Elec-tion-ary: Elections in 1988

Benazir defeats no-trust move.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) became the single largest party in the National Assembly after the 1988 elections. Although its tally fell short of the majority, the party won the support of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party (ANP), and formed the government in the centre. It, however, failed to form the government in the biggest province Punjab where the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) leader Nawaz Sharif was elected as the chief minister.

PPP’s two allies, however, fell out soon and joined the opposition with IJI. Soon the combined opposition parties filed a notice for a no-confidence resolution with the secretary of the National Assembly on October 23, 1989. The notice was signed by 86 members.

On October 24, the notice was formally submitted and 98 members stood up in its favour. 107 members present in the assembly voted for the motion while 124 opposed it. Five members, including Wali Khan of ANP, were absent; six opposition members defected to the government, while three from the government crossed over to the opposition. However, the motion could not succeed.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2013.