Role of Ghulam Ishaq Khan in the Administration and Politics of Pakistan RESEARCHER Muhammad Arshed Roll No. 14 Session: 2015-2017 M. Phil Pakistan Studies (Distance) SUPERVISOR Dr. Aftab Hussain Gillani DEPARTMENT OF Pak. Studies
Role of Ghulam Ishaq Khan in the Administration and Politics of
Pakistan
RESEARCHER
Muhammad Arshed
Roll No. 14
Session: 2015-2017
M. Phil Pakistan Studies (Distance)
SUPERVISOR
Dr. Aftab Hussain Gillani
DEPARTMENT OF Pak. Studies
vi
Table of Contents
Sr.No. Page No.
Dedication II
Statement &Declaration III
Certificate IV
Acknowledgment V
Abbreviations 1
Abstract 3
Introduction 5
Chapter: 1 Introduction and Govt. Services 11
1.1 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
1.2 Ghulam Ishaq Khan
1.2.1 Early Life and Education
1.2.2 Family of Ghulam Ishaq Khan
1.2.3 Early Services
1.3 Services as a Defense Secretary
1.4 Services as a Finance Secretary
Chapter: 2: Services as a Finance Minister of Pakistan 32
2.1 Organizational Division of Ministry of Finance Finance
2.2 Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Ministry of Finance
2.3 Economic Achievements of Ministry of Finance under Ghulam
Ishaq Khan
vii
Chapter: 3 Contribution and Services as Chairman of Senate
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1.1 Introduction of Upper House
3.1.1 Relationship between Constituents of the Parliament
3.2 Chairman of the Senate
3.2.1 Role and Responsibilities of Chairman
3.3 Ghulam Ishaq Khan Chairman of Senate
3.3.1 Legislation under chair ship of Ghulam Ishaq Khan by
Senate
Chapter: 4 Services as a President of Pakistan 82
4.1 Ghulam Ishaq Khan as a President of Pakistan
4.2 First Term of Benazir Bhutto
4.3 Conflict between Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Benazir Bhutto
4.3.1 Relations with military
4.3.2 Charges of Corruption
4.3.3 1989 Military Scandal
4.3.4 Dismissal
4.4 Caretaker government
4.5 First Govt. of Nawaz Sharif
4.6 Conflict between Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Nawaz Sharif
4.7 Dismissal of the Assembly of Mian Nawaz Sharif
Conclusion 106
Bibliography 110
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ABSTRACT
Ghulam Ishaq Khan (GIK) served as the 7th President of Pakistanfrom 1988 until
his resignation in 1993. Raised in Bannu, Ghulam Ishaq graduated from Peshawar
University and entered the Indian Civil Service, opting for Pakistan after
the independence in 1947. Appointed the first chairman of the Water and Power
Development Authority by President Ayub Khan in 1961, Ghulam Ishaq also
served as Finance Secretary from 1966 to 1970. A year later, he was
appointed Governor of the State Bankby President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, before
being made Defence Secretary in 1975, assisting with Pakistan's nuclear
programme. He was retained by President Zia-ul-Haq as Finance Minister in 1977,
overseeing the country's highest GDP growth average. ElectedChairman of the
Senate in 1985, Ghulam Ishaq was elevated to the presidency after Zia's death in
an air crash on 17 August 1988. He was elected president on 13 December, as
consensus candidate of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad and Pakistan People's Party.
The oldest person to serve as president, Ghulam Ishaq played a hawkish role
against Communist Afghanistan, while relations with the United
States deteriorated following the Pressler amendment. Domestically, Ghulam
Ishaq's term faced challenges: ethnic riots flared in Karachi, and Prime
Minister Benazir Bhutto accused him of frustrating her government as part of an
alliance with conservative opposition leader Nawaz Sharif and the post-
Zia military establishment. Ghulam Ishaq invoked the Eight Amendment and
dismissed Benazir's government after just 20 months, on charges of rampant
corruption and misgovernance. Sharif was elected Prime Minister in 1990, but
Ghulam Ishaq dismissed his government on similar charges three years later.
The Supreme Court overturned the dismissal, but the gridlock ultimately led to
both men resigning in 1993.
4
Retiring from public service, Ghulam Ishaq served as rector of the GIK Institute of
Engineering Sciences and Technology in his native province, dying
from pneumonia in 2006. He is viewed contentiously by Pakistani historians; he is
credited for personal austerity and supervising the nuclear programme to
completion, but criticized for wielding an autocratic presidency that ousted two
elected governments. He has been cited as the most powerful civilian president
in Pakistani history.
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Introduction
Ghulam Ishaq Khan, served as the 7th President of Pakistan from 1988
until his resignation in 1993. Ghulam Ishaq born in Bnnu graduated
from Peshawar University and entered the Indian Civil Service, opting for
Pakistan after the independence in 1947. Appointed the first chairman of
the Water and Power Development Authority by President Ayub Khan in
1961, Ghulam Ishaq also served as Finance Secretary from 1966 to 1970. A
year later, he was appointed Governor of the State Bank by
President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, before being made Defense Secretary in
1975, assisting with Pakistan's nuclear programme. He was retained by
President Zia-ul-Haq as Finance Minister in 1977, overseeing the country's
highest GDP growth average. Elected Chairman of the Senate in 1985,
Ghulam Ishaq was elevated to the presidency after Zia's death in an air
crash on 17 August 1988. He was elected president on 13 December, as
consensus candidate of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad and Pakistan People's
Party.
The oldest person to serve as president, Ghulam Ishaq played a hawkish
role against Communist Afghanistan, while relations with the United States
deteriorated following the Pressler amendment. Domestically, Ghulam
Ishaq's term faced challenges: ethnic riots flared in Karachi, and Prime
Minister Benazir Bhutto accused him of frustrating her government as part
of an alliance with conservative opposition leader Nawaz Sharif and the
post-Zia military establishment. Ghulam Ishaq invoked the Eight
Amendment and dismissed Benazir's government after just 20 months, on
charges of rampant corruption and mis-governance. Sharif was elected
Prime Minister in 1990, but Ghulam Ishaq dismissed his government on
6
similar charges three years later. The Supreme Court overturned the
dismissal, but the gridlock ultimately led to both men resigning in 1993.
Retiring from public service, Ghulam Ishaq served as rector of the GIK
Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology in his native province,
dying from pneumonia in 2006. He is viewed contentiously by Pakistani
historians; he is credited for personal austerity and supervising the nuclear
programme to completion, but criticized for wielding an autocratic
presidency that ousted two elected governments. He has been cited as the
most powerful civilian president in Pakistani history.
Statement of Problems
To study the role of Ghulam Ishaq Khan in the Administration and Politics
of Pakistan through his biography and in the light of views of his
colleagues.
Objectives of Research
Objectives of reseach are to find out the answers of following points:
1. Birth and family background of Ghulam Ishaq Khan
2. Educational career
3. Early services
4. Services as secretary of key departments like WAPDA, Defense,
Revenue etc
5. Political career as Chairman of Senate, President of Pakistan
6. Role in the dissolving the assemblies
7. Resignation
8. Illness and Death
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Significance of Research
Ghulam Ishaq Khan’s Services for Pakistan are to be appreciated able because of
his good nature. He is one of those people who remained well-wisher of Pakistan
till to his death. Study of his life will be a great source for many people of many
fields like students of history, Pol. Science, I.R., under training and junior officers
of management cadres, for the expertise of WAPDA, Revenue, and foreign policy.
It is because he was a man of qualities. In the grounds of politics his role is also
too important so we can say the research on such personality is full of
significance.
Research Methodology
This research is descriptive in nature. This thesis is based on the historical
research methodology. The study is mainly based on library research. So this
research has primarily employed qualitative data, obtained from both primary as
well as secondary sources. The data will be critically analyzed for research.
Secondary sources used during the course of this research, consist of a large
number of books, journal articles (including those of various think-tanks such as
Islamabad Policy Research Institute etc.), newspaper articles and internet sources.
Primary quantitative data was selected from various reports and documents of the
Ministry of WAPDA, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Finance, the Election
Commission of Pakistan, National Accountability Bureau of Pakistan. As regards
data from nongovernmental organizations, the reports of Pakistan Institute of
Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) are treated as primary
source.
Tools of Research
Following research tools will be used for this research:
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1. Questionnaire
2. Interviews
3. Observations
A questionnaire will be prepared and through this questionnaire expertise and
students of Political Studies would be inquired about their opinion about the
research topic. For interviews, political figures and analyst would be consulted and
interview will be conducted as per facility. In case of non-availability of time
interviews of such personalities given to print and electronic media will be
studied.
Research Organization
Research on the services of Ghulam Ishaq Khan is organized in four chapters.
Chapter one will discuss biographical introduction of Ghulam Ishaq Khan from his
from his family background to his services as a Defense Secretary. Chapter two
will explain his services in the field of finance and revenue. Chapter third and
fourth will focus political role of Ghulam Ishaq Khan as a Chairman of Senate and
as a President of Pakistan. In fourth chapter his controversies with Benazir Bhutto
and Nawaz Sharif and dissolution of their assemblies will be discussed.
Literature Review
This research is of historical nature so it needs a lot number of books to be studied.
For the concern topic following books are must to be reviewed. Wazeer-e-Azem
Benazir Bhutto Namzadgi Say Bertarfi Tak 1995, Nawaz Shareef Ka Pehla Dour-
e-Hakoomat 1997, Benazir Hakomat Ka Aroj-wa-Ziwal 2001, by Prof. Ghafoor
Ahmed would prove as the basic source.
“A Political Study of Pakistan”, compiled by Dr. Safder Mehmood in 1972 for the
first time. The edition under study is third one published in1984. It is hard bonded
with flap over. Color of flap over is white and green in the ration of Pakistan’s
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flag. On the back side opinions about the book are given by experts and print
media. It consists of six chapters that are expanded on 263 pages. Chapter five and
six are concerned with this research because in these chapters Ghulam Ishaq
Khan’s role as secretary Defense also discussed.
“Pakistan Under Bhutto 1971-1977” written by Shahid Javaid Burki, published by
Macmillan Press in 1988. This book is divided into four parts having nine chapters
in addition to preface, notes, bibliography and index. It is card bonded with 285
pages. First chapter is about the introduction of Bhutto and his regime. Part first
consist of three chapters and entitled as The “Backdrop” in which political history
of Pakistan is discussed from 1947 to 1971.
Part second is titled as “The Regime in power” and consist of three chapters. In
these chapters restructuring and reform policies of Bhutto’s Regime are
elaborated. Part thrre , consisting of two chapters are about the fall of Bhutto
regime. The last part and chapter is titled as “The Bhutto legacy.”
“Ayub, Bhutto and Zia” written by Syed Shabbir Hussain , published by Sang-E-
Meel in 2001. It is composed on fifteen chapters in addition to appendix,
bibliography and epilog, spreading on 379 pages. First chapter is about the
political history of Pakistan from 1947 to 1958. From chapter two to six rise and
fall of Ayub are discussed in detail. Chapter seven is about the sad incident of
Pakistan that is separation of East Pakistan. Chapters eight and nine are about the
Bhutto’s regime. In chapters ten and eleven Zia regime and involvement of
Pakistan in Afghan issue are discussed. Chapter twelve to fifteen Junejo’s regime
and circumstances after Zia are discussed.
“Pakistan Political Profiles 1947-1988” is written by Ahmed Shuja Pasha and
Published by Sang-E-Meel publications. It has eleven chapters along with
bibliography and index. It is spread on 335 pages. From chapter one to four
Pakistan’s movement and its birth is discussed. From Chapter five to ten different
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democratic and military rules are highlighted. The chapter eleven is of special
importance with respect to my research. Its title is Zia and Islamization. In this
chapter different steps about the Islamization in the regime of Zia are exposed.
In addition to above many other books like intelligence Agencies ka kirdar by
Munir Ahmed, Totti Banti Assemblia etc are also the basic source for this
research.
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Conclusion
Ghulam Ishaq Khan was born in Bannu, then a small town in the Northwest
Frontier Province (NWFP). He was educated at Peshawar's Islamia College. He
joined the Provincial Civil Service in 1938, and after the birth of Pakistan, he was
inducted into the Civil Service of Pakistan. In 1958, President Muhammad Ayub
Khan nominated him as a member of the Land Reform Commission. Ishaq Khan
opted for fairly radical land reforms, but the majority of the commission chose to
go for generous ceilings on ownership: 1,000 acres for non-irrigated and 500 acres
for irrigated land. In 1962, President Muhammad Ayub Khan launched Ghulam
Ishaq Khan on a career path that eventually led to his becoming the country's
economic czar. He was appointed chairman of the West Pakistan Water and Power
Development Authority (WAPDA).
The WAPDA, under his chairmanship and that of Aftab Kazi, his successor,
accomplished a great deal. It was particularly successful in implementing the
gigantic Indus Water Replacement Works to bring water from the western rivers in
compensation for that lost to India from the eastern rivers. One of Ghulam Ishaq
Khan's proudest achievements of this period was to persuade the international
community that without the Tarbela dam on the Indus River, the objective of the
replacement works would not be achieved. In 1966, Ghulam Ishaq Khan was put
in charge of the Ministry of Finance as its secretary In 1971, he went to Karachi as
governor of the State Bank of Pakistan; and in 1975, he was back in Islamabad as
secretary-general of the Ministry of Defense. Within the space of a decade, Ishaq
Khan was able to see the working of the central government from three very
different perspectives: finance, development, and defense.
The Ministry of Finance in Pakistan was always a very conservative institution
inclined to keep in strict check public expenditure on both development and
current (non-developmental) activities. Under Ishaq Khan's management, it kept to
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its original mandate and tradition. The State Bank of Pakistan, although not able to
exercise much control over money supply, was nevertheless concerned about
maintaining a watchful eye on the macroeconomic situation. While at the State
Bank, Ishaq Khan became concerned about the free-wheeling ways of the
government of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
He used the opportunity presented by the issuance of the State Bank's annual
report on the health of the economy to question the wisdom of a number of
policies that were being pursued by the Bhutto government at that time. The
publication of the report did not endear him to the government, and Ghulam Ishaq
Khan was moved from the State Bank and was appointed secretary-general in
charge of the Ministry of Defense. This was an unusual but fortuitous appointment
for a person who had spent most of his career in the government dealing with
economic matters. It was while in this job that he was thrown into close contact
with General Zia ul-Haq, the chief of staff of the army.
General Zia, after removing Bhutto from office on 5 July 1977, appointed Ishaq
Khan Secretary-general in charge of the entire civil establishment. Ghulam Ishaq
Khan held several different jobs in the government under President Zia ul-Haq.
Although his titles changed, he functioned virtually as the Prime Minister and the
economic czar from 1977 to 1985. In March 1985, Ishaq Khan was elected to the
Senate from a seat in the NWFP, and the Senate went on to elect him as its
chairman. The portfolio of finance was given by President Zia ul-Haq to
Mahbubul Haq. On 17 August 1988, President Zia ul-Haq was killed in a plane
crash near the town of Bahawalpur in southern Punjab.
General Aslam Beg, the vice-chief of the Army Staff, and his senior colleagues
met in Rawalpindi that same evening, before announcing to the public the news of
the president's death. General Beg revealed later that the attendees at the meeting
decided that it would be prudent to adopt the constitutional course and invite the
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chairman of the Senate to assume the presidency. Had the Senate chair been
occupied by a person with less experience and prestige than Ghulam Ishaq Khan,
the military might well have decided to take over the reins of government once
again. Ghulam Ishaq Khan's presidency lasted for a little less than five years
During this time, he performed two very different functions.
On three occasions-from 17 August to 2 December 1988, from 6 August to 6
November 1990, and from 17 April to 28 May 1993-he supervised the working of
caretaker administrations appointed to hold general elections. During these
periods, Ishaq Khan was the country's de facto chief executive. For the rest of the
time, he kept a careful watch over the workings of the government. It was this
watch that persuaded him to dismiss first the administration of Prime Minister
Benazir Bhutto in August 1990 and then the administration of Prime Minister
Mian Nawaz Sharif in April 1993. It was the second dismissal-that of Nawaz
Sharif and the way he handled the circumstances created by the decision of the
Supreme Court to declare the dismissal unconstitutional-that left a cloud over a
career that was remarkable not only for its longevity but also for its dedication to
the cause of Pakistan.
It was clear that the decision to remove Nawaz Sharif was taken out of personal
pique rather than on the basis of the Prime Minister's incompetence. Once the
Supreme Court restored the Prime Minister, Ishaq Khan went on to subvert the
functioning of the government by attempting to create a difficult environment for
the Prime Minister. This was done with the help of a group of loyal civil servants
who made it impossible for the Prime Minister to function effectively. The result
was a political and constitutional crisis that was resolved by the intervention of the
military General Abdul Waheed Kakar, the chief of the Army Staff, forced both
Ishaq Khan and Nawaz Sharif to resign A caretaker administration was appointed,
and elections were held in October 1993.
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The elections brought Benazir Bhutto back to power, and Ishaq Khan went into
retirement. After making a halfhearted attempt to contest the presidential election
held in December 1993, he left Islamabad and settled in Peshawar.