Pakistan has experienced four periods of martial law since its independence in 19471
Martial law is a situation in which the military takes control of the normal
administration of justice and suspends civil rights2 Here is the list of the martial laws
in Pakistan and their details:
• First Martial Law: Imposed by President Iskander Mirza on October 7, 1958.
He dissolved the assemblies, dismissed the prime minister, and appointed a
12-member cabinet that included General Ayub Khan as the chief martial law
administrator. He also suspended the 1956 constitution and banned all
political parties. He was ousted by General Ayub Khan on October 27, 1958,
who became the second president of Pakistan13
•
• Second Martial Law: Imposed by Army Chief General Yahya Khan on March
25, 1969. He dissolved the assemblies, abrogated the 1962 constitution, and
became the third president of Pakistan. He also declared himself the chief
martial law administrator and appointed three governors as his deputies. He
issued provisional constitutional orders to govern the country. He lifted the
martial law on December 20, 1971, after the secession of East Pakistan (now
Bangladesh) and handed over power to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who became the
fourth president and the first prime minister of Pakistan14
•
• Third Martial Law: Imposed by Army Chief General Zia ul Haq on July 5, 1977.
He overthrew the government of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was
later executed on charges of murder. He suspended the 1973 constitution,
dissolved the assemblies, and banned all political activities. He also assumed
the presidency on September 16, 1978, and appointed himself the chief
martial law administrator. He promulgated several ordinances and
amendments to the constitution to legitimize his rule. He lifted the martial law
on December 30, 1985, after holding a referendum and non-party elections.
He was killed in a plane crash on August 17, 19881
•
• Fourth Martial Law: Imposed by Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf on
October 12, 1999. He toppled the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,
who was later exiled on charges of corruption. He suspended the 1973
constitution, dissolved the assemblies, and declared a state of emergency. He
also became the chief executive of Pakistan and later the president on June
20, 2001. He issued several executive orders and constitutional amendments
to consolidate his power. He lifted the martial law on November 15, 2007,
, after facing a judicial crisis and public protests. He resigned from the
presidency on August 18, 2008, and went into self-imposed exile1
, Pakistan has had twenty-eight prime ministers since its independence in 1947,
excluding the appointed caretaker prime ministers who served temporarily between
the end of a parliamentary term and a general election1 Here is the list of their names
and periods of rule:
Reason for leaving
Name Political Party Term
office
Pakistan Muslim 15 August 1947 - 16
Liaquat Ali Khan Assassinated
League October 1951
Khawaja Pakistan Muslim 17 October 1951 - 17 Dismissed by
Nazimuddin League April 1953 governor-general
Muhammad Ali Pakistan Muslim 17 April 1953 - 12 Dismissed by
Bogra League August 1955 governor-general
Chaudhry Pakistan Muslim 12 August 1955 - 12
Resigned
Mohammad Ali League September 1956
Hussain Shaheed 12 September 1956 - Dismissed by
Awami League
Suhrawardy 17 October 1957 president
Martial law is a situation in which the military takes control of the normal
administration of justice and suspends civil rights2 Here is the list of the martial laws
in Pakistan and their details:
• First Martial Law: Imposed by President Iskander Mirza on October 7, 1958.
He dissolved the assemblies, dismissed the prime minister, and appointed a
12-member cabinet that included General Ayub Khan as the chief martial law
administrator. He also suspended the 1956 constitution and banned all
political parties. He was ousted by General Ayub Khan on October 27, 1958,
who became the second president of Pakistan13
•
• Second Martial Law: Imposed by Army Chief General Yahya Khan on March
25, 1969. He dissolved the assemblies, abrogated the 1962 constitution, and
became the third president of Pakistan. He also declared himself the chief
martial law administrator and appointed three governors as his deputies. He
issued provisional constitutional orders to govern the country. He lifted the
martial law on December 20, 1971, after the secession of East Pakistan (now
Bangladesh) and handed over power to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who became the
fourth president and the first prime minister of Pakistan14
•
• Third Martial Law: Imposed by Army Chief General Zia ul Haq on July 5, 1977.
He overthrew the government of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was
later executed on charges of murder. He suspended the 1973 constitution,
dissolved the assemblies, and banned all political activities. He also assumed
the presidency on September 16, 1978, and appointed himself the chief
martial law administrator. He promulgated several ordinances and
amendments to the constitution to legitimize his rule. He lifted the martial law
on December 30, 1985, after holding a referendum and non-party elections.
He was killed in a plane crash on August 17, 19881
•
• Fourth Martial Law: Imposed by Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf on
October 12, 1999. He toppled the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,
who was later exiled on charges of corruption. He suspended the 1973
constitution, dissolved the assemblies, and declared a state of emergency. He
also became the chief executive of Pakistan and later the president on June
20, 2001. He issued several executive orders and constitutional amendments
to consolidate his power. He lifted the martial law on November 15, 2007,
, after facing a judicial crisis and public protests. He resigned from the
presidency on August 18, 2008, and went into self-imposed exile1
, Pakistan has had twenty-eight prime ministers since its independence in 1947,
excluding the appointed caretaker prime ministers who served temporarily between
the end of a parliamentary term and a general election1 Here is the list of their names
and periods of rule:
Reason for leaving
Name Political Party Term
office
Pakistan Muslim 15 August 1947 - 16
Liaquat Ali Khan Assassinated
League October 1951
Khawaja Pakistan Muslim 17 October 1951 - 17 Dismissed by
Nazimuddin League April 1953 governor-general
Muhammad Ali Pakistan Muslim 17 April 1953 - 12 Dismissed by
Bogra League August 1955 governor-general
Chaudhry Pakistan Muslim 12 August 1955 - 12
Resigned
Mohammad Ali League September 1956
Hussain Shaheed 12 September 1956 - Dismissed by
Awami League
Suhrawardy 17 October 1957 president
