Muhammad Khan Junejo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mohammad Khan Junejo
محمد خان جونیجو
M.K. Junejo (1932–1993) in 1986
10th Prime Minister of Pakistan
In office 24 March 1985 – 29 May 1988
President	Zia-ul-Haq
Preceded by	Zia-ul-Haq (as Chief Martial Law Administrator)
Succeeded by	Benazir Bhutto
Minister of Defence
In office 24 March 1985 – 29 May 1988
Minister of Interior
In office 15 April 1985 – 21 May 1985
Preceded by	Lt.Gen F.S. Khan Lodhi
Succeeded by	Aslam Khan
Minister of Railways
In office 5 July 1978 – 23 April 1979
Preceded by	N. A. Qureshi
Succeeded by	Major-General Jamal Said Khan
In office 1965–1969
President	Ayub Khan
Preceded by	F.M. Khan
Succeeded by	Admiral S.M. Ahsan
Minister of Health, Communications and Labour
In office 1963–1965
President of Pakistan Muslim League
In office 23 March 1985 – 29 May 1988
Preceded by	Zahoor Illahi
Succeeded by	Pir Pagara
Personal details
Born	Mohammad Khan Junejo (1932-08-18)18 August 1932 Sindhri, Sind Division, Bombay Presidency, British India (Now, Sindh, Pakistan)
Died	18 March 1993(1993-03-18) (aged 60) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Cause of death	Leukemia
Resting place	Sindhri in Mirpur Khas District, Sindh, Pakistan
Citizenship	Pakistan
Political party	Pakistan Muslim League (1962–1988)
Other political affiliations	Pakistan Muslim League (J) (1988–93)
Spouse	Begum Junejo
Children	Asad Junejo (son)
Alma mater	St. Patrick's College Plumpton College, United Kingdom

Mohammad Khan Junejo (محمد خان جونیجو; محمد خان جوڻيجو; 18 August 1932 – 18 March 1993) was a Pakistani politician. He was also a farmer. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1985 to 1988.

Junejo came from an influential farming family. He studied in Karachi at St. Patrick's College. He also trained as a farmer at an agricultural institute in the United Kingdom. He became well-known when he joined the government of Ayub Khan in the 1960s. During this time, he held important roles in charge of railways, health, communications, and labor.

After elections in 1985, he was chosen to lead the government. He became the president of the Pakistan Muslim League political party. His government was known for supporting traditional values and saving government money. He also removed emergency laws, which allowed more freedom for the media. Even though President Zia-ul-Haq strongly disagreed, Junejo allowed his Foreign Minister to sign the Geneva Accords in 1988. This agreement helped end the war in Afghanistan. His relationship with President Zia-ul-Haq also became difficult when he started an investigation into the Ojhri Camp disaster in 1988.

On 29 May 1988, President Zia dismissed Prime Minister Junejo. President Zia said Junejo's government was not effective and the economy was struggling. New elections were called immediately. After the 1988 Pakistani general elections, Junejo led his own part of the Muslim League.

Early Life and Education

Mohammad Khan Junejo was born in Sindhri, British India, on 18 August 1932. His family was an influential farming family in Sindh. They had traditional conservative beliefs.

He went to St. Patrick's High School in Karachi. Then, he graduated from St. Patrick's College. He later traveled to England and trained as a farmer. He earned a diploma in agriculture in 1954.

Junejo was a farmer who grew famous Sindhri mangoes in his village. He was a conservative Muslim. He was known for driving a blue Suzuki Mehran in Islamabad. This was unusual because President Zia preferred more expensive cars like a Mercedes-Benz W126. Junejo was married and had five children.

Political Career

After returning from the United Kingdom in 1954, Junejo joined the Pakistan Muslim League (PML). He was elected as the Mayor for Sanghar District. He worked for the Muslim League until 1963. He was then elected to the West-Pakistan legislative assembly. Soon after, he joined the government of Ayub Khan. He held important roles in the departments of Health, Communications, and Labour until 1965.

In 1965, he was again successful in the presidential elections. He became the Minister of Railways under the Ayub government, serving until 1969. From 1970 to 1977, he was not able to win his local election. However, he became very close to the religious leader Pir Pagara.

In 1977, he was appointed as a temporary government minister. This happened when General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the army chief, took control of the government from Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. From 1977 to 1979, Junejo served as the Railway Minister. He later resigned in 1979.

Prime Minister of Pakistan

In January 1985, President Zia-ul-Haq announced that general elections would be held. These elections would not involve political parties. Junejo won his election in the Sanghar District. He was known as a close follower of Pir Pagara. President Zia considered three people for the role of Prime Minister, all from Sindh. After talking with Pir Pagara, President Zia chose Junejo to become Prime Minister. This was done to bring back civilian rule and the constitution.

Junejo had a conservative way of thinking. He was a powerful farmer. President Zia thought he might not be very effective in making big decisions. After getting enough votes in the Parliament, Junejo met with President Zia. He reportedly asked President Zia to end the martial law (military rule).

Martial law was eventually lifted because Junejo kept asking for it. He then announced his government, which included fewer military members than President Zia's previous government. Junejo kept two important roles for himself: Minister of Defence and Minister of Interior.

As Prime Minister, Junejo became more independent in his decisions. He was appointed the President of the Pakistan Muslim League. He also supported freedom of the press, even though President Zia disagreed. Junejo became popular for standing up to President Zia on many issues.

On the economy, Junejo focused on saving government money. He also changed some economic policies that President Zia had started. This caused more disagreements between them.

Junejo's Dismissal

From 1986 to 1987, Junejo's relationship with President Zia worsened. They disagreed over who should control Pakistan's foreign policy. Junejo bravely allowed his Foreign Minister, Yakob Ali Khan, to sign the Geneva Accords. This agreement helped the Soviet troops leave Afghanistan. Junejo even held a meeting with different political parties to discuss ending the conflict in Afghanistan. In 1987, he also supported the appointment of Lieutenant-General Mirza Aslam Beg as the vice-army chief. This was against President Zia's wishes.

Prime Minister Junejo also delayed some religious laws. This was another way he tried to gain more influence over President Zia. After a huge explosion at the Ojhri Camp disaster near Rawalpindi Cantonment, which killed over 100 people, Prime Minister Junejo announced a parliamentary investigation into the incident.

On 28 May 1988, Junejo was told that President Zia would hold a "very important" press conference the next day. On 29 May 1988, President Zia appeared on PTV News. He surprisingly announced that he had dissolved the Parliament. He used the Eighth Amendment to do this. Many believed that the investigation report on the Ojhri Camp disaster, which involved military officials in Zia's government, was the real reason. President Zia, however, said Junejo's government was dismissed because law and order had broken down.

During the general elections in 1988, Junejo did not win his local election. However, he was elected to the National Assembly in the 1990 elections and remained the head of the PML.

Later Life and Death

In 1993, Mohammad Khan Junejo was diagnosed with Leukemia. He traveled to the United States for treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He passed away there in the same year. His body was brought back to Pakistan and buried in his hometown.

His wife, Begum Junejo, died in Karachi on July 13, 2003, at the age of 60.

See also

In Spanish: Muhammad Khan Junejo para niños