Word: zia
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...Pakistan a democratic change of power may be in the making. Opposition Politician Benazir Bhutto, 32, returned from exile last month to confront the country's military ruler, President Mohammed Zia ul-Haq. Nine years ago, Zia seized power from Benazir's father, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and two years later allowed Bhutto to be executed following his conviction on charges of conspiracy to murder an opposition politician. Benazir quickly demonstrated that she possesses her father's courage and political flair, as well as his headstrong nature. Pakistanis rallied to her by the hundreds of thousands. The next move...
...Zia now remains firmly in control as President, but has allowed political parties to renew their activities. Indeed, last week the Punjab provincial government posted thousands of police near the P.P.P.'s motorcade and rally sites to make sure there would be no embarrassing incidents. The beefed-up security, however, did not prevent an apparently deranged retired army officer from bursting into a house where he thought Bhutto was staying, claiming that he wanted to marry her. "Just a simple legal ceremony will do," he told reporters. Bhutto hinted that the man might have been an assassin...
...next four weeks, before Pakistanis begin to observe Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, Bhutto and her party plan regular mass rallies that some P.P.P. leaders hope will spark what they call "street politics"-- marches, riots and general strikes that might cause enough chaos to force Zia to call early elections. If the Lahore rally accurately reflected Zia's low popularity, the government may be in for a rough time...
...parallel Bhutto has drawn between Zia and former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos is wide of the mark. Corruption is widespread in Pakistan, to be sure, but Zia himself is viewed as a personally honest and religious leader. The general commands respect, if not admiration, from many Pakistanis, and has been able to sustain healthy growth in the country's economy. Last week his backers sought to blunt the effect of Bhutto's return by awarding some political favors. Prime Minister Junejo and Punjab Chief Minister Nawaz Sharif announced that, effective immediately, new land would be granted to rural tenants...
Nonetheless, if Benazir Bhutto and the P.P.P. are able to mount large and fervent demonstrations against Zia, the Pakistani establishment is going to feel the pressure. In the nearly five years Bhutto remained in the country following her father's execution, Zia responded to her challenges by simply throwing her in jail or placing her under house arrest. This time the President is clearly trying to avoid resorting to such authoritarian measures. "I will rule this country from my grave," predicted the charismatic Zulfikar Ali Bhutto before going to the gallows. Last week, at least, his daughter seemed determined...