Impacts of 1977 elections in Pakistan: An assessment of the politics of agitation and reconciliation

Abstract

In a democracy, the political leaders must reflect democratic norms of mutual respect towards divergent viewpoints that must be resolved through dialogue and accommodation. This paper focuses on the 1977 general elections and the developments associated with the aftermath that derailed the democratic process that had started five years before. The paper focuses on how the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) emerged from the variant political ideologies of different political parties that were previously not so close in their relationship. The campaign for elections by an electoral alliance of nine political parties and the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is also part of the discussion. The paper analyses why the election results proved controversial and profoundly impacted the future course of politics. The study examines whether the elections were rigged and whether PNA and PPP had fulfilled their democratic obligations to continue the democratic process. This research aims to highlight the role of the ruling and opposition parties and its effects on national politics. A study of the events after the elections allows one to learn about the undemocratic attitudes and behaviours of political leaders, which were purely based on feelings of enmity and were directed towards vested interests.