General Election In Pakistan 1993

On October 6, 1993, Pakistan conducted general elections to choose representatives for the National Assembly, following the resignations of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Ghulam Ishaq Khan, who stepped down to resolve a power struggle.

Before the elections, the ruling Islami Jamhoori Ittehad alliance disbanded due to internal conflicts among its member parties. Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (N) assumed its position in the two-party system alongside the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Under the caretaker government led by Moeenuddin Ahmad Qureshi, the PML (N) secured the most votes, but the PPP won the majority of seats. Benazir Bhutto, after gaining support from minor parties and independents, became the Prime Minister for a second non-consecutive term, with a voter turnout of 40%.

Background

In 1990, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) won the elections, making Nawaz Sharif the Prime Minister. In early 1993, Sharif sought to limit the President's power to dismiss the Prime Minister and assemblies. However, President Khan dismissed Sharif on corruption charges in April 1993, leading to elections being called for July 14. The Supreme Court later reinstated Sharif as Prime Minister, ruling that Khan had exceeded his powers.

Khan and Sharif engaged in a power struggle for the next two months, vying for control over Pakistan. Finally, on July 18, under pressure from the army, both Sharif and Khan resigned, paving the way for elections on October.

Campaign

During the election period, interim President Wasim Sajjad and caretaker Prime Minister Moeenuddin Ahmad Qureshi implemented austerity measures, taxing wealthy landowners, and cracking down on corruption and drug trafficking. Although their policies were praised for stabilizing the country, Sharif and Bhutto criticized them. The campaign saw 1,485 candidates, with the main competition between PML-N and PPP. The election witnessed violence, resulting in over 50 deaths.

Results

The PPP secured 86 seats, while the PML-N followed closely with 73. Notably, it was the first election in Pakistan where the party winning the popular vote (PML-N) did not secure the most seats. The PPP performed well in Sindh and rural Punjab, while the PML-N dominated in industrial Punjab and major cities. Islamic fundamentalist candidates performed poorly, and international observers reported no serious irregularities.

Here is the tabulated result

Party Votes % Seats +/– ------------------------------------------------------------- PML-N 7,980,229 38.96 73 New PPP 7,578,635 37.00 89 New

Aftermath

The election for Prime Minister occurred on October 19, 1993. The PPP successfully lobbied smaller parties and independents, securing Benazir Bhutto's election as Prime Minister with 121 votes to Nawaz Sharif's 72. The PPP's strong performance in the regional elections, particularly retaking Punjab, further solidified Bhutto's position