The 1988 Election
Background
General Zia-ul-Haq imposed ban on political parties under martial Law Regulation No.48 on October 16, 1979. However, the ban ended on December 30, 1985 and the provisions of the Political Parties Act 1962 became operative. The following year, there emerged revival of number of political parties. Under article 58 (2b), President Zia-ul- Haq dismissed the Junejo government and dissolved the National Assembly on May 29,
1988. He announced cabinet for new government without prime minister. The Lahore High Court declared this act of president as unconstitutional, however declined restoration of assemblies and dismissed government. Junejo government interpreted this decision differently and junejo declared himself as prime minister. On October 5, 1988, Supreme Court suspended the decision of Lahore high court.
In nations address, General Zia-ul-Haq announced that elections would be held on November 16, 1988. However, he died in an air crash on August 17, 1988 that also resulted into an end to his rule that began on July 5, 1977. Similarly, chairman to senate Mr. Ishaq Khan became new president and he managed to conduct elections. The elections in the National Assembly were held on November 16, 1988 and the election to the Provincial Assemblies was held on November 19 in same year. Simultaneously, 1988 elections were also held based on separate electorate wherein the Muslim voters elected Muslim members and non-Muslim voters elected members to reserved seats for non-Muslims. There was made amendment in section 33 of the Representation of People Act 1976 on October 4, 1988 and National Identity Card was made essential condition for voter identity in elections.
The Contending Players
In 1988 general elections to National Assembly, more than 25 political parties fielded candidates. Although there were some independent candidates also, however, the major contest was between the PPP, which emerged under Benazir Bhutto leadership, and Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI), which was the alliance of 9 rightwing-Islamist parties. The IJI included Pakistan Muslim League (PML), Jamaat-i-Islami, National People's Party, Jamiat-i-Ulema-e-Islam (one faction), Nizam-e-Mustafa Group, Markazi Jamiat-e- Ahle Hadith (Lakhvi Group), Jamiat-e-Mashaikh Pakistan, Azad Group and Hizbullah Jihad, and this alliance was established in October 1988.
Nevertheless, PML was dominant party in IJI and the purpose of this alliance was to oppose PPP because the Army authorities apprehended through their intelligence sources that the PPP might get majority seats in the election if the political parties oppose