1997 Pakistani general election

Background

The PPP won the largest number of seats in the 1993 election and Benazir Bhutto became prime minister at the head of a coalition government. However, on 5 November 1996, President Leghari, a former ally of Bhutto, dismissed the government 2 years early for alleged corruption and abuse of power. The allegations included financial mismanagement, failing to stop police killings, destroying judicial independence and violating the constitution. A number of PPP party members were detained including Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari who was accused of taking commissions for arranging official deals.

A former speaker and member of the PPP Miraj Khalid was appointed interim prime minister. The National Assembly and provincial assemblies were dissolved and elections called for 3 February 1997.

Campaign

Expectations in the lead up to the election were that up to 90 people, possibly including Bhutto and Sharif, might be prevented from standing in the election due to the caretaker governments campaign against corruption. However, by the end of December 1996 the government was forced to acknowledge that they were unable to find sufficient evidence to act against leading politicians. As a result, the election once again became mainly a contest between the PPP and the PML-N.

Over 6,000 candidates stood in the election, with 1,758 standing for the National Assembly and 4,426 for the four provincial assemblies. Major campaign issues included corruption, the economy, ethnic and religious conflicts and growing terrorism. Predictions of a challenge by a new anti-corruption party, the Movement for Justice, founded by former cricketer Imran Khan, faded as Khan attempted to fend off personal attacks on PML(N) and Nawaz Sharif. Most forecasts expected Sharif's PML-N to win the election, with them drawing larger crowds than the PPP and appearing to be supported by the army. Opinion polls showed the PML-N leading the PPP by about 40% to 20%.

Results

The results saw the PML-N win a landslide victory, winning by the largest margin since the 1977 election. Bhutto's PPP was routed, and came second nationally with only 18 seats, and for the first time failing to win any seats in Punjab. Khan's Movement for Justice failed to win any seats. Voting in three seats was delayed; the subsequently by-elections saw two seats won by the PML(N) and one by the Awami National Party.

Aftermath

Nawaz Sharif described the results as reflecting the country's desire for an end to chaos. Benazir Bhutto had threatened to not recognise the results if the PPP lost, but despite alleging that election officials had rigged the election by filling in extra ballots, she did not call for protests, saying that Pakistan needed political stability. International observers from the European Union and the Commonwealth of Nations said the election met basic conditions but would not describe it as 'free and fair'.

Election for Prime Minister

The election for Prime Minister took place on 17 February 1997. Nawaz Sharif was confirmed as prime minister by the National Assembly receiving 177 votes against 16 for the PPP candidate Aftab Shaban Mirani. He took office on 18 February with a new cabinet named on 26 February.

References

References

1. [[Dieter Nohlen]], Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) ''Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume I'', p680 {{ISBN. 0-19-924958-X
2. "ELECTIONS HELD IN 1993". [[Inter-Parliamentary Union]].
3. (17 February 1997). "Sharif takes office as Pakistan's prime minister". [[CNN]].
4. "ELECTIONS HELD IN 1997". [[Inter-Parliamentary Union]].
5. (5 November 1996). "Pakistan president fires Bhutto, calls new election". [[CNN]].
6. (29 January 1997). "Pakistani court upholds Bhutto's dismissal". [[CNN]].
7. Burns, John F.. (25 December 1996). "Pakistan's Corruption Drive Falters, Creating Political Openings". [[The New York Times]].
8. (2 February 1997). "Violence mars voting as Pakistanis trickle to polls". [[CNN]].
9. (November 2018). "PAKISTAN VOTE GRIPS EMIGRES". [[Daily News (New York).
10. Burns, John F.. (3 February 1997). "Is Bhutto Good, Bad or Ugly? Pakistanis Will Decide Today". [[The New York Times]].
11. Burns, John F.. (5 February 1997). "Muslim Party Gets Huge Margin in Pakistan's Parliament". [[The New York Times]].
12. Burns, John F.. (4 February 1997). "Benazir Bhutto Loses Badly To Longtime Pakistan Rival". [[The New York Times]].
13. Nohlen ''et al.'', pp680–687
14. (18 February 1997). "New Pakistan Prime Minister Takes Office". [[The New York Times]].