1984 Pakistani Islamisation programme referendum

1984 Pakistani Islamisation programme referendum

19 December 1984 (1984-12-19)
“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.”
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 21,253,757 98.53% No 316,918 1.47% Valid votes 21,570,675 99.17% Invalid or blank votes 180,226 0.83% Total votes 21,750,901 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 34,992,425 62.16%

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.^[1] The referendum also served as way of extending Zia-ul-Haq's presidential term by five years.^[2] Official results declared it approved by 98.5% of voters, with a turnout of 62.2%.^[1] Independent observers questioned whether voter participation had reached 30% and noted that there had been "widespread irregularities".^[3]