Abstract
Charismatic leadership emerges as a response to the political challenges. The life history of Benazir Bhutto also
falls under the category of charismatic leadership as she displayed exceptional leadership qualities in the face of
different personal and political challenges. In a predominantly patriarchal Pakistani society, she was confronted
with the biggest of challenges of creating a space for female leadership. Therefore, this article is an attempt to
explore, investigate and analyze the numerous socio-economic, political and geo-strategic challenges and responses
of Benazir Bhutto as the Prime Minister of Pakistan (1988-90) to understand her leadership qualities which she
displayed while she was in the office of Prime Minister. Moreover, different theories have also been applied to have
a better understanding of Benazir Bhutto’s leadership qualities and administrative abilities. Furthermore, it
encapsulates the civil-military relationship during the occasion of her first premiership 1988-90. This study also
throws light on dwindling economy, the perpetuation of vindictive politics by the opposition and conflicting relations
with President Ghulam Ishaq created a grave challenge not only for poor governance but also for the longevity of
her premiership tenure. It was not smooth sailing for her as Prime Minister; however, it was a journey full of
myriad challenges; inherited dwindling economy, volatile geo-political situation, overdeveloped state structure, a
strife-torn society and high expectations of the people who had experienced almost a decade long political
suppression under military dictatorship. Regional disparities, vindictive politics of opposition and imbalance of
power between the President as well as Prime Minister required stupendous efforts from Benazir Bhutto as a Prime
Minister. Furthermore, endemic unemployment, rampant poverty, illiteracy, economic bankruptcy were the other
major socio-economic challenges. Moreover, constitutionally, her government did not possess a majority in the
National Assembly to undo looming danger of the President's prerogatives to pack elected Assemblies for home;
under the provisions of 58 (2) (B) in Pakistan constitution. The arbitrary use of the Presidential power of 58 (2B)
was completely unjustified. Moreover, to join the Prime Minister’s office, even, the Army nod was not only
indispensable but also, she had to develop the relationship of confidence, trust and understanding with the military.
It is important to revisit the major socio-economic, political and geopolitical issues when Benazir Bhutto assumed
power to assess fairly her governance and overall performance as Prime Minister of Pakistan during (1988-90).
Therefore, in this study, the author tries to find answers to the following: Whether it was her corruption, nepotism
and bad governance which led to her downfall or the misconceptions and bad civil-military relations were
responsible for her dismissal?
Muhammad Azeem, Qutub-ul-Haq Chishti, Fatima Rifat, Ayesha Sarfaraz, Sami Ozair Khan. (2020) Studies in Female Leadership in Pakistan: Benazir Bhutto as Prime Minister of Pakistan (1988-90), Journal of the Research Society of Pakistan, Volume 57, Issue-4.
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