Ayub Khan (1958-69)

Question 1

Declaration Of Martial Law

Answer 1

• Const. of 23rd March 1956 will be abrogated
• Govt. dismissed immediately
• National and Provincial Assemblies dissolved
• All parties abolished
• Pak will remain under martial law till alternative arrangements

Question 2

1959 Basic Democrats

Answer 2

• Introduced; 26th October 1959
• A part of his constitutional reforms
• It was a 4-tier system
• Ordinary people elected Union council members who in turn elected Tehsil council, then district then, divisional councils
• 80,000 were elected and known as democrats
• These democrats also formed the electoral college for the election of president, and Cent. and Legisl. assembly members
• At end of 1959, Ayub asked Basic democrats for vote of confidence
• On 17th February 1960, 95% of them declared confidence and he was confirmed as president

Question 3

1962 Constitution

Answer 3

• Announced 1st March 1962
• Ayub described it as “combining democracy with discipline”
• In reality it set up presidential form of Govt.

1. President could not be removed unless impeached
2. President nominated the cabinet from NA members
3. President nominated heads of judiciary and Provincials Governors
4. National Legislature could not pass law without president approval
5. Urdu and Bengali made official languages
6. National Assembly session to be held in both Dhaka and Islamabad
7. If President from West, then speaker of the National Assembly from East

• Opposed previous constitution
• Indirect form of election
• President, MNA, and Provincial Assemblies elected by Basic democrats

• It was introduced without debate
• Martial law uplifted
• Ban on political parties lifted
• President could, appoint governors, ministers of cabinet, veto any law, and impose emergency
• It also upset east
• They felt they had little part in governing

Question 4

1965 Elections

Answer 4

• Held in January
• Ayub Khan was nominated by Convention Muslim League
• He thought opposition was in too much disarray, to put up a credible opponent
• He was wrong, as all agreed to support Quaid’s sister and advisor, Fatima Jinnah
• In election Ayub Khan won 64% of votes vs 34%
• Result was challenged, who claimed voting had been rigged
• There were riots in Karachi and East, and 20 people were killed
• Ayub Khan was re-elected, but at expense of riots and opposition groups, thinking, Fatima had been cheated

Question 5

Agricultural Reforms

Answer 5

• His advisors wanted to bring such reforms and make it productive
• Law passed that no farm could be smaller than 12.5 acres or larger than 500 acres (irrigated) or 1000 (unirrigated)
• This meant many smaller farmers found land redistributed
• However, the resulting larger farms did produce steady rise in food output
• Big landowners, had to find tenants for parts of their lands, this also increased productivity, as smaller ones are more efficient, than larger and poorly run ones
• 3 major dams were built to help with irrigation
• Farmers loaned money to help build well, to reduce need of canal irrigation
• Reforms revitalized crop yields, which were at a record high
• Ayub said, they had brought a Green Revolution

Question 6

Industrial Reforms

Answer 6

• Advisors pressed for these
• carried out with loans from USA, Germany, and UK
• In 1963, an oil refinery was set up in Karachi
• A mineral development corporation for exploration of mineral deposits
• In 1964, an economic union was set up with Turkey, Iran, The Regional Cooperation for Development
• In it the 3 agreed to develop ties in trade, commerce and industry
• As a result, economic growth rose
• The avg. annual rate of economy growth in 1960s was 7%, 3 x that of India’s

• Production rose, and economy improved
• However the wealth did little to benefit those living near poverty lines
• In 1968 it was revealed that 22 families controlled 66% of Pak’s industrial assets and the same ones controlled 80% of Pak’s banking and insurance companies
• So small elite and wealthy group had complete control of wealth
• All of them were from West
• Despite all this, Pak was increasingly dependent on foreign aid

Question 7

Social and Educational Reforms

Answer 7

• Advisors drew up new curricula
• They suggested new textbooks be published
• Govt. began literacy programs, building new schools and colleges
• Also attempts to deal with homeless
• The Partition era refugees still had not found permanent homes
• Ayub Khan appointed Gen. Azam Khan the Rehabilitation minister
• He settled 75,000 refugees in newly built dwellings
• Laws passed, that factory owners had to provide accommodation for workers
• Also set up Family Planning Program, to control population growth, funded largely with American loans
• Govt. used radio, cinema, newspapers, etc. to persuade citizens to limit family size
• Medical facilities improved
• More medical and nursing training centers

Question 8

New Capital

Answer 8

• Since Partition Capital had been Karachi
• Ayub’s Govt. decided for new capital
• Islamabad was chosen to replace Karachi in 1959
• Construction begun in Oct 1961 and ended 26th Oct 1966
• Islamabad was officially made capital in 1967
• Work on its buildings, streets and facilities continued and ended in mid-70s
• Modern and meticulously planned city

Question 9

Political Unrest

Answer 9

• In 1965 Pakistan went to War with India over Kashmir
• None were able to get the better of the other
• Ayub said Pakistan won, but Kashmir issue remained unsettled
• Ayub sacked foreign minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who he blamed for war shortcomings
• By 1968, many were unhappy with Govt., it seemed undemocratic due to multiple accusations of rigging….
• Economy improved, but only benefitted few
• Agriculture production rose, but so did food prices

1. October 1968, student protests all over West
2. Failed assassination attempt in Peshawar
3. More protests, due to widespread arrest including Bhutto

• Ayub’s policies, united opposition parties against him
• In 1969 8 of them formed Democratic Action Committee, and demanded proper elections, lifting of emergency powers and autonomy for East
• Ayub tried to calm situation, he withdrew emergency powers, released prisoners, and even began negotiating with opp, but too late
• Even basic democrats began to resign
• His party lost support, while opposition gained

Question 10

Resignation

Answer 10

• In March he realized that his power was insufficient to stay
• On 25th March 1969 he resigned
• But he did not call for elections
• He handed power over to army
• For 2nd time Pakistan underwent martial law