A history marked by instability

Pakistan is one of the world's poorer countries, with a history of instability and corruption. Its GNP is $60,000 million (figures from 1993-95), or $460 per head. Ireland has a GNP of $48 billion and a per head GNP of $13,600.

Pakistan and India won independence simultaneously from the British Empire in 1947, but essentially Muslim Pakistan was partitioned into East and West, with Hindu-dominated India in between.

The hero of Pakistani independence, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, died in 1948 and over the following decade governance became increasingly subservient to the military.

The first general elections were held in 1970, and three years later Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became prime minister. In 1971 civil war broke out between the eastern and western wings, and when 9.5 million refugees fled into India from East Pakistan, India declared war on Pakistan, which surrendered after 12 days. East Pakistan declared independence as the People's Republic of Bangladesh.

In the 1977 election Bhutto was accused of corruption and fomenting unrest. The head of the armed forces, Gen Zia ulHaq, took power, suppressing political activity and Islamicising the country.

Bhutto was executed and in August 1988 Zia was killed in an air crash. Elections were held and Bhutto's daughter, Benazir, became prime minister.

In 1991 the Islamic code, the shari'a, was incorporated into law. Mrs Bhutto has been in and out of power, and jail. In opposition she is campaigning for her husband's release. He has been jailed for corruption.