From the time that martial law was formally lifted at the end of 1985, the transition to mixed civil–military governance was complicated by constitutional structures that General Zia had hoped would simplify his post-martial law tenure. He tried to achieve a balance between military rule and limited civilian participation in government, relying on constitutional amendments, implementing laws and selected military regulations rather than the full force of martial law. Although General Zia absorbed some lessons of past transitions – including providing immunity from prosecution for government officials once the protections of military rule was gone – establishing control over the pace and content of change was virtually impossible. Petitioners and courts alike soon realized that these same laws provided the means, although occasionally tortuous, to unravel the web of restrictions covered by the eighth amendment. The courts therefore became vehicles for altering the relationship between state and citizen under a constitutional order otherwise inaccessible to challenge; individuals sought relief from the courts when none was available elsewhere.