Zia Ul Haq

- Early life
- Career
- Islamization process
- Extremist Impacts of Islamization
- Pakistan; before and after Islamization
Early Life
Zia ul Haq belonged to a Punjabi Arayin family that lived in Jalandhar in the British India. He
was the second son to Muhammad Akbar who worked as a staff clerk in the Army GHQ of India
Command of the British Armed Forces prior to the independence of Pakistan from British
colonial rule in 1947. This gave him an insight into the life of armed forces even as a child. This
could also be the reason for why he had a fairly stern and strict outlook towards life for he had
lived through that sort of environment all his life.
Zia ul Haq was a distinguishably bright student all his life. He started off his educational years
from the elementary and middle schools in Simla. Later on, he joined the St. Stephen’s College
of the University of Delhi for his BA Degree in history that he passed with the highest grades in
1943. He is known to have been an exceptionally proactive student all through his academic
years after which he developed interest in serving his country through the army so he joined the
British India Army. There he was yet again identified as an extra-ordinary talent and his advent
from a mere army soldier to a General progressed dynamically.
His married life, however, was not a success. It is believed that he had repeated fights with his
wife Shafiq Jahan who he married in 1950. The servants and guards reported after his death
when information was being collected to compile his biography that he and his wife had heated
arguments over General’s extramarital affairs and double standards for his own domestic issues.
However, he had two sons and three daughters from Shafiq Jahan before she died in 1996.
Developments in his Career
The Islamization Process

Islamization; the idea to enforce Islam in the country that was called “Islamic Republic of
Pakistan” for all the previous governments had only paid lip service to the religious
responsibilities.
Genral Zia ul Haq had felt the need to bring revolutionary changes in how the religious matters
of the country regulated, therefore, he introduced significant changes under his “Islamization
Process”. Those included a number of reforms and appropriate punishments for when they were
not followed as directed.
They are classified as:
1. Creating a Favorable Environment

The government of Zia created such an atmosphere where acting upon Islam was
appreciated and opposing Islam was disliked and disapproved. In this regard his personal
example played an important role. He himself acted upon Islamic injunctions, performed
Umra annually, offered prayers regularly five times and his speeches or the lectures he
used to deliver reflected his devotion to Islam.
2. Reforms in Information Media

His first major step was that he introduced reforms in media as media played an
important role in creating favorable public opinion for a particular system. The promotion
of music and dancing was prohibited and instead reformatory programs were introduced.
Azan was aired at prayers time. Hajj rites were broadcast live on television and Hajj
sermon could also be heard on radio. For some time T.V programs were stopped
altogether during Iftar time to provide calm environment to the Muslims to pray. In
addition to that all obscene adds(advertisements) were banned either on television or
newspaper.
3. Contact with Ulema and Mashaikh

To enforce Islam effectively the support of Ulama and Mashaikh was necessary. In this
regard, Zia concerned conventions of Ulama and Mashaikh to express their opinion freely
and to criticize government if it is following the un-Islamic path.
4. Eradication of lawlessness
The Zia government tried to uphold the sanctity of chastity and privacy. In the beginning
law and order was enforced to eradicate vulgarity and obscenity, but later the pace of
these reforms could not be maintained. Hence, with the passage of time the T.V.
censorship got relaxed and with the setting up of democratic government, terrorists and
dacoits got active, and the propaganda of safety of ‘chadar’ and ‘chardivary’ lost its
charm and credibility.
5. Prayer in Congregation
Arrangements were made for attending the Zuhr prayers, in the government offices and
schools. Nazimin-i-Salat was appointed who used to arrange the managements of the
prayers, and urged the people to offer prayers. In the beginning the high government
officers, Headmasters etc, sued to attend the congregation with punctuality but with the
passage of time relaxation crept in and even Nazimine abandoned their task.
6. Respect for Ramzan

To enforce the respect for Ramazan a special ordinance was released, according to which
smoking, drinking, eating publically was prohibited and anyone found doing that could
be imprisoned for three months or could be fined for rupees 500. Media broadcasted
special programs during Ramazan. All food markets were used to be shut down during
Ramazan.
7. Better Facilities for Hajj

Opportunity was provided to maximum people to perform Hajj. Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj were
appointed for the guidance of Hajjis, their better residence in Saudi Arabia and medical
facilities were given due consideration by the government.
8. Reorientation of Islamic System

To inculcate Islamic thinking in students, general Zia ordered to review all textbooks and
anything repugnant to Islam and to the ideology of Pakistan was deleted. Islamiat and
Pakistan studies were made compulsory and were introduced in all sorts of educational
institutions. The religious institutions were officially patronized and its degrees were
recognized by government. Arabic was introduced as compulsory subject from sixth to
eight Class.
9. Establishment of Islamic University

To do research in fiqh and principles of Sharia and some other disciplines, Islamic
International University was set up in Islamabad.
10. The Hudood Ordinance

Four punishments were enforced by an ordinance, on 10, February 1979. Mentioned in
Quran as “Had”. These punishments were cutting of hands for theft, hundred lashes and
stoning for death for adultery and eighty lashes for drinking and for false accusation of
adultery. Appeal against these punishments could only be made in Sharia court. However
not even a single culprit was given the chance to appeal.
11. Setting up of Shariah Courts

To enforce Islamic criminal law, Sharia court was set up which enjoyed the status of high
court and it comprised of high court judges and some renowned Ulemas. If anyone claims
a law to be repugnant to Islam, after hearing the court can announce it as null and void.
However it heard cases concerning only to Islamic law.
12. The Shariah Bench

The sharia bench of the Supreme Court was the highest court for appeal regarding Islamic
law and in the same court the principles of Islamic Law could be discussed and
interpreted.
13. The Qazi Courts

Qazi courts were made to provide simple and speedy decisions, but due to the opposition
of the lawyers, practical steps could not be taken in this direction.
14. Eliminating communication gap between People and the Government

To protect people from the injustice of bureaucracy and the government an ombudsman
was appointed in June 1981, who could convey the complaints of the people.
15. Progress towards Islamic Economic System
Few steps were taken to model the economic system on Islamic lines. For instance, the
enforcement of Zakat and Ushar system. Zakat is annually deducted from saving
accounts and GDP funds when received, on the first Ramazan. Ushar was collected from
those Landlords who’s yield exceeded 948 kg of wheat.
16. Promoting National Language and National Dress

To stop the dominance of western culture Zia ordered all the high officials to wear
national dress president and prime minister also wore national dress on important
functions. To promote national language Urdu, it was said that president and finance
minister would address in Urdu. After few years all education would be in Urdu
including the official correspondence, but no effective steps were taken in this regard.
17. Decision regarding Qadianis

The Qadianies were prohibited from using Muslim names of persons, mosque etc. they
were prohibited for all their practices to be named as Islamic. Under the president’s
ordinance if they wanted to live in Pakistan, they will have to accept their non-Muslim
identity.
18. Enforcement of Shariah Ordinance

Imposition of Sharia was the main slogan of Zia government. When Zia got differences
with Junejo, in 1988, he dissolved Junejo’s government and to satisfy the public minds he
issued Sharia ordinance on June 15, 1988. According to it sharia was declared as the
supreme law of the country and sharia courts were authorized to decide whether the laws
in force are repugnant to Islam or not. Ulema were given the rights to appear before the
court of law. Mufti was appointed by federal government to have his opinion on issues
relating to sharia. An educational commission was proposed which was to recommend
education system in accordance with the teachings of Islam. To promote Islamic values
media was utilized and Islamic Ideological Council was proposed.

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Zia Ul Haq

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- Early life

Developments in his Career

The Islamization Process

They are classified as:

1. Creating a Favorable Environment

2. Reforms in Information Media

3. Contact with Ulema and Mashaikh

6. Respect for Ramzan

7. Better Facilities for Hajj

8. Reorientation of Islamic System

9. Establishment of Islamic University

10. The Hudood Ordinance

11. Setting up of Shariah Courts

12. The Shariah Bench

13. The Qazi Courts

14. Eliminating communication gap between People and the Government

16. Promoting National Language and National Dress

17. Decision regarding Qadianis

18. Enforcement of Shariah Ordinance

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