CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF ISLAMIZATION UNDER THE ERA OF ZIA UL-HAQ

Abstract

General Zia Al-Haq imposed Martial Law on July 5, 1977, as a result of the political unrest in Pakistan. Under Zia Al-Haq's leadership (1977–1988), Islamization gained new momentum. He started a comprehensive strategy to purge anything non-Islamic from Pakistani culture and the state. His Islamization effort took into account Pakistan's socioeconomic, legal-constitutional, and educational establishments. The nation embraced the principles of the Islamic udd, the Penal Code, and the Zakt-'Ushr legislation. Riba was outlawed and P&L accounting was implemented in banks as part of the Islamization of the economy. He also created the Federal Shar'at Court, the Shar'at Appellate Benches, and the Shar'ah Council, and renamed parliament Majlis Al-Shr. The enforcement of gambling rules and the encouragement of women to wear headscarves (chadar) are two examples of the social changes brought about by Nizm-e-Mutafi. The reading of the Arabic news was made mandatory, and radio and television programming judged incompatible with Islam was restricted. The establishment of a completely Islamic state in Pakistan was the stated objective of President Zia's Islamization efforts. His political status was bolstered by those who disapproved of his initiatives.