iraq, Syria and Palestine) to any non-Muslim government.

The arrest of the Ali brothers in September 1921 gave a severe blow to the Khilafat Movement. They had been at the forefront of calling Muslims against fighting on behalf of the British and accepting the break-up of the Khilafah.

3rd March 1924 – Mustafa Kemal declares the abolition of the Khilafah to be replaced by a Secular Republic. This struck at the heart of the Muslims of India who now felt helpless to the situation they had fought against.

1940 - Muslim League endorses idea of a separate nation for India's Muslims.

Indian Independence Act

British parliament on July 18, 1947 passed the Indian Independence Act. The Act created two dominions: Indian Union and Pakistan. It also provided for the complete end of British control over Indian affairs from August 15, 1947.



Pakistan established




1947 - Muslim state of East and West Pakistan created out of partition of India at the end of British rule. Hundreds of thousands die in widespread communal violence and millions are made homeless.

Refugees use any transport available to reach what they believed would be an Islamic State

The state of Pakistan was established through the suffering of those who saw the establishment of Islam as a birthright. Successive administrations and the continual subjugation at the hands of the British and then the US betrayed this longing.

It was agreed between Jinnah and Nehru that a Boundary Commission should be setup to define the borders between India and Pakistan. The British Government immediately appointed a Boundary Commission under Sir Cyril Radcliffe to demarcate permanent borders.

Although it had been agreed that lands inhabited by majority Hindu populations would stay with India, and vice versa with Pakistan, the reality betrayed the theory.

The hypocrisy of the carving up of the borders benefited the Hindus and the Sikhs at the expense of the Muslims. Such as:



Junagadh - Junagadh's ruler was a Muslim but his subjects were 80 percent Hindu. On September 15, 1947, the Nawab acceded to Pakistan, despite the fact that his state did not fall within the geographical grouping of Pakistan. India protested, rushed in her troops and forcibly reversed the Nawab decision and Junagadh become a part of India.


Hyderabad - Hyderabad, the second of defiant states was the largest and richest in India. Its population was 85 % Hindu but the ruler (Nizam) was a Muslim. He was reluctant either to accede to India or Pakistan but was dismissed by Mountbatten from adopting this course. The Hindu subjects revolted against the Nizam's desire to be independent. The whole province plunged into violence. The Indian army went in to restore order and under the pretext of "police action" India annexed Hyderabad.

Jodhpur - Yet another prince, the Maharaja of Jodhpur, expressed a wish to join Pakistan but Mountbatten warned him that his subjects were mostly Hindus and his accession to Pakistan would create problems. As a result Jodhpur, too, acceded to India.

Kashmir the last of the defiant states, was the reverse of Hyderabad. It had a Hindu Maharaja Hari Singh but his subjects were Muslims, accounting to 78%. He was reluctant either to join India or Pakistan. But Lord Mountbatten urged him to make a decision to join either state before August 15, 1947.

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The Maharaja asked for more time to consider his decision. In the meantime he asked the Indian and the Pakistani government to sign a "standstill agreement" with him. Pakistan consented but India refused.

The local population of Poonch began to press the Maharaja to accede to Pakistan. In August, 1947 they held a massive demonstration to protest against the Maharaja's indecisiveness. The Maharaja panicked. He asked his Hindu paratroops to shoot, within a matter of seconds several hundreds Muslims were killed. Against this brutal action, a local barrister called Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim immediately set up the Azad Kashmir government and began to wage guerrilla warfare against the Maharaja.

By October 1947, the war of Kashmir had begun in earnest. The Pathans tribesman from the North West Frontier Province wanted to avenge the deaths of their brothers. Thousands of Pathan warriors invaded the valley and on reaching the valley of Kashmir, they routed the Maharaja's troops and reached the gates of Srinagar, the capital.

The Maharaja sensing defeat took refuge in Jammu. From there he appealed to India to send troops to halt the relentless onslaught of the tribesman. India agreed on the condition that Kashmir would accede to India. On October 26, 1947 the Maharaja acceded to India. Lord Mountbatten accepted the accession on behalf of India.

In January, 1948 India took the dispute to the security council. There it accused Pakistan of aggression and demanded that Pakistan withdraw her tribesman. But Pakistan held that accession of Kashmir had been brought about by force and requested the security council to arrange a cease-fire and ask both the tribesman and the Indian troops to withdraw so that a free and impartial plebiscite could be held to ascertain the wishes of the people of Kashmir.

While the Kashmir issue was still at the table, the Indian troops launched a full scale attack and drove tribesman right back to the Pakistani border.

Pakistan, rushed her regular troops into Kashmir and had a full-scale war with India. She took control of Azad Kashmir. But the Security Council on August 13, 1948 called for an immediate cease-fire, the withdrawal of all Pakistani and Indian troops and holding of plebiscite under the UN supervision. Both the Indian and Pakistani governments accepted the resolution.
In January, 1949, the resolution began to be implemented. In July, 1949 the cease-fire line was demarcated. Pakistan's side of Kashmir consisted of some parts of Jammu, Poonch, some areas of Western Kashmir, Gilgit and in the North a great chunk of Ladakh territory near the Chinese border. India kept the valley of Kashmir, Jammu and the remainder of Ladakh territory near the Tibet border.

September 11, 1948 – Muhammad Ali Jinnah dies and is replaced by Khawaja Nazimuddin (below) who takes over as the second Governor General of Pakistan.

On March 12, 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted a resolution moved by Liaquat Ali Khan (right), the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, called the Objectives Resolution. It proclaimed that the future constitution of Pakistan would not be modelled upon the European pattern, but on the ideology and democratic faith of Islam.

Objectives Resolution, which is considered to be the ‘a great turning point’ to realise the dream of an Islamic state, proclaimed the following principles:

1. Sovereignty belongs to Allah alone; but he has delegated it to the State of Pakistan through its people for being exercised within the limits prescribed by Him as a sacred trust;

2. The State shall exercise its powers and authority through the chosen representatives of the people;

3. The principles of Democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice as enunciated by Islam shall be fully observed;

4. The Muslims shall be enabled to order their lives in the individual and collective spheres in accordance with the teachings of Islam as set out in the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

5. Adequate provision shall be made for the minorities to freely profess and practice their religions and develop their cultures;

6. Pakistan shall be a Federation;

7. Fundamental Rights shall be guaranteed;

8. Judiciary shall be independent.

Liaquat Ali Khan called it "the most important occasion in the life of this country, next in importance, only to the achievement of independence."
The Objectives Resolution became a part of the constitution of Pakistan in 1985 under the Eighth Amendment.

But some of what was written down on paper in relation to the sovereignty belonging to Allah were merely word on paper - they had and still do not have any impact on the structure of government and the source of law making. This is the case in the way the government managed the economy, relations with India, as well as all other aspects of state affairs. As for the issues of adopting democracy and freedoms, these are not just definitions but are western constructs whose meanings contradict with the sovereignty of Allah (swt).

Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated in October 1951, in Rawalpindi, the then Governor General, Khawaja Nazimuddin took over as the second Prime Minister of Pakistan.

When Khawaja Nazimuddin took over as Prime Minister in 1951, Ghulam Muhammad became the Governor General.

Khawaja Nazimuddin was dismissed by the Governor General, Malik Ghulam Muhammad on April 17, 1953, and replaced by Muhammad Ali Bogra.

Muhammad Ali Bogra was then the Pakistani Ambassador to United States. He realized the insecurity of his office, and passed an act stripping the Governor General of his overriding powers at a time when Malik Ghulam Muhammad was out of the then capital, Karachi.

On October 24, 1954, Malik Ghulam Muhammad dissolved the Constituent Assembly of Muhammad Ali Bogra on the grounds that it had 'lost the confidence of the people', and declared a state of emergency in the country. Chaudhary Muhammad Ali was appointed the new Prime Minister on August 11, 1955.

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Under his leadership the Constituent Assembly adopted the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1956.

After nine years of effort, Pakistan completed the task of framing a constitution which was implemented on March 23, 1956, proclaiming Pakistan as an ‘Islamic Republic’. The constitution was Islamic and Federal (which is truly a contradictory combination). The Islamic provisions were contained in the directive principles of State policy. Urdu and Bengali were accepted as State languages, English was to remain the official language for two decades. As regards the representation of two wings, the principle of parity was adopted. As regards the form of government, the Parliamentary system was chosen.

The constitution of 1956 proved to be a short lived one. On October 7, 1958, Martial law was proclaimed and the constitution was abrogated. The new regime appointed a constitution commission which gave its report in May 1961.

The Constitution of 1956 changed the status of Pakistan from that of a Dominion within the British Commonwealth to that of Republic within the Commonwealth. Iskander Mirza was elected as the first President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1956.

During his tenure from 1955 to 1958, he brought about various cabinet changes and advocated a controlled democracy for Pakistan.

On December 16, 1957, Malik Feroz Khan Noon took over the office of Prime Minister from Chundrigar. But his term lasted for less than a year and Martial law was declared in 1958.



Soon after the adoption of the 1956 Constitution, Chaudhary Muhammad Ali was replaced by Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy as Prime Minister on September 12, 1956.

After merely a year in office, Suhrawardy resigned (left) from the premiership in October 1957, due to President's refusal to convene a meeting of the parliament to seek a vote of confidence.

Chundrigar was appointed interim Prime Minister by the President, Iskander Mirza.
On October 7, 1958, President Iskander Mirza abrogated the Constitution and declared martial law in the country. This was the first of many martial laws to mar Pakistan's history. General Muhammad Ayub Khan, the then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces became the Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA). Within three weeks of assuming charge, Iskander Mirza was ousted by General Ayub Khan, who declared himself as President.

General Ayub Khan (left) gave himself the rank of 'Field Marshal'. Corruption had become so endemic within the national and civic systems of administration that Ayub Khan was welcomed as a national hero by the people.

The 1962 Constitution, announced by President Ayub Khan on March 1, 1962, was Islamic, Federal, and Presidential. The President was to be elected indirectly by 80,000 Basic Democrats, for a period of five years. Bengali and Urdu were declared National Languages.

The new Constitution gave the President wide ranging executive powers, including the authority to override the elected Parliament.

In March 1962, Ayub Khan suspended Martial Law and proclaimed the Constitution of 1962. Presidential elections were held in January 1965, and Ayub Khan defeated Miss Fatima Jinnah, Jinnah's sister, to once again become the President of Pakistan.

During his term, the "Great Decade" was celebrated, which highlighted the development plans executed during ten years of Ayub's rule. The 1965 war was fought during Ayub's term and Ayub Khan represented Pakistan in the subsequent Tashkent talks.

Ayub Khan moved the capital of Pakistan from Karachi to Islamabad in 1965, but could not complete his term due to public pressure.

He handed over power to General Muhammad Yahya Khan (left) on March 25, 1969.

In September, 1965, the long standing border disputes, communal tensions and conflict over the question of Kashmir flared into a full-scale war between India and Pakistan.



The War in Kashmir
Events in Kashmir were also moving towards a climax. The Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri further agitated matters by calling Kashmir a part of India like Delhi or Bombay. The Indian government also took charge of nominating an administrator over Kashmir.



The Lahore Offensive

The Lahore Offensive
At 3:00 a.m. on September 6, 1965, without a formal declaration of war, Indians crossed the international border of West Pakistan and launched a three-pronged offensive against Lahore, Sialkot and Rajasthan. There was a fierce tank battle on the plains of Punjab. The domestic Indo-Pak conflict transformed into an international conflict and raised super power concerns.

The U.S. suspended military supplies to both sides during the Indo-Pak war. Both the Soviet Union and the United States took a united stand to curtail the conflict within the boundaries of Indo-Pakistan from escalating into a global conflict. China had threatened to intervene and offered military support on behalf of Pakistan. It was this fear that both the Soviet Union and the United States pressured the UN to arrange for an immediate ceasefire, to keep China away from this conflict.

The main diplomatic effort to stop the fighting was conducted under the United Nations auspices and a cease-fire came into effect on September 23, 1965.

The Soviet Union which remained neutral when India and Pakistan went to war in September 1965, played the broker afterward at Tashkent.

A Soviet Government communiqué, formally announced on December 8 that the Indian Prime Minister Shastri and the Pakistani President Ayub would meet at Tashkent on January 4, 1966.

The end conclusion of the conference was a pledge from both sides to withdraw, not later than February 25, 1966, all armed personnel to the position held before August 5, 1964.

The Tashkent Declaration signed by the Indian Prime Minister, Shastri and his Pakistani counterpart, Ayub Khan was regarded by many Pakistanis as submission to India. The then Foreign Minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto resigned from office and formed a party of his own, called the 'Pakistan People's Party'. As a result, he and others were arrested. Meanwhile, Mujib-ur-Rehman's popularity grew in East Pakistan.

Ayub Khan tried to handle the situation by releasing a number of political prisoners and holding a round table conference in Rawalpindi in March 1969. The conference was a stalemate and Ayub Khan handed over power to General Muhammad Yahya Khan on March 25, 1969. Pakistan was now entering its second period of martial law.

An insurgency in East Pakistan by Mujib-ur-Rehman an his Awami league Party led to a further division of Muslim land.

To prevent the armed rebellion of the Awami League militants, the Pakistan Army struck their first blow on March 27, 1971. President Yahya Khan used force to bring law and order in the country.

India, exploited to the full Pakistan's dilemma. It sought to wring the full propaganda value out of Bengali suffering and misery.

In the meantime, India launched their attack on East Pakistan on November 22, 1971. The help of modern Soviet missiles, the local Army, Mukti Bahini and the Indian Army - all made Pakistan's military defeat in the East almost certain.

On December 10, 1971, the first feeler for surrender in East Pakistan was conveyed to the United Nations. On December 17, 1971, a formal surrender was submitted and accepted.

Forty-five thousand troops and an almost equal number of civilians of West Pakistan were taken prisoners of war.

General Niazi signs a treaty which led to the accession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh
The surrender lead to the disintegration of East and West Pakistan and the establishment of Bangladesh.

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After 25 years, the East Pakistanis had declared themselves independent and renamed their province Bangladesh.

Pakistan finally recognized Bangladesh at the Islamic Conference in Lahore on February 22, 1974

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto launched the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) following the Tashkent Pact. In December 1970, the PPP won a large majority in West Pakistan. Following the 1971 war and the separation of East Pakistan, Yahya Khan resigned and Bhutto took over as President and Chief Martial Law Administrator on December 20, 1971.

In early 1972, Bhutto nationalized ten categories of major industries, withdrew Pakistan from the Commonwealth of Nations and SEATO. On March 1, he introduced land reforms.

In 1972 (July) the Indian and Pakistani governments signed the ‘Simla Accord", where an agreement of sorts was reached over Kashmir, both sides pledged to ensure Kashmir would remain a bi-lateral concern, as well a strengthening of economic relations.

‘The Government of Pakistan and the Government of India are resolved that the two countries put an end to the conflict and confrontation that have hitherto marred their relations and work for the promotion of a friendly and harmonious relationship and the establishment of durable peace in the subcontinent, so that both countries may henceforth devote their resources and energies to the pressing task of advancing the welfare of their peoples’

Bhutto was keen to free over 70,000 Pakistani soldiers from India and to retrieve approx. 5,000 square miles of territory it had lost. This strengthened his hand in Pakistan as the blame for the loss of the war and Bangladesh went to General Yahya Khan and other military leaders. Bhutto emerged as the most powerful man in Pakistan, despite the fact that it was he who had contributed to the break-up of Pakistan, by refusing to accept he had lost in the election to Mujib ur-Rehman of the Awami League in 1971.

The Simla Accord essentially recognised Indian hegemony over most of Kashmir, and opened the way for future negotiations as a way of settling the Kashmiri issue, rather than the use of force.

After the promulgation of the 1973 constitution, Bhutto was sworn in as the Prime Minister of the country, and Fazal Ilahi Choudhary became the President of Pakistan on August 14, 1973.

The tragedy of separation of East Pakistan sent a wave of despair throughout Pakistan. At this critical moment, Yahya Khan resigned and handed over the government to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, leader of the majority party in Pakistan.

President Bhutto's government turned towards the arduous task of framing a new constitution for Pakistan. After nearly two years of debate in the Assembly, the new constitution was passed. It was proclaimed on August 14, 1973.

The new constitution was Parliamentary, Federal and Islamic. Urdu was declared the National Language. Because of the experience of the earlier constitutions, the 1973 constitution provided for permanence, i.e. an attempt to abrogate the constitution was considered high treason.

As a result, when General Zia-ul-Haq promulgated Martial Law in 1977, he suspended the constitution instead of abrogating it.

On March 7, 1977, elections were held. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) was accused of rigging the elections. The Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) started a country-wide movement against the Bhutto government on March 14, 1977. Talks between the PNA and the Bhutto government were held in June 1977 and an agreement was reached but could not be implemented.

On July 5, 1977, the Chief of Army Staff, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq imposed Martial Law and the previously announced elections of October 15, 1977, were postponed. General Zia-ul-Haq announced the holding of elections within 90 days.

A conference of political leaders was held in February 1978, but a year later, in 1979, General Zia-ul-Haq declared political parties to be defunct and certain political leaders were disqualified.

Under Zia's martial law, there was steady economic growth favouring the private sector, and efforts were made to show an air of Islam in the political, legal and economic structures. Pakistan gained the status of the Most Favoured Nation from the United States following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979. Vast amounts of military equipment and aid were donated to Pakistan to help the four million Afghan refugees who crossed into Baluchistan and North-West Frontier Province (NWFP).

1979 - Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged.

On February 6, 1981, the Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD) was established to return democracy to Pakistan. A provisional Constitution was enforced on March 23, 1981, after the Constitution of 1973 was suspended with the imposition of Martial Law.

In December 1984, Presidential Referendum was held and Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA), General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq became the President of Pakistan.



After the Presidential referendum of December 1984, elections for the National and Provincial assemblies were held in February 1985 on a non-party basis. The Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD) boycotted the elections.

President Zia-ul-Haq nominated Muhammad Khan Junejo as the Prime Minister of Pakistan on March 20 1985.

After Muhammad Khan Junejo was sworn in as the Prime minister, Martial Law was lifted in December 1985. Fundamental rights were restored, but political parties were still banned.

The 1973 Constitution of Pakistan envisaged a parliamentary system of government, with the balance of power tilted favorably towards the Prime Minister. The President could not exercise his powers without the concurrence of the Prime Minister. The 8th Constitutional Amendment, however, altered the form of the Constitution drastically.

Passed by the Senate on November 14, 1985, the 8th Amendment tampered with almost 19 clauses of the Constitution and brought the office of the President of Pakistan almost to a par with that of the Prime Minister.

However, the most controversial power awarded to the office of the President was the power to dissolve the National Assembly at his own discretion.

According to the proponents of this clause, due to post-Constitutional deadlocks in the country, it was necessary to vest this authority in the President so that in case of a political crisis the Assembly could be dissolved and new elections could be held and Martial Law could be avoided. However, the dissolution of the Assembly by President Zia-ul-Haq in 1988, President Ghulam Ishaq Khan in 1990 and in 1993, and President Farooq Leghari in 1996, are subject to much speculation.

Other clauses amended by the 8th Amendment dealt with the office of the Prime Minister, Senate, and Governors. The article also indemnified all the President's orders, ordinances, martial law regulations, martial law orders, including the referendum orders made between July 5, 1977 and September 13, 1985.
The Eighth Amendment is considered as a landmark in the Constitutional history of Pakistan. It altered the very form of the Constitution, from purely parliamentary to semi-Presidential.

On October 24 and 27, 1990, respectively, elections were held for the National and Provincial assemblies. Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the ex-Chief Minister of Punjab was elected the Prime Minister on November 1, 1990.

Nawaz Sharif's government remained in power till April 19, 1993, when President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dissolved the National Assembly once again exercising his power through the 8th Amendment.

National and Provincial elections were held in October 1993, as a result of which Benazir Bhutto and the PPP were re-elected to power.

Benazir's government continued the policy of privatization and embarked on an ambitious Social Action Program. During her several visits to foreign countries, she aggressively solicited foreign investment for Pakistan.

Benazir Bhutto's government was once again dismissed on corruption charges in November 1996, and elections were held in February 1997.

Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari was elected to the National assembly in the October 1993 elections. On November 13, 1993, he was appointed President of Pakistan for a term of five years.

As scheduled, elections were held in February 1997. The Pakistan Muslim League won with an overwhelming majority and Mian Nawaz Sharif was re-elected as Prime Minister.

Soon after being elected to office, Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif moved to repeal the controversial 8th Amendment, which empowers the President of Pakistan to dismiss the Government and the National Assembly. It was confirmed unanimously by the National Assembly.

The National Assembly unanimously adopted the Constitution Bill (14th Amendment) on July 1, 1997. The Anti-defection Bill which was earlier passed by the Senate and later by the National Assembly with a large majority is a structural reform to end the practice of switching party loyalties.

As a result of this Bill, black-mailing party leadership for ministerial slots, bank loans and other concessions will lead to the unseating of such parliamentarians.

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On May 28, 1998, Pakistan became a nuclear power when it successfully carried out six nuclear tests at Chaghi, in the province of Balochistan. This was in direct response to five nuclear explosions by India, just two weeks earlier.

Widely criticized by the international community, Pakistan maintains that its nuclear program is for self-defense, and to act as a deterrent against nuclear India.

After the tit-for-tat nuclear explosions, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution urging India and Pakistan to halt their nuclear weapons programs. The United States and other Western states imposed economic sanctions against both countries. The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, urged both countries to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Even though the US hadn’t signed it!

After the tests, both sides said that they had completed their series of nuclear testing and both announced a moratorium on future testing. Pakistan announced the moratorium on June 11, 1998 and offered to join in new peace talks with India. Pakistan has time and again proposed for a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia. It has opted to be a signatory to the CTBT, provided India also opts for the same simultaneously.

One dispute that remains unresolved at the tables of the United Nations is the 52-year-old Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan. This disputed State of Jammu and Kashmir has been a continuous flash point and cause of two wars (1948 and 1965) between the two countries.

In 1999 the Pakistan army aided the Mujahidin in Kashmir when it initiated high-altitude conquests, and captured a 140 kilometre stretch of 4,500 meters high mountain ridges near the strategic Indian-held garrison towns of Kargil and Drass. These towns lie on the only usable road between Srinagar, capital of Indian occupied Kashmir, and to the East. This threatened India’s main supply route to its forces on the Chinese border.

On May 26, 1999, India resorted to air strikes to drive out the freedom fighters. During this episode, two Indian aircrafts entered the territory of Pakistan, one of which was shot down. The situation across the line of control became tense and several innocent civilians became the target of indiscriminate Indian shelling.

The Pakistan Army pulled back from the captured territory by July-August, 1999.

This occurred after Nawaz Sharif’s infamous visit to Washington, whereby Clinton’s administration commanded Sharif to pull back the Pakistani troops which had laid a heavy siege, caging Indian troops to a position where death would occur on a grand scale due to the fact that the Indian troops were not prepared for such a long siege. It was the US which needed the BJP to be re-elected as it was and is her agent as opposed to the Congress Party.


Current state


Current state of Affairs


On Tuesday 12/10/99 General Pervaiz Musharraf - the commander of the Pakistani army - deposed Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister, and placed him under house arrest. This took place following the decision taken by Sharif to sack Musharraf who was on a visit to Sri Lanka and to appoint Zia Uddin, the head of military intelligence, in his place. Colonel Rashid Qurashi, the Pakistani military spokesman, stated: 'The military refuses to accept its division and has expressed its support for its leader'. He also said: 'What Pakistan needs is good government'.

Any observer of circumstances in Pakistan and events taking place therein, will see that what the army has done is far from being a reaction of the general and his supporters, towards Nawaz Sharif's decision to sack him. Since, it took place in the wake of Nawaz Sharif's disgraceful backing down from helping the Kashmiris regarding recent events in Kashmir and his humiliating response to Clinton's demand to withdraw his fighters from the Kargil heights.

The reality of Pakistan is that it is a country subservient to America in its foreign policy. It is America which exercises influence in the country. And Nawaz Sharif is her agent. The army holds the authority to guard the rule. Britain is vying with America for influence in Pakistan, and she endeavours vigorously to restore Pakistan back to her. She had colonised it for tens of years before and after separation from India in 1947. Also, Pakistan is a member of the British Commonwealth, though nominally. The importance of Pakistan comes from the effect that it has on neighbouring countries like Iran, Afghanistan and India. Pakistan is a powerful tool of America which has established, supported and guarded the Taliban in her control of Afghanistan. It was also behind the occupation of the Kargil heights, and then the disgraceful withdrawal so as to support the Janata Party and strengthen its position in the recent elections before the Congress Party, which is deep-rooted in its dependence on the English. Events in Kashmir were agitated after the decision to hold the Indian elections. So the army moved to occupy the strategic Kargil heights in the name of the fighters, exploiting the army's desire to crush the might of the Indian army which had been behind the separatist war in Bangladesh against Pakistan in 1971. Victory was assured for the Pakistani army in Kargil if the period of skirmishes had gone on for a longer time and turned into clashes between the two armies. But Nawaz Sharif submitted to the American demand and ordered the withdrawal which strengthened the position of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the elections.

On 27th of March 2001 while addressing media representatives at Karachi, General Pervaz Musharraf told the audience that he was opposed to entering into an arms race with India or competing with it.

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He also said that there would be no increase in the military expenditure for the coming year. On the same day the government also softened its stance on signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Pakistan Foreign office spokesman Riaz Muhammed Khan said, "In principle we do not have any problems with this treaty". These statements, signalling a weakening of the Pakistan military capability, are intended to facilitate US plans for achieving peaceful coexistence between India and Pakistan. Instead of pursuing a policy of building a strong independent state, with overwhelming military might, the Pakistan government has allowed its military capability to be used as a card in America's hand in order to attract India to peace.

Since May, last year, the US has been busy preparing the ground for the normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan. This normalisation is an important step in the present US strategy to use both India and Pakistan as front-line states against China, which represents the foremost threat to American domination in the Far East at this time. However, while the Pakistan government is always keen to follow US directives, the Indian establishment has been reluctant to allow normalisation with Pakistan, despite Vajpayee's loyalty to America, because of the considerable military threat posed by Pakistan to India's security. India was completely unable to repulse Pakistan's offensive in the Kargil encounter of summer 1999 and could only be saved by President Clinton's direct intervention to personally apply pressure on Pakistan to withdraw. Therefore, in order to re-assure India, the US has instructed Pakistan to weaken its defences.

Thus, in December, Pakistan unilaterally reduced the presence of her troops on the line of control. On the 13th of February, Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider announced tough measures for Jihadi groups, which consisted of restrictions on displaying arms and raising funds to finance their activities. He also mentioned that those violating the ban on displaying arms will be warned and if they resist they will be shot. Also the military government has restarted preparation of public opinion for signing the CTBT, which is possibly linked to the announced termination of contracts of Pakistan's top nuclear scientists Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan and Dr Ishfaq Ahmed.

The need for building public opinion was explained by General Musharraf in an interview to the Washington Times when he said, regarding the signing of the CTBT, "There are a number of voices that believe this means that we would be giving up our nuclear option now that we have become a nuclear power. This will have to be carefully explained by me in the coming weeks." The military regime has also announced a cap on defence spending under the pretext of giving priority to reviving the economy and allowing the lifting of sanctions on aid to Pakistan from the US and Japan. And the government has started to advocate the idea that a minimum deterrent is sufficient to meet Pakistan's defence requirements. But these initiatives on Pakistan's behalf are not enough to re-assure the Indian establishment, which still suffers the pain and humiliation of the Kargil episode. Therefore, while weakening Pakistan's defences, the US has at the same time allowed India to pursue an ambitious military agenda so that it feels completely secure from the military viewpoint. Over the last year or so, India has spent billions of dollars on the acquisition of new military hardware including tanks, fighter planes, advance missile technology, submarines and an aircraft carrier. She is also attempting to launch satellites into space. In February of this year, the Indian government announced an increase of 13.8% in her defence budget to further bolster her position. And with regards to the CTBT India has flatly refused to sign it. The US even plans to use Pakistan to assist the Indian military build up through the laying of a pipeline across Pakistan to supply gas from Iran to meet the energy needs of Indian industries.

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2001 20 June - Gen Pervez Musharraf names himself president while remaining head of the army. He replaced the figurehead president, Rafiq Tarar, who vacated his position earlier in the day after the parliament that elected him was dissolved.

Kargil Summit - The conclusion of the Agra Summit between President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee is being portrayed as a failure. However, America the

real architect behind the peace initiative is in an upbeat mood and is looking forward in the coming months for the realisation of her plan for the region. US officials commenting on the summit said,’ It is unfortunate everybody got to expecting more as the talks progressed. What is important is that a continuing process for senior level dialogue has been started.’ These sentiments were also echoed by President Musharraf who while speaking to Indian newspaper editors said that the summit should be taken as the beginning of a three-step process for improving relations. He further went on to say,’

Step two is the acceptance of Kashmir as the main issue to be resolved andstep three would be to look at all the possible solutions to the Kashmirproblems and discard those that are unworkable…’
The American policy for the region is much wider than the issue of Kashmir alone; it is to use both Pakistan and India as regional counterweights to contain China’s emerging influence in Asia. To help achieve this, America is cajoling both countries to resolve their bilateral differences by engaging in a multi-faceted process of normalisation of relations between the two countries. But America realises that the biggest impediment in the normalisation process is the Kashmir issue and that the people of both countries will find it extremely difficult to accept their leaders conceding on Kashmir. Therefore she has used the Agra summit to portray the leaders of both countries as heroes in the eyes of their people. Musharraf and Vajpayee will invest this newfound popularity to suppress any form of dissent towards the division of Kashmir, thereby further consolidating their domestic support. After which, America will push ahead for the settlement of Kashmir and will try to fashion a solution that will allow her to use Kashmir as a possible base for her troops.

In the coming months the US will intensify her involvement in the peace process and will work towards the achievement of her treacherous plan with the aid of our leaders. America will do her utmost to convince the Muslims of Pakistan that the division of Kashmir is in their best interest. She will also try to convince the Ummah that friendly relations with the kafir Hindus will bring us prosperity. The Muslims of Pakistan must reject the American plan for Kashmir and halt the normalisation process. Allah has made it haram on Muslims of Pakistan to abandon Muslim land to the kuffar, or to let kuffar rule Muslims:

‘And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (sabeel) over the believers ’. [Translation of the meaning of Quran 4:141]

Normalisation



Normalisation is a key to creating a climate for ending enmity and in initiating friendships between nations which have had a history of war. The US is trying to change the way the Muslims of Pakistan perceive and relate to the Indian people and Nation. And as has been mentioned previously, this is so that the US can gain a strategic front to curtail the expanding influence of China. The manner by which such a process is achieved takes different forms, the US may choose to use the following measures which we must be aware and wary of.

Tying the economies of Pakistan and India together. This could mean a free trade zone within South Asia, making the economic success of either nation affect the other. Such trade would make it difficult for either nation to raise arms against the other. Such was the policy used to consolidate the friendship between France and Germany after two world wars.
Changing the Curriculum to reflect the change in relations, this will mean that the teaching of History will promote the importance of friendly co-existence, deleting instances of conflict or downplaying them. Musharraf hinted at this when he said at a banquet recently - We have been locked in mutual suspicion and hostility…we have paid a heavy price for it. We owe it to the future generations to do our utmost to pen a new chapter of goodwill and cooperation… We must not allow the past to dictate the future… We must overcome the burden of history. Other nations have done so. We must also do so.”


Cultural and Intellectual exchanges. This involves conferences, seminars and symposiums involving Professors, diplomats, Artists who will meet to discuss issues of common concern with the intention of creating friendship. Again Musharraf gave the greenlight to this already existent policy when he said, "Let our scholars, artists, writers and professionals and above all our common people meet freely and share the warmth of fraternal friendship. It is only common sense that for this purpose we need an atmosphere of peace and mutual confidence between us. We have to rule out violence from our relationship.”


Finally, an important element which is being promoted is to remove Islam from the equation, and thus promoting a secular solution to conflict, the way this will be promoted would be through terminology, twisting the Islamic texts and as stated previously, through the education system. Reviving the age old concept of Deen-I-ilahi, which promotes the unification of Islam with Hinduism. This idea to remove barriers to brotherhood may seem far fetched, but twisting ayahs of the Qur'an and the Ahadith which then resonate through the mouths of prominent 'Islamic figures' may be used to help this process along. This will also mean vilifying those who choose to continue Jihad in Kashmir, labelling them as 'extremists' and 'fundamentalists', as well as outlawing public collections for Jihad organisations, which has already begun.


All of these initiatives to one degree or another have already been initiated. We must stand against these vile policies which will be enacted in order to executive US foreign policy objectives. How can we remain silent to such matters when they strike at the heart of our deen. We must realise that the antidote to such conspiracies is the re-establishment of the Islamic Khilafah, which will liberate Kashmir just as it will return India and the rest of South Asia under rule of the Khilafah, indeed this will be the base for the unification of all of the Islamic lands and the invitation of the world to Islam.