Pakistan's Domestic Political Developments: Issues for Congress (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised Jan. 5, 2004 |
| Report Number |
RS21299 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
K. Alan Kronstadt, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
-
Premium Revised Sept. 23, 2003 (6 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised June 19, 2003 (6 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Revised March 27, 2003 (6 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium Jan. 5, 2003 (6 pages, $24.95)
add
|
Summary:
October 2002 elections in Pakistan nominally fulfilled President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's promise to restore the National Assembly that was dissolved in the wake of his extra-constitutional seizure of power in October 1999. A pro-military alliance won a plurality of seats, while a coalition of Islamist parties made a surprisingly strong showing. Musharraf supporter M.Z. Jamali became Pakistan's new Prime Minister. The civilian government was hamstrung for more than one year by fractious debate over the legitimacy of Musharraf's August 2002 changes to the country's constitution and his continued status as Army Chief 'and' President. A surprise December 2003 agreement between Musharraf and the Islamist opposition ended the deadlock by bringing the constitutional changes before Parliament and by eliciting a promise from Musharraf to resign his military commission before 2005. Secular opposition parties strongly criticized the arrangement as undemocratic. The 1999 coup triggered restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance, restrictions waived in October 2001 (under P.L. [Public Law] 107-57) and again in March 2003 by President Bush. In November 2003 (P.L. 108-106), Congress extended the President's waiver authority through FY2004. In response to continued perceived anti-democratic practices in Islamabad, there is legislation in the 108th Congress (H.R. [House Resolution] 1403) aimed at restoring aid restrictions through removal of the U.S. President's waiver authority. This report will be updated periodically.
