The first premier from the south western Balochistan Province Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali described as a moderate, middle-of-the-road leader stepped down as Prime Minister and himself nominated Pakistan Muslim League President and Parliamentary leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as the next premier on June 27, 2004. Actually he had to leave the office in haste and not of his own accord after he lost the confidence of the President.
The main reason for losing the confidence of the President was that Mr Jamali failed to break the stranglehold of the Opposition on Mr Musharraf’s Legal Framework Order that contained his constitutional reforms. Amidst continuing political deadlock with the Opposition over his constitutional amendments, Pervez Musharraf was already contemplating major changes in the government, including replacing Mr Jamali and appointing a new Prime Minister. Leaders of the Opposition parties termed the resignation of Zafarullah Khan Jamali another setback to the democratic system in Pakistan as they indicated that the all powers rested with President Musharraf. They pointed out that no Prime Minister would be independent because they were appointed by a military ruler. Mr Jamali’s removal was severely criticized as another attack on democracy by the dictator or the first victim of the National Security Council headed by the military ruler.
This article was last updated on Monday, Jan 02, 2012
