Zia-ul-Haq, 1977-1988

O Level Pakistan Studies History · Nationhood: 1971 to 1999 and Pakistan in world affairs. A short explanation of the idea, the rules to remember, the mistake to avoid, a worked example and practice questions with answers.

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The idea

General Zia-ul-Haq took power in July 1977 and promised elections within 90 days. They were postponed, and he ruled for eleven years, most of them under martial law. Political parties were restricted and Bhutto was executed in 1979.

Zia's main programme was Islamisation: Islamic punishments, a zakat system, Shariat courts and changes in education and banking. Supporters saw this as fulfilling the purpose of Pakistan. Critics, including women's groups, said some laws treated women and minorities unequally.

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 changed his position. Pakistan became a front-line ally of the USA and received large amounts of aid, but also refugees, weapons and drugs. In 1985 he allowed elections and ended martial law after the Eighth Amendment protected his powers.

Rules to remember

Common mistake

Students place the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance under Zia. It was Ayub Khan's law of 1961; Zia's laws are the Hudood Ordinances, the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance and the Federal Shariat Court.

Worked example

Put these events of Zia's rule in the correct order: non-party elections, the Majlis-e-Shoora, the lifting of martial law, the Hudood Ordinances.

  1. The Islamic laws came first: Hudood Ordinances, 1979.
  2. Next came the nominated council: Majlis-e-Shoora, 1981.
  3. Elections came before martial law ended: non-party elections in February 1985, then martial law lifted in December 1985.

Answer: Hudood Ordinances (1979), Majlis-e-Shoora (1981), non-party elections (February 1985), end of martial law (December 1985).

Practice questions

Try each one, then open the answer.

1. How did Zia-ul-Haq's rule end in August 1988?

  1. A
    he was defeated in a general election
  2. B
    he was overthrown in a military coup
  3. C
    he resigned after losing a referendum
  4. D
    he was killed in a plane crash
Show answer

Answer: D. His plane crashed near Bahawalpur; party-based elections followed in November 1988, won by Benazir Bhutto's PPP.

2. What was the role of the Federal Shariat Court set up in 1980?

  1. A
    to examine whether laws agreed with Islam
  2. B
    to try army officers under martial law
  3. C
    to hear appeals against the Election Commission
  4. D
    to advise the President on foreign policy
Show answer

Answer: A. It could declare laws repugnant to Islam; it was part of Zia's Islamisation of the legal system.

3. What did the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance of 1980 provide for?

  1. A
    the abolition of interest on all loans
  2. B
    zakat from savings and ushr on crops
  3. C
    zakat replacing income tax for Muslims
  4. D
    zakat becoming entirely voluntary
Show answer

Answer: B. Zakat was deducted at 2.5% from certain bank accounts once a year, and ushr was levied on farm produce; the funds went to welfare.

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