Pakistan Under Martial Law Again

Martial law and suspension of individual rights is not a new occurrence to the troubled land known as Pakistan.

Controlling powers have often had their way with the modern and ancient peoples of Pakistan.

Pakistan is an ancient land that traces its beginnings to 3000 BC. Modern day Pakistan is in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent. Over the centuries the land had been home to various civilizations that have left their mark.

The Indus valley civilization ceased to exist about 1500 B.C., with the onslaught of the Aryans. The Indus epoch was apparently one of great accomplishments, as archaeological findings of the last century reveal an urban environment of well planned towns. This people also had evidence of having as their god, Shiva, a main deity in the HIndu religion.

Then there was the Persian influence,the Aryan nomadic tribes, and eventually invasion and control by Alexander the Great.

The land has changed ownership and influence many times.

The modern history of Pakistan can be traced back to the All- India Muslim League, formed in 1906, to advocate for rights and privileges for those of the Muslim faith through India.

Independence for Pakistan came on August 14, 1947, when the British finally ceded power to popular elections and referendum.

The Hindu majority claimed an area now known as India, and the Muslim minority, Pakistan.

Over the years the two countries would fight three wars over various regions, such 1965's war for Kashmir. In all Pakistan fought three wars with India.

Even within Pakistan itself there was strife and conflict, which led to a civil war in the 1970's. East Pakistan broke from the rest of the country and became the nation of Bangladesh.

Pakistan's economy, under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, took a heavy socialist turn, with nationalization of banks and land reforms. This got the ire of both the entrepreneurs and the Muslims, the latter which viewed socialism as an enemy of god. This eventually led to a coup in 1977, and the hanging of Bhutto.

The replacement for the socialist government was one based on Islamic law (Sharia). Reforms included no interest bank loans, and severe penalties for adultery, stealing and use of alcohol.

When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in the 1980's Pakistan was further destabilized, because of the millions of Afghan refugees pressed up against its boarder.

Martial law was imposed throughout the regime of Muhammad Zia Ul-Hag, a former General and the once army chief of staff. Martial law finally ended and a civilian parliament was elected, but Zia was killed in an airplane crash in 1988, three years before his presidency was to end.

Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulifaker Ali Bhutto, and now head of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), won election and prime minister, though she was later dismissed, along with her cabinet, and accused of abusing power.

Today finds President Musharraf instituting martial law and suspending the constitution, which was the same way he came into office in 1999, in a bloodless coup.

His term as President has been defined by attempts to subdue religious Muslim extremism and an uneasy peace with India, which almost failed. Threats of war, with nuclear undertones, occurred in 2002.

After September 11, Musharraf aligned uneasily with the United States, as the US forces hunted for Osama bin Laden in the mountains of neighboring Afghanistan

Lately, Pakistan's Supreme Court Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry, was suspended by Musharraf for misuse of authority. Supporters of the Chief Justice claim it is so Musharraf can maintain his office after 2007.

This comes right after a visit by opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, who has been in exile for eight years. An attempt was made on her life with a bomb explosion.

The suspension of the Constitution and implementation of martial law has been received negatively by the Bush administration, which is concerned about human rights and freedoms in this second largest Muslim country.

Martial law and suspension of democratic rights is not new to this troubled region, but the stakes are ever higher.

Today, independent media remains shut down, and lawyers and other protesters are being jailed.

Sources used to compile this article include: http://www.guardian.co.uk, http://www.geocities.com/junaid_hassan25/history.html, http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0860200.html, http://www.tourism.gov.pk/media_gallery.html