1984 Pakistani Islamisation programme referendum

none March 2024 Pakistan 1984 12 19 y "Whether the people of Pakistan endorse the process initiated by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the President of Pakistan, for bringing the laws of Pakistan in conformity with the injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and for the preservation of the Islamic ideology of Pakistan, for the continuation and consolidation of that process, and for the smooth and orderly transfer of power to the elected representatives of the people." Yes 21,253,757 No 316,918 180,226 34,992,425 1960 1960 Pakistani presidential confidence referendum 2002 2002 Pakistani referendum A referendum on the Islamisation policy of President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq was held in Pakistan on 19 December 1984. Voters were asked whether they supported Zia-ul-Haq's proposals for amending several laws in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah, whether they wanted this process to continue, and whether they supported the Islamist ideology of Pakistan. The referendum also served as way of extending Zia-ul-Haq's presidential term by five years.Nohlen et al., p673 1984-12-02 Pakistan's Zia Announces Referendum on His Tenure https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/pakistan-s-zia-announces-referendum-on-his-tenure/docview/138142115/se-2 Washington Post Islamabad Washington, DC ProQuest subscription 2026-02-20 Associated Press Zia-ul-Haq had been president since 1978, after taking power in a coup in 1977. While the Pakistani constitution required that the president be elected by national and provincial assemblies, Zia-ul-Haq justified the referendum's alteration to this process with reference to regional instability caused by the ongoing Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and the recent assassination of Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi. He stated that in addition to helping keep Pakistan stable, the principal purpose of the referendum was "establishing Islamic democracy". 1984-12-02 Pakistan's Zia Calls Dec. 19 Referendum on 5 More Years' Rule https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/pakistan-s-zia-calls-dec-19-referendum-on-5-more/docview/154118326/se-2 Los Angeles Times Islamabad Los Angeles ProQuest subscription 2026-02-20 Times Wire Services Western diplomats characterised the referendum as a way to mitigate American-based criticism of the military dictatorship.Fineman Mark 1984-12-06 Pakistan Ballot a Referendum on Zia https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/pakistan-ballot-referendum-on-zia/docview/176154662/se-2 Chicago Tribune Karachi Chicago ProQuest subscription 2026-02-20 Opposition figures criticised the announcement. Shah Faridul Haq of the Islamist Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan party described the referendum plan as "clear fraud", saying that Zia "put the question in such a way that the poor and uneducated voters will be fooled." The Movement for the Restoration of Democracy and the Karachi Bar Association called for the public to boycott the vote. 1984-12-06 Pakistani Outlaws Call for Vote Boycott https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/06/world/around-the-world-pakistani-outlaws-call-for-vote-boycott.html New York Times Islamabad New York 2026-02-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20180130095124/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/06/world/around-the-world-pakistani-outlaws-call-for-vote-boycott.html 2018-01-30 live 1984-12-13 Pakistan Lawyers Decry Referendum https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/pakistan-lawyers-decry-referendum/docview/386583519/se-2 The Globe and Mail Karachi Toronto ProQuest subscription 2026-02-20 Reuters Pakistani opposition leaders predicted that Zia-al-Huq would rig the result by stuffing ballot boxes and having government supporters vote multiple times.Wallace Charles P. 1984-12-19 Pakistani President Urges Large Voter Turnout https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/pakistani-president-urges-large-voter-turnout/docview/154064555/se-2 Los Angeles Times Karachi Los Angeles ProQuest subscription 2026-02-20 Official results declared it approved by 98.5% of voters, with a turnout of 62.2%.Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume I, p677 0-19-924958-X Independent observers questioned whether voter participation had reached 30% and noted that there had been "widespread irregularities".Richter William L. Pakistan in 1984: Digging In Asian Survey February 1985 25 2 147 2644298 10.2307/2644298 The Los Angeles Times published reports of people being turned away at polling places, having been told that they were recorded as having already voted,Wallace Charles P. 1984-12-20 Widespread Irregularities in Pakistan Vote Reported https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/widespread-irregularities-pakistan-vote-reported/docview/154131299/se-2 Los Angeles Times Karachi Los Angeles ProQuest subscription 2026-02-20 and the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy described the result as an "unprecedented fraud". 1984-12-21 Opposition Complains of Fraud, 98% Back Zia in Pakistan Referendum https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/opposition-complains-fraud-98-back-zia-pakistan/docview/386416314/se-2 The Globe and Mail Islamabad Toronto ProQuest subscription 2026-02-20 Associated Press Results 21253757 316918 180226 34992425 Nohlen et al. References Pakistan Islamisation Category:Referendums in Pakistan Category:Zia-ul-Haq Category:Military government of Pakistan (1977–1988) Category:Islamism in Pakistan Category:1980s in Islam General