RESEARCH PAPER ON

CAUSES, EVENTS &

CONSEQUENCES OF MARTIAL
LAW IN PAKISTAN
Dr. Md Sarwar Hossain
HIS103: EMERGENCE OF BANGLADESH NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY
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Submitted to
Dr. Md Sarwar Hossain

Prepared by Group 6

Samira Khan Binti 2221039615

XMuntasir Adnan Jami 2212652042
XTanvir Rahman Onik 2212778042
XKaniz Fatema 2212932648

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Topic

The dismissal of the United Front government of East Pakistan in 1954 was a key turning
point in aggravating East Pakistan's grievances in the Pakistani union which was further
complicated by General Ayub Khan’s military takeover. With this backdrop enumerate the
causes, events, and consequences of martial law in Pakistan.
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Table of Contents

Introduction 3
Aim 3
Partition of 1947 & The Initial Challenges 3
Initial Conflict Between West Pakistan and East Pakistan 4
Language Movement 4
The United Front 5
Martial Law 6
Coup d'état of 1958 7
Reinforcement of Martial Law by Ayub Khan 7
Ayub’s Decline 8
The six-point movement 9
Agartala conspiracy case 10
The Liberation war of 1971 11
Conclusion 12
References 13
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Introduction

Aim
The aim of this paper is to discuss/highlight the causes, events, and
consequences of martial law in Pakistan.

Partition of 1947 & The Initial Challenges

● Over Centralized Government - Left No Room for Political Empowerment
of the People of East Pakistan
● Over Sized Armed Forces - Paved the Way to Military Control
Subsequently
● Language Issue – Failure to understand the People & the Leadership of
East Pakistan
● Civil-Military Nexus – Erosion of Democratic Process & Professional
Approach in Every Department

United Front Election of 1954

● United Front Election of 1954 & Revealing of Pakistani Design to Keep
the east Pakistani out of Political Power
● Adoption of 1956 Constitution & Obsession of West Pakistani
Politicians

Martial Law of 1958 – Causes & Major Events

● Iskandar Mirza Declared Martial Law & Ayyub Khan only Strengthened
it
● Causes of Martial Law

● Elected Bodies Disqualification Order – Process of Isolating the

Politicians from Participating in Politics
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● Basic Democracy System – A Measure to Evade the Mandate based on

Adult Franchise

● Referendum of 1960 – Way to Obtain Popular Mandate & Right to Write

Constitution

● Constitution of 1962 – Ayyub Khan Concentrated all Powers in the

President’s Hand

Consequences of Martial Law

● Economic Disparity between West & East Pakistan – The Fallacy of
Ayyub Khan’s Development Democracy

● Discriminatory Education Policy -

● Discrimination of the Bengalis in Employment Sector -

● Low representation in the Armed Forces -

Downfall of Ayyub Khan

● Election of 1965 & the Beginning of Ayyub’s Political Backsliding

● 1965 War & the Myth of Security of East lay in the West

● Six Point Movement – That Knocked the West Pakistan’s Powerbase

● Agartala Conspiracy Case – Measure to Curb the Anti-Ayuub Movement

● Mass Movement of 1969 – Downfall of Military Dictator & Run up to

Election of 1970

● Electoral result denied and Pakistan engaged in War of 1971 – The

Beginning of the End
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Learning Points/ Conclusions

● Ethno-cultural Issues need to be addressed maturely otherwise it can
cause major repercussion
● There is no short-cut to good governance
● Military rule never sustains due to lack of popular mandate
● Development democracy widens gap between the poor and rich people
● Popular demands win at the end

Conclusion

References
 Tanya S. (2018, October16) "Partition of Bengal, 1905: All about the divide and rule that

spurred protests", Retrieved from: https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-

current-affairs/story/partition-of-bengal-1905-divide-and-rule-protests-1368958-2018-

10-16

 Alaul A.  (2021, November 22) https://www.theindependentbd.com/post/270510

 Kamal U. (2021,June18) United Front, Retrieved from:

https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/United_Front

 Adam A. (2020, February 18) martial law, Retrieved

from:https://www.britannica.com/topic/martial-law

 Faisal k. (2021) https://books.google.com/books?id=zP4GEAAAQBAJ 

 Peer M.( 2013, April 13) Elec-tion-ary: Election-in-1970, Retrieved from :

https://tribune.com.pk/story/534025/elec-tion-ary-election-in-1970-2

 Sumairs,(2007) Pakistani history from 1947, Retrieved from :

http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-compulsory-subjects/pakistan-affairs/12015-

pakistans-history-1947-till-present.html

 Väyrynen, R. (1971). BANGLADESH — AN OUTCOME OF INEQUALITY AND

IMPERIALISM. Instant Research on Peace and Violence, 1(3), 100–109.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/40724611
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 Aminul.(2015 June 7)Six-point movement: The ‘Magna Carta’ of Bangalis,Retrieved from:

https://www.risingbd.com/english/risingbd-special/news/25459

 Inam A. S(2020, January 24)Retrieved from :

https://www.tbsnews.net/analysis/passage-agartala-38771

 Eric A. S (2021,December)The Bangladesh Liberation War,Retrieved from :

https://origins.osu.edu/milestones/bangladesh-liberation-war?

language_content_entity=en

 Anam Z.( 2019, December 16)Remembering the war of 1971 in East Pakistan,Retrieved

from: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2019/12/16/remembering-the-war-of-1971-

in-east-pakistan
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