Pak Study

(MEN-3202)

Rule of Ayub's Period

Assignment # 2

Submitted By: Submitted To:

Bilal Qaiser Prof. Waheed Ahmed
Reg # L1f17bsme0025
Section: MA
 Contents
1 Introduction..............................................................................................................................3
1.1 History...............................................................................................................................3
2 Ayyub’s rule as a president......................................................................................................3
2.1 Economy Reforms.............................................................................................................4
2.2 Defense spending..............................................................................................................4
2.3 Foreign policy...................................................................................................................4
2.4 End of Presidency.............................................................................................................5
2.5 Criticism, personal wealth, and family.............................................................................5
3 References................................................................................................................................6

1 Introduction
1.1 History
Muhammad Ayyub Khan was a  Pakistani army general and the second President of
Pakistan who forcibly assumed the presidency from the first president Iskandar
Mirza through coup in 1958, the first successful coup d'état of the country. [1] The popular
demonstrations and labour strikes which were supported by the protests in East
Pakistan ultimately led to his forced resignation in 1969.[2] Ayub's becoming the Commander-in-
Chief of the Pakistan Army, he marked a change in the military tradition of preferring native
Pakistanis; it ended the transitional role of British military officers.

2 Ayyub’s rule as a president

In an attempt to consolidate the powers in his own control, Mirza unsuccessfully tried to appoint
Ayub as Prime Minister the following and asked him to appoint the technocratic Cabinet.
[49]Such actions were not implemented due to Ayub Khan's protest against this attempt and
briefly complained about Mirza's "high hand" methods.[50]:149–150 President Mirza made a
bold move by undercutting Ayoub’s rival in the army, navy, marines, and air force by co-opting
military officers in his favors.[50]:149–150 Informed of President Mirza's chicanery, Ayub
dispatched the military unit to enter in presidential palace on the midnight of 26–27 October
1958 and placed him in a plane to exile in England.[51] Subsequently, Admiral A. R. Khan and
four persons: General Azam Khan, Nawab of Karabagh Amir Khan, General Dr. Wajid Khan,
and Air Marshal Asghar Khan were instrumental in Ayub Khan's rise to power
The action came before ending of this tenure ship as the army commander, and eventually took
control of all civilian matters under his military administration
Ouster of President Mirza was welcomed at public circles, Air Marshal Asghar Khan, the air
force chief backed the actions for the martial law enforcement He relieved the army
command and appointed General Muhammad Musa as the new chief and in 1959 he promoted
himself to the five-star rank,
In 1960, a referendum, that functioned as Electoral College, was held that asked the public: “Do
you have confidence in Muhammad Ayub Khan The voter turnout was recorded at 95.6% and
such confirmation was used as impetus to formalize the new system – a presidential
system Ayub Khan was elected president for the next five years and decided to pay his first state
visit to United States with his wife and also daughter Begum Naseem Aurangzeb in July
1961 Highlights of his visit included a state dinner at Mount Vernon, a visit to the Islamic Center
of Washington, and a ticker tape parade in New York City [3] Ayub introduced the system
of “basic democracies” in 1960. It consisted of a network of local self-governing bodies to
provide a link between the government and the people. Primary governing units were set up to
conduct local affairs; their members were elected by constituencies of 800–1,000 adults. A
national referendum among all those elected confirmed Ayub as president. He was reelected
under this system in 1965, against a strong challenge from an opposition united behind Fatima
Jinnah, the sister of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the creator of Pakistan.[4]
2.1 Economy Reforms

Industrialization and rural development through constructing modern national freeways are

considered his greatest achievements and his era is remembered for successful industrialization
in the impoverished country.[ 5]
Ayub Khan lifted Martial Law in 1962 and a new constitution was enforced in the country.
When he got confidence about his popularity in public spheres, accompanied with the fact that
the political powers were divided, he declared presidential elections in 1965. The opposition,
though divided, made consensus on Fatima Jinnah (the reverend sister of the founder of
Pakistan) as the presidential candidate against Ayub Khan. The elections were held on 2nd
January, 1965 followed by Ayub’s success. The major reason of Ayub’s success referred to the
support of Basic Democrats. This time Ayub got the legal cover to dictate the nation.[ 6]

2.2 Defense spending

During his era, the navy was able to induct submarines and slowly modified itself in terms of
acquisitions of warships. However, he drastically reduced funding of military in 1950s and
prioritized less on the issue of nuclear weapons in 1960s. He focused the nuclear issue
towards civil power and bypassed recommendations towards military-use of nuclear
technology and reportedly spend ₨. 721 million on civil-use of technology in terms of
education and nuclear power plants.53 Finance minister Muhammad Shoaib argued against
spending on nuclear technology and was against of establishing a nuclear power plant in Karachi
over on cost It was Dr. Abdul Salam who had personally approved the project against the wishes
of his own government[7]

2.3 Foreign policy

The foreign relations with the United States and European Union were prioritized and were main
feature of his foreign policy while downplaying foreign relations with the Soviet Union. While
he enjoyed support from President Dwight Eisenhower in 1950s and convinced the United States
alongside with Prime Minister Ali Khan to forge military relations in an alliance against regional
communism.[69] His obsession towards modernization of the armed forces in shortest time
possible saw the relations with United States as the only way to achieve his organization and
personal objectives as he argued against civilian supremacy that would affect the American
interests in the region as a result of an election
The turning point in his reign was the Indo-Pak War of 1965 which ended in a settlement
reached by Ayub at Tashkent, called the Tashkent Declaration. The whole nation felt deceived at
this act of Ayub Khan; even his right hand and foreign minister of that time, Zulfiqar Bhutto,
resigned from his post and took up the opposition against Ayub. The war had its repercussions
on the domestic politics of the country. Two powers emerged as a result of this incident i.e.
Bhutto in West-Pakistan and Mujeeb-ur-Rehman’s opposition in East Pakistan where the peoples
League sought more autonomy for the province.[ 8]

2.4 End of Presidency

In 1967, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto formed the socialist Pakistan Peoples Party and attacked Ayub

administration's economic, religious, and social policy while taking the nationwide
tour. Detention of Bhutto further inflamed the opposition and demonstration sparked in all over
the country with East Pakistani Awami League charging Ayub administration of segregating
policies towards East.
In 1968, he survived a failed assassination attempt while visiting Dacca and was visibly shaken
after this attempt, according to the close aides; though this was not reported in the press of the
day.
In 1969, Ayub Khan opened up the negotiations with the opposition parties in what was termed
as "Round Table Conference" where he held talks with every opposition party except for Awami
League and Pakistan People’s Party.[ 9]
In 1969, Ayub opened negotiations with different political powers excluding Bhushan and
Bhutto. But under severe pressure of the agitating forces, Ayub handed over control of Pakistan
to Commander-in- Chief General Yahya Khan, who was the President’s most loyal lieutenant
and was promoted on behalf of his loyalty to the president by over ruling the set rules of
promotion.
Ayub Khan was in West Pakistan at the time of war of 1971 and was willing to fight along the
armed forces of Pakistan but he could not do so on behalf of his poor health. He died in 1974.

2.5 Criticism, personal wealth, and family

One Western commentator in 1969 estimated Gohar Ayub's personal wealth at the time at $4
million, while his family's wealth was put in the range of $10–20 million.
Ayub Khan is critiqued for the growth in income inequality 5 million people fell below the
poverty line. He is also blamed for not doing enough to tackle the significant economic disparity
between East and West Pakistan whilst he was aware of the acute grievances of East Pakistan he
did try to address the situation. However, the Ayub Khan regime was so highly centralized that,
in the absence of democratic institutions, densely populated and politicized East Pakistan
province continued to feel it was being slighted.
Sadaf Farooq from School of Politics and International Relations at the University of
Reading argued that workers’ wages fell by 60% in 1960s and the policy of promoting
entrepreneur elite and Industrial cartels to get economic growth generated increasing regional
and social tensions among the nation and the emergence of business and industrial cartels.
After his death, his family members became active in national politics in 1990s until present;
however, his family members and sons have been subject of controversies.

3 References
[1][1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayub_Khan_(general)
[2][2]
https://historypak.com/ayub-khan/
[3[3]
http://storyofpakistan.com/martial-law-under-field-marshal-ayub-khan
[4][4]
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mohammad-Ayub-Khan
[[5]
http://storyofpakistan.com/muhammad-ayub-khan/3
[[6]
https://historypak.com/ayub-khan/
[[7]
 Khan, Feroz (7 November 2012). Eating Grass: The Making of the Pakistani Bomb. Stanford University
Press. ISBN 9780804784801. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
[[8]
https://historypak.com/ayub-khan/
[[9]
InpaperMagazine, From (31 August 2014). "Exit stage left: the movement against Ayub
Khan". DAWN.COM. Dawn, Inpaper magazine. Dawn newspapers. Retrieved 8 November 2016