JEOPARDIZING DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN: THE POLITICAL CONFLICT OF 1977
The class-conscious populist movement against Ayub Khan paved the way for the rise of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with a chanted agenda of egalitarian reforms. A process of democratization and representative institutionalization was started. This process of change was soon derailed on 5th July 1977. General Ziaul Haq toppled the first ever popularly elected government of Pakistan by imposing a rigorous Martial Law and remained in power till 1988. Role of opposition in 1977 against Bhutto, election 1977, its aftermath, jeopardizing the very foundations of newly established democracy, Pakistan National Alliance's (PNA) arduous protest movement against alleged rigging in elections, demand for Nizam-i-Mustafa is focused in this study. This paper also discusses opposition's talks with the Bhutto regime and the introduction of Martial Law by the military under General Zia nevertheless an agreement reached between the PNA and the government. The aftermath of PNA-PPP conflict resulted in jeopardizing the already fragile democratic process in the country and a strong democratic dispensation never returned in the country. Keywords: Opposition, negotiation, agitation, meetings, dialogues, allegations, agreement elections, Martial Law