1958 Martial Law And Ayub Khan Reforms
Submitted By
Syed Mohibullah
Supervisor
Prof.Dr Kaleemullah Barech
Department Of History
University Of Balochistan
Session:2018-2019
Contents:
1. Introduction
2. 1950’s Politics In Pakistan
3. Paving Path For The Military Coup
4. 1958 Military Take Over
5. Ayub’s Reforms;
• Judicial Reforms
• Agricultural Reforms
• Land Reforms
• Educational Reforms
• Medical Reforms
• Social Reforms
• Rural Development
6. Conclusion
Introduction:
Pakistan became independent after the struggle of the Muslims of the subcontinent in 1947.The political struggle started in 1906 with the formation of All India Muslim League which passes through phases to achieve it’s aim to gain an Independent land for the Muslims of subcontinent.It lays a path for the leadership which would later play its in the making and running Pakistan after its formation.Pakistan after its formation saw a phase which could not be imagine before its creation.Politics of self interest,lust of power and gaining power at any cost was introduced in the first decade of the Pakistan’s formation.Landlords,knights,rich capitalists,etc took over the politics of Pakistan instead of the seasoned public politicians.It deprived the country from the foundation of the democratic norms and values.The institutions which is vital and base of providing leadership to the country were disintegrated.Instead of pure democracy which lies on the interest of the mases nepotism,corruption,smuggling,feudalism,etc were promoted,it kept the government unpopular in the masses.They turned to saw the alternate to came to take over during a worse political situation facing by the country.Martial Law was imposed and the constitution was abrogated,it opens the door to the prolong military rule in Pakistan.Ayub Khan, a Chief Martial Law Administrator later became President took over the country.He suspend democratic institutions freedom and introduced the controlled democracy.The much needed reforms were initiated by Ayub’s regime which brings the country towards stability,development and self efficient.Martial Law’s imposition was the failure of Politicians by weakening the democratic institutions and pretended the collective interest of the masses.This era would always be written in the dark pages of the history.
1950’s Politics In Pakistan:
Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the President of the Muslim League the leading politician in Asia at the time.He work hard to sovle the Innitial issues like,administration,refugees,economy,constitutional,etc.Jinnah’s demise was very unfortunate in the early stages of the making of the newly born Pakistan.After him the mature leadership of Muslim league was side lined,ignored and retired.It pave the path for the young inexperienced leadership which dominated the politics of Pakistan in the first decade of Pakistan. (Zafar 2007) The main reason for the failure of the parliamentary system in Pakistan has been that after independence society has been kept from the adequate changes in thoughts and actions.Successive changes of Prime Ministers deprived the country of having stable government and peace in the country.They were failed to deliever to the masses.Drastic change was the need of the hour.In One and half year three PM’s were changed on which Indian Prime Minister said his famous words ‘’I did not change much pajamas as Pakistan change it’s Prime Ministers’’ (Khan 2016)
Paving Path For The Military Coup:
Before the imposition of the martial law country has been forgotten altogether Justice was being auctioned openly and the common man’s life had become extremely difficult.Failure of the political and parliamentary democracy shows the sign of the failure of the leadership in their promises.Financial reputation was blemished and it became totally dependent on the foreign funding of western countries for the completion of its devlopmnt projects. (Zafar 2007) The tussle of power disrupted the affairs of the state because it could not concerntrate on the burning issues like Refugees Rehabilitation,canal water and Kashmir Disputes,educational,industrial and commercial.Which disappoint the masses very much.This situation create a scenario for the ambitious Army establishment to take the country’s rule in it’s hands an opportunity provided by the weak political elite of the country.
1958 Military Take Over:
Military interventions in the politics in Pakistan have given roots to lots of queries and interpretations .It is often as to what have been the causes and reasons of the military being lured into the politics after the regular intervals.Jawaher Lal Nehru the First Indian Prime Minister once spoke of the military interventions in Pakistan,’’it is not the inordinate ambitions in a special taste for the politics but the failure of the political classes to govern effectively that the military interventions take place in Pakistan’’. (Rabbani 2016) 7 October 1958 Martial Law was imposed and the constitution was abrogated by the then President Sikandar Mirza.Ayub Khan was appointed the Chief Martial Law administrator.The ambitious Ayub, later, on 27 March 1958 (Zafar 2007), he took resignation from President Mirza and sent him on exile,where he remained till his death.Then Ayub Khan formally started his administration with full force.Initially,he focuses on the reforms which was badly needed by masses in government structure and it’s institution concerned with the people.
Ayub’s Reforms:
After taking over the government Ayub Khan initiated the much awaited Reforms in the government structure.Particular commissions were formed for every department to give its report on it by the commission.
Judicial:
The committee was established under the former chief Justice od Pakistan Justice Shahabudin a man of dignity and honesty (Khan 2016).It proposed a Presidential system.New constitution was enforced on 8 June 1962.The Judiciary was regularized and time was set for the retirement of the Judges and pensions.Courts were established in both the provinces.It gave the whole government a structure and Though the commission recommended a democratic structure based on the Bicameral legislature.But the regime took a one eighty degree angel turn and change the whole the structure.This was proved disastrous in the end of 1960’s when it was collapse after resignation of Ayub Khan.
Agricultural:
The purpose of the reforms in reforms in the agricultural sector was to improve the igh quality the Agriculture Agricutural Development Bank was set up to provide high quality seeds and educate new trends with modern techniques to the farmers.Loans were provided to the farmers to irrigate more land for the state.To provide high quality seeds, fertilizer plants were established in the country.Canals,Dams and Barrages were established to irrigate more land and reach the water to far flung areas where a land could be irrigated.It turn the 20 lac barren land into irrigated land with help of Barrages.Agricultural Universities were established in Faisalabad and Meymensingh (Zafar 2007).
Land:
The land Reform commission was formed under Akhtar Hussain having vast experience objectives:Firstly, to prescribe the maximum limit of land possession of agricultural land.Secondly, to improve the way of farming and to increase the agricultural produce.The commission proposed the ceiling of unirrigated should be limited to 1000 acres and 500 acres of irrigated land.The rest of it would be distributed to the farmers having no properties.The owners would be given the pension (Zafar 2007).These reforms were remarkable and helpful for the poors but it was a big blow to the landlords.
Educational:
According to the recommendations of the commission the whole curriculum was revised from class 1 to 12.A number of educational experts and writers were entrusted with to write new books for the national curriculum.The regime emphasied on the technical education as well,for that purpose in the subject of Civil,Machenical,Electrical and Automobile engineering Polytechnic colleges were established (Zafar 2007).Engineering universities were established in Lahore and Dacca.Arrangements were also made aleniate the higher education from the secondary education.They were proved fruitful in the upgradation of education sector after the independence.
Medical:
Medical education have a vital in providing the services at Health sector.After independence Pakistan having only two medical colleges.The numbers of medical colleges were raised to six.Nursing schools were established in Quetta,Lahore,Hyderabad,etc to provide more nursing services and training.Before that student move to foreign countries for higher medical studies arrangements were made in the Post Graduate Medical Centre in Karachi for the basic subjects.However,students were still send for higher studies on government scholarships to foreign countries under the Colombo Plan,CENTO and World Health Organisation (WHO) (Zafar 2007).
Social:
After the making of Pakistan,millions of refugees moved towards it their rehabilitation issue arises.Country’s leadership was involved in their own matters instead of taking step towards the solution of the problem.Ayub Regime worked with an unprecedented speed to solved the issue once for all.Within a year large number of cases relating to abandoned properties was decided.In 1964, 92% of the abandoned properties were allotted to the new owners.Steps were taken for the eradication of the social evil in the society.Restriction was imposed on useless customs in marriages,prohibition on wine and other narcotics.Embargo was put on Polygamy which arose a strict opposition from religious schools (Zafar 2007)
Rural Development:
In Pakistan majority of the population lived in the rural areas.Rural areas are lack facilities with compare to Urban areas.To developed the Rural Areas,Ayub regime started a scheme named ‘’Village Aid Programme’’ (Rabbani 2016).The aim of the scheme was that people of rural areas should take responsibility on their shoulders in the construction of schools,canals,roads and drains and meet all local needs on self-help basis.It helped in providing employment to many people and pressing needs.A sense of self-confidence was created in the people to solve problems of their own.Many miles of roads were restored and many abandoned canals were repaired and brought in use. The development programme helped the government to bring many areas to mainstream which was ignored even in the British rule.
Conclusion:
Pakistan after its inception surrounded in a deep trouble due to the problems left by the Britshers.Under the leadership of Jinnah,Pakistan starts its journey towards its aim and objective which was set in the independence movement by the Muslim Leauge.After the demise of Jinnah and Liaqat Ali Khan,Pakistan lost its track for which it was made.The young leadership having lust for power and lack of farsightedness weaken the country to make strong democratic values.It pave the path for the civil military establishment to fill the space left by political rulers between them and masses.The military establishment, took the advantage of the weak governments in the centre and provinces and their tussle for power, motivate the military to take over in the bloodless coup without any opposition from the masses.
Ayub Khan the ambitious Army General,planned the whole military take over.After grabbing the power and make full control on the country’s administration started a huge reforms under the recommendations of the commissions appointed for particular sectors.His reforms brings a drastic change in the development of the country.His charisma was in full swing on the national as well as international level due to the change he bring in the country which none of the previous leader did in the past.He was praised by the foreign leaders and have a historic welcome in the United States on his visit.His reforms would be remembered in the rest of the history of the country.
Khan, Hamid. 2016. Constittutional And Political History Of Pakistan. Karachi: Oxford University Press.
Rabbani, M.Ikran. 2016. Pakistan Affairs. Lahore: Caravan Book House.
Zafar, M D. 2007. A Short History Of Pakistan. Lahore: Aziz Book Depo.