Post-Independence Political and Economic Goals and Challenges: Pakistan October 18 & 25, 2016    

Pakistan Punjab Afghania (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Kashmir I Sindh TAN Baluchistan

The same indicators of underdevelopment we had discussed as present in India at the time of Independence were in Pakistan, and more. In addition: How to create a national political identity when there were so many different political viewpoints and disparate ethnic groupings? Was religion enough to hold the country together?

Important Acts at the Outset October 1947: Armed Pakistanis invaded Indian Kashmir September 1948: Death of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah March 1949: the Objectives Resolution 1956: Sikander Mirza: First Constitution, the Republic of Pakistan 1958-68: ‘Golden Age of Development’ and Ayub Khan

1962: Second Constitution: the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1965: War with India over Kashmir 1971: East Pakistan seceded; became Bangladesh. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto becomes head of Pakistan August 14, 1973: Pakistan inaugurated its third (still prevailing) constitution

July 5, 1977: Zia ul-Haq overthrew Bhutto February 2, 1979: Zia promulgated his Islamization program  Democratic Interregnum, 1988-1999 (Benazir Bhutto/Nawaz Sharif) October 12, 1999: Pervez Musharraf overthrew Nawaz Sharif

November 2007: Musharraf’s 2nd coup – on himself December 26, 2007: Benazir Bhutto assassinated   February 2008: National elections May 2013: last national elections

Political Economy & Identity Politics December 2007: creation of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) April 2009: height of TNSM uprising in Swat December 2014: attack on Army Public School, Peshawar 2010 onwards: escalation of ethnic conflicts in Karachi (Sindhis, muhajirs, and Pakhtuns) Baluchistan insurgencies

The issue of FATA

1. In the several decades following independence, Pakistan experimented with various approaches to national development, which in many cases exacerbated existing inequalities and experienced limited success. i) How were Pakistan’s economic difficulties in part an outcome of the underdevelopment that occurred in the areas that became Pakistan under British rule? ii) What were the various factors that caused existing inequalities to become exacerbated in the decades following independence?

2. While Pakistan was created as a homeland for Muslims, a place where they would not need to fear living under Hindu hegemony in India, the country welcomed people of all religions at the outset. Why did this change?

3. Political institution building has been a challenge for Pakistan since its inception. What are the various factors that Hasan Askari Rizvi argues have caused Pakistan’s ‘democratic deficit’?

4. How, when and why was “Islamization” introduced in Pakistan 4. How, when and why was “Islamization” introduced in Pakistan? What effects did it have on the social, political and economic landscapes of Pakistani society?

5. Pakistan’s power crisis has become a part of the daily lives of its citizens, but has also had political ramifications and sparked protests throughout the country. How has poor governance contributed to this issue? What are the consequences of the power crisis on an individual as well as the national scale?

6. Akmal Hussain identifies structural constraints that have prevented sustained growth and have perpetuated persistent poverty and inequality. What are these constraints? He also identifies an alternative strategy to promote inclusive growth. What are the various components of this strategy? What do you think are the possibilities for success, and why?