Short Question Answers Section 3 ( O Level Pakistan studies)
Short Question Answers Section 3
Q: What was Cricket Diplomacy?
A: In 1987 relations had deteriorated to the point where the two countries were close to the war. In late January the Indian army began ‘exercises’ in the Rajasthan desert. These were designed to intimidate the Pakistanis. The in a brilliant political masterstroke, General Zia flew to India, supposedly to watch a cricket match in Jaipur between India and Pakistan. Whilst there he met Indian leaders, click Here including Rajiv Ghandi, and managed to cool the situation down. The ‘exercise’ was called off. This was known as Cricket Diplomacy.
Q: What was CTBT?
A: In 1974 India carried out the nuclear test, Pakistan was concerned. Pakistan, therefore, set up the Kahuta Project and Pakistan worked on making the nuclear bomb. In May 1998, India shocked the world by testing five nuclear devices. Just a few week later, Pakistan denoted its own nuclear tests in Ras Koh Hills in the Chagai District of Balochistan Province. The United Nations Secretary General asked both countries to sign the comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). India refused so Pakistan did not sign either. However in late 1998, both countries announced that they were stopping nuclear testing.
Q: What was Tashkent Declaration?
A: The Tashkent Declaration was a peace agreement between India and Pakistan signed on 10 January 1966. The Soviet Union arranged a cease-fire conference in Tashkent, in the soviet republic of Uzbekistan. The agreement was signed by India's Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri (who died the next day) and Pakistan's president Ayub Khan. The agreement at the end of the conference produced a cease-fire and a general agreement to sort out ‘all disputes’ peacefully. Click Here However, there was still no date set to begin negotiating a settlement in Kashmir.
Q-What was CHASHNUPP?
Ans.The Chasma Nuclear Power Plant or CHASNUPP is a large commercial nuclear powr plant located in Chasma colony and Kundian in Punjab in Pakistan. It was planned and designed in 1973 to 1975 by Pakistan Atomic Energy Comission(PAEC). In 1974,Bhutto administration entered in the negotiations over the supply of Nuclear Power Plant with France, presenting the initial design by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commision and signed an agreement with France (CEA) to provide funding of nuclear power plant and a separate plutonium production facility in khushab.Click Here
Q-What was U2 crisis?
Ans. In 1960, an American spy plane was shot down by the Soviet Union while performing photographic aerial reconnaisance deep inside Soviet territory. The plane crashed at Sverdlovsk. The pilot Francis Gary Power parachuted to the ground safely where he was subsequently captured by Soviet Union.Initially, US authorities acknowledged the incident as the loss of the civilian aircraft operated by NASA but were forces to admit the mission's true purpose a few days later when Soviet govt presented the captured pilot and parts of U2'S surveillance equipment including photographs of Soviet military bases taken during the mission.
Q What was Afghan Miracle?
ANS.In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.Pakistan was suddenly on the frontline in the war againt the communism.The attitude of USA to Zia's govt changed overnight. Reservation about his domestic policies were quickly put aside.What was more important to USA was to have Zia's support to oppose the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.In return for supporting Afghans rebels against Soviet Union, USA offered Zia substancial economic and military aid.By 1981 USA agreed to give 1.6 billion USD to Pakistan over five years package.America give so much aid to Pkaistan that it become the third largest recipient of American aid.In 1988 Afghanistan and Soviet Union signed an agreement to end their war and Soviet Union withdrawed its troops from Afghanistan.
Q: Describe Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's health reforms of 1972.
Ans: Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto introduced a health scheme in 1972 in which Rural Health Centres and Basic Health Units in urban areas were to provide widespread healthcare. It was expected to set up one RHC for every 60,000 people an 1 BHU you for every 20,000 people. Training colleges for doctors and nurses were expected to admit students on merit. Once qualified, doctors had to work the first year wherever the government placed them so that instead of working only in big cities they could be assigned post in any small town or village. Click Here The sale of branded medicines was banned in an attempt to reduce the cost of these and could be purchased without prescription, they could be bought at any pharmacy. However, the reforms were expensive and there was shortage of doctors and nurses and the international drug companies close down their operations in Pakistan due to lack of profits from unbranded medicines.
Q: Describe the terms of the 1973 Constitution.
Ans: The 1973 constitution was introduced by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. According to this constitution the National Assembly could appoint provincial governors without the agreement of provincial assembly concerned. Pakistan became the Federal Republic with parliamentary system of government. Prime Minister was to be the head of government and president to be the head of state. Pakistan was declared as an Islamic Republic with Islam as the state religion. Prime minister and president were to be Muslims. All fundamental human rights were to be recognised by the Supreme Court and high courts were responsible to enforce them. President must agree to prime Minister's orders but could only advise the Prime Minister . Upper house (Senate) and Lower House (National Assembly) were to be elected and must not be dissolved. Emergency powers were given to the government. Members of the armed forces could not take part in political activities. In an emergency the federal government would have authority to pass any law and even suspend fundamental freedoms.
Q: Describe Z.A Bhutto's downfall from power.
Ans: Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto ruled over Pakistan from 1971 to 1977. In 1977, the rigging in elections led to riots in the country. Pakistan’s People Party won the elections but protests started over the charges of rigging from Pakistan National Alliance which demanded fresh elections but Bhutto refused and rioting started in different cities of Pakistan. His federal security force couldn’t stop it and Bhutto had to negotiate with PNA offering concessions, re-elections in disputed constituencies and to appease religious factions, banning gabbling, restricted in the sale of alcohol and declared Friday to be the weekly holiday. However, at the same time he turned to the army for help. On 19th April, he declared a state of emergency, placing Pakistan on the martial law. PNA leadership was arrested along with thousands of its supporters. Army saw weakness im Bhutto and get it out a coup called ‘Operation fair play’ on 5th July 1977. Click Here Bhutto was arrested and Pakistan went under army control with General Zia-ul-Haq as Chief Martial Administrator.
Q -What has been importance of Siachin Glacier to both India and Pakistan?
Ans.One area of Kashmir where there is constant conflict between Pakistan and India is around the Siachen Glacier where the border has never been drawn properly.In 1981 Pakistan was concerned that India might try to take possessions of the area and sent troops to prevent this.They were surprised to discover that there were already 300 Indian troops encamped in the mountains.So the Pakistan troops dug in.Although the region is desolate and infertile, such is its symbolic importance that both India and Pakistan have kept troops in the area and are believed to spend more than 500 million USD each year in preventing an occupation by enemy forces.There has been regular fighting between the two forces which has cost up to 5000 soldiers lives.
Q What is Kashmir issue/the matter of LOC?
Ans.Fighting between India and Pakistan in 1948 resulted in Kashmir being divided.However,Pakistan was angered that India retained the largest area of Kashmir and was try to gain control of whole of the Kashmir.Most of 4 million inhabiltants were muslims and Pakistan believed the terriotory belonged to it.From 1949 there was an agreed ceasefire line through Kashmir which was controlled by troops from UN.The Kashmir issue remained unresolved and the lack of trust between th two countries affected their relations in other areas.
Q What was Indust Water Treaty?
Ans.The Indus Water Treaty in 1960 is a water distribution treaty between India and Pakistan, by World Bank to use the water available in Indus River and its tributaries.It was signed in Karachi on 19 Sept 1960 by Indian PM Jawarlal Nehru and Pakistani president Ayub Khan. Click Here The treaty gives control of eastern rivers-Beas, Ravi and Sutlej to India while western rivers-Indus,Chenab and Jhelum to Pakistan. World Bank and IMF supported Pakistan to establish the largest canal irrigation system in Pakistan which reduced the water shortage in the agricultural areas of Pakistan.
Q: What was the Kargil Conflict?
A: In April 1999, Kashmiri guerrillas crossed the Line of Control and captured the Indian occupied towns of Kargil and Drass. The Pakistan government denied any involvement, but has since admitted that Pakistani paramilitary forces were involved. In May. India launched a counter attack during which it fired over 250000 shells and rockets, and two of its crafts crossed into Pakistani airspace. One of the crafts was shot down. The international community was horrified that two countries with nuclear weapons had gone to war. During May and June 1999, Pakistani forces were pushed back and Nawaz Sharif (Prime Minister) was eventually persuaded by US President Bill Clinton to withdraw all Pakistani forces from the Indian held territory behind the Line of Control. Kargil conflict was a major blow to Pakistan-India relations.
Q: What was the Co-operative Societies scandal?
A: During his first tenure, in 1990-1993, Nawaz Sharif lost support because of the Co-operative Societies scandal. Co-operative Societies accepted deposits from members and can legally make loans only to members for the purposes that are to the benefit of the Society and its members. However, mismanagement of these Societies led to a major collapse in which millions of Pakistanis lost money. In Punjab, 700000 people, mostly poor, lost all their savings when the state’s cooperative societies went bankrupt. It was soon discovered that these societies had granted billions of rupees as loans to Mr. Sharif’s family business, the Ittefaq Group. Although they hurriedly repaid the loans, the Prime Minister’s reputation was severely damaged. This was one of the reasons for his oust from office in 1993.
Q: Describe the problems caused by family feuds the faced the Benazir Bhutto governments.
A: A major problem faced by Benazir Bhutto revolved around family feuds. Just like her father, Z. A. Bhutto, she did not have smooth relations with her family. Benazir Bhutto quarrelled with her mother Begum Nusrat Bhutto over control of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Begum Nusrat Bhutto was favouring Benazir’s brother Mir Murtaza Bhutto as leader of PPP. Begum Nusrat Bhutto was removed from a leading role in the PPP. Murtaza Bhutto was sent into exile and founded the al-Zulfiqar Organization. He used this to criticize Benazir Bhutto for allegedly betraying their father’s principles. He also opposed the involvement of her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, in the PPP because of the allegations of corruption against him. Zardari was accused of paybacks on property and government deals and being involved in political murders. Click Here He was also known as Mr. 10%. Murtaza Bhutto was arrested on his return to Pakistan in 1993 on the charges of terrorism (which had been committed during Zia’s time against the execution of his father). In September 1996, he was killed in a police ambush and a judicial review of the incident found out the involvement of the government in it. This undermined support for Benazir Bhutto.
Q: Who was Dr Allama Iqbal?
A: Dr Muhammad Iqbal was a philosopher, politician and poet who was born in Sialkot in 1877. He was educated in Lahore; obtained a degree in law from England; and doctorate of philosophy from Germany. He started practising law in England. He was knighted by the British in 1922 in recognition of his poetry, for which he took inspiration from the Holy Quran. He believed in the need for Muslims to have a separate country and the Hindus and Muslims were two nations. He was a supporter of the Two-Nation Theory. In 1926, Allama Iqbal was elected to the Punjab Assembly and soon made an impact with his skill in handling new laws. In 1927, he was appointed as General Secretary of the Muslim League Sir Shafi group. Through the media of poetry, he awakened the Muslim nation and encouraged them to work to improve their position in society. He was called ‘the philosopher-poet’. He made his Allahabad speech in 1930 and gave the idea of a separate Muslim state. As a result, he has been described as the ‘Architect of Pakistan’. He died in April 1938 and was buried outside Badshahi Mosque in Lahore. Jinnah said about Iqbal’s poetry “immortal as it is, it is always there to guide us and inspire us.”
Q: Who was Mir Murtaza Bhutto?
Ans: Mir Murtaza Bhutto was the brother of Benazir Bhutto and had the support of Begum Nusrat Bhutto as a leader of PPP. Murtaza Bhutto went into exile and founded Al-Zulfikar Organization. He used this to criticize Benazir Bhutto and also opposed her husband’s involvement in the PPP because of the allegations of corruption against him. Murtaza Bhutto was arrested on his return to Pakistan on the charges of terrorism n 1993. In September 1996, he was killed in a police ambush and a judicial review of the incident found out the involvement of government in it.
Q: What do you know about Karakoram Highway?
Ans: The Karakoram Highway was opened in 1987. It highlighted the friendly relations between two countries, Pakistan and China. This road had been under construction since 1966 and was the first major road built between the two countries. It was largely financed by Chinese money and built by Chinese engineers. The terrain in which the road is built was so dangerous that it is believed that for every one kilometer of the road built, one construction worker lost his life. The highway follows the old Silk Road through which the Chinese goods had originally come to the rest of the Asia.
Q: What was Hudood Ordinance?
Ans: Hudood Ordinance was promulgated in the country in 1977 by General Zia-ul-Haq . According to which, different punishments were prescribed for various crimes. These were the Offence against Property Ordinance, the Offence of Zina Ordinance, the offence of Qazaq Ordinance and the prohibition ordinance. These Hudood ordinances introduced Islamic punishments for gambling, drinking, theft and adultery.
Q. What problems did Nawaz Sharif face as Prime Minister during the 1990s?
A. During, 1990s the supporters of Benazir Bhutto wanted Nawaz Sharif to fail. It was difficult for Nawaz Sharif to promote economic progress and religious ideas at the same time. He also lost USA aid. He faced the cooperative society’s scandal during 1990 that cost loss of savings to about a million people. He was also accused of his involvement in the death of Chief of Army Staff General Asif Nawaz. During his second term, he dismissed the Army Chief General Jahangir Karamat. Nawaz Sharif lost aid and support from other nations following nuclear testing. Nawaz Sharif’s failure in the Kargil issue widened the gulf between his government and the military. He first denied any involvement in the issue, but the events following the withdrawal of Muslim Kashmiri forces provided evidence against his statement click Here. HE lost support of the army, and masses too turned against him and protest rallies were taken out which showed that he had also lost the support of many of the people. He blamed Pervez Musharaf whom he tried to sack. He was overthrown by Pervez Musharaf on 12 October 1999.
Q. What problems did Benazir Bhutto face as Prime Minister of Pakistan?
A. Benazir Bhutto ruled twice over Pakistan as Prime Minister, 1988-1990 and 1993-1996. She faced opposition from politicians who wanted her to fail especially Nawaz Sharif who controlled the provincial government of Punjab. Just after 11 months of her first tenure the opposition parties organized no-confidence movement in the assembly. She also did not work well with the President Ghulam Ishaq Khan. Her husband Asif Ali Zardari was accused of corruption and he was arrested on the charges of blackmail and was jailed for two years. She faced divisions within her party Pakistan People’s Party. The tension between Sindhis and Muhajirs lead to riots in Karachi in 1989. The MQM ended its alliance with PPP. A shoot on site curfew was imposed in Hyderabad. It lead to the famous Pucca Qila massacre killing 31 women and children. She also quarreled with her mother Nusrat Bhutto who wanted Mir Murtaza Bhutto to be the chairman of PPP. Murtaza was killed in a police ambush; a judicial review suggested that it was done on the consent of Benazir Bhutto.
Q. Describe General Pervez Musharaf’s rise to power in 1999.
A. In April 1999, Muslim Kashmiri guerrillas crossed the Line of Control and captured the Indian occupied towns of Kargil and Drass. The Pakistan government denied any involvement, but later admitted that Pakistani paramilitary forces were involved. Later, the Pakistan-supported forces in the Kargil Conflict were driven back. Nawaz Sharif (Prime Minister) tried to blame Kashmir retreat on Pervez Musharaf but it was not accepted by the army. Nawaz Sharif, feared of a coup, tried to sack Pervez Musharaf when he was coming back after an official visit of Sri Lanka and his plane was not allowed to land at Karachi airport. Nawaz Sharif declared General Zia-ud-Din Butt as the next Army Chief. Army allowed the plane of Pervez Musharaf to land and later his army staff overthrew Nawaz Sharif and put Pakistan under military rule. A bloodless coup took place and life was allowed to get on as normal.
Q what was Pucca Qila massacre ?
A. On 27 May, the Sindh government launched a crackdown in Hyderabad, the centre of MQM power . A shoot-on-sight curfew was imposed. The muhajrs protested at the treatment and fighting broke out. This came to be know as pucca Qila massacre. 31 woman and children were killed . This lead president Ghulam Ishaq khan dismissing government of Benazir Bhutto in 1990.
Q. What was shariat bill ?
A. In May 1991 , the shariat bill was passed by Nawaz Shareef . This made Quran and Sunna the law of the land . Opponents disliked the increased role of Islam in government. In reality , little was done to enforce the law. For example when the federal shariat court asked for measures to taken against payment of interest etc, no action was taken by the government. Many IJI political leaders were satisfied by this bill. Click Here
Q. Who was begum Nusrat Bhutto ?
A. Begum Nusrat was mother of Benazir Bhutto. Benazir had a quarell with her mother over control of ppp, after zulfiqar s Ali Bhutto’s death . Nusrat Bhutto wanted her son Mir Murtaza as leader . Benazir removed her mother from the leading Pakistan in ppp. In September 1996 , murtaza was killed in a police ambush.
Q. Describe the 1956 Constitution.
A. The Second Constituent Assembly passed the Constitution Bill on 29 February 1956 and it was formally adopted on 23 March 1956. This constitution was a compromise between the two major parties the Muslim League and the United Front. Under the terms of this Act Pakistan was declared an Islamic Republic. The president shall be a Muslim over 40 and shall be elected by the Central and Provincial Legislatures. He shall appoint the prime minister and the cabinet. He shall have emergency powers and shall have the right to dissolve the Assembly on the prime minister's advice. There shall be a Cabinet (advisory only) and a National and Provincial Assemblies. The National Assembly shall have an equal number of seats from East
and West Pakistan. The Constitution shall only be amended by a two-thirds majority in the Assembly Under this Constitution, Iskander Mirza became President of Pakistan. The
The Constitution lasted for only two and half years and was scrapped in 1958 when General Ayub Khan declared Martial Law in the country.
What was the 'One Unit' Scheme?
As acting Governor-General, on 5 October 1955 Iskander Mirza passed an order establishing the unified province of West Pakistan, known as the 'One Unit' scheme. The integration of all the areas of West Pakistan into a single province had first been announced in November 1954 when Prime Minister Muhammad Ali Bogra had stated that all the four provinces and ten princely states within west Pakistan were to be merged into a single administrative system. Iskander Mirza claimed it would bring about greater efficiency and enable more rapid development. West Pakistan politicians and administrators feared their influence may be challenged if they did not do this, as there were 10 million more people in East Pakistan. By unifying West Pakistan and making West Pakistan and East Pakistan official with equal representation in the Assembly, the One Unit Scheme prevented East Pakistan from gaining a majority in the Assembly. This was very unpopular in East Pakistan.
Q. Describe the constitutional crisis of 1954-55?
A. Muhammad Ali Bogra, the prime minister, had a little political experience. Governor General Ghulam Muhammad expected him to support his authority__ wanted Bogra to do as he was told. Bogra wanted to curb the power of the Governor-General.Click Here Ghulam Muhammmad was out of the country on an official tour so Bogra introduced an amendment to 1935 Government of India Act. Bogra was trying to take some of the powers of the Governor-General that all the ministers must be the members of the assembly including the prime minister and the assembly had to approve the cabinet and the Governor-General had to take the advice of his ministers. This action caused the political crisis in the country. Ghulam Muhammad waited for Bogra to leave the country and also dissolved the constitutional assembly.
Q: What was BCCI Scandal?
A: BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International) was founded by Agha Hasan Abedi in 1972 and within 10 years it became world’s seventh largest bank. However, concerns about the bank’s lending practices led to an investigation by a British team of accountants in 1991. They concluded that BCCI had engaged in ‘widespread fraud and manipulation’. Following this report, the BCCI was closed and had to pay huge fines.
Q: What was Pressler Amendment and Brown Amendment?
A: In 1993, President Clinton wanted to restore relation between the two countries. He suggested that the Pressler Amendment had led to unfair treatment and told them to stop the production of weapon-grade uranium. In 1996, Benazir Bhutto visited USA; following the visit the Brown Amendment authorized the US government to reimburse Pakistan for F-16 payments and provide $388 million in military equipment. The thaw in the relations was further highlighted when Hillary Clinton visited Pakistan.
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