Tensions between Sharif and the military were common during his time in office. When Sharif moved to create more support for himself in the military, those tensions quickly escalated into a struggle for power over who would have ultimate control of Pakistan's leadership.
Prior to the coup Sharif held a majority of support in parliament and had taken several measures to strengthen his position as prime minister, including attempts to curtail the military's influence on how the government was run. A few weeks before Sharif's ousting, senior party members of his Pakistan Muslim League joined in a controversial opposition alliance against the military. When General Pervez Musharraf ousted Sharif from office it was the culmination of a long, tense relationship between Sharif and the military. Musharraf succeeded three previous army generals who had also initiated coups against Pakistan's leadership: Ayub Khan in 1958; Yahya Khan in 1969; and Zia ul Haq in 1997. With the fourth coup in little over 50 years, however, the question arose: Would Musharraf's coup usher in a new regime or would it be the same old tradition of corruption and instability?
Historical Background
Officially known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the country is predominantly a Muslim nation (about 97 percent).
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