The Services of Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari as President of Pakistan: An Analytical Study

Abstract

Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari's presidential period (1993-1997) is one of the most significant, but least researched, eras of Pakistan's political and constitutional history. He has been the subject of scholarly attention for his role in the dismissal of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s government, but his wider constitutional, administrative, developmental, and diplomatic contributions have been ignored, though he was in office during major political and institutional changes. This paper is a critical assessment of Leghari's presidency using historical and qualitative research methods, utilizing official documents, archival documents, legislative debates, contemporary newspapers, interviews, memoirs, and relevant academic literature. It explores his transition from a highly successful civil servant, a prominent parliamentarian, and President of Pakistan, and assesses his contribution towards institutional accountability, democratic governance, regional development, constitutionalism, and Pakistan’s foreign policy. The current article also covers some constitutional issues, such as the dismissal of the Benazir Bhutto government, the proposal for the Council for Defence and National Security, legal battle with the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and Leghari’s eventual resignation. It claims that his presidential period is a watershed moment that has significantly shaped the constitutional development, civil-military relations, and the power dynamics in Pakistan.