WAQAS ASHRAF (WA)

C A M B R I D G E C E RT I F I E D PA K I S TA N S T U D I E S T E A C H E R
NATIONHOOD
1947-1999
SECTION 3
Downfall of Iskander Mirza and martial Law 1958
 Field Marshal M. Ayub Khan and Decade of Progress (1958-1969)

May/June 2015 Q4(b)

Q1. Why was Islamabad chosen as the new capital of

Pakistan? (7)

 
June 2014/Q4c

c) Were the social reforms of Ayub Khan the most important of his domestic policies in
the Decade of Progress from 1958-1969 ? (14) Explain your answer

.Introduction :
• Ayub came to power after a military coup and the first Martial Law in the country in in
1958
• He was the chief martial Law administrator and had imposed the first Martial law in
the country on t Pakistan 7th Oct 1958.

Social Reforms

• 40000 homes for 75000 refugees in karachi

• houses for the refugees under the new housing scheme under General Azam Khan
• Took the action to prevent people from hoarding goods and selling them onto black market at
inflated prices.
• Property had their goods confiscated and many were arrested
• The price of general level of goods and services were brought down
• Ayub Khan fixed the prices of milk and other basic items
• Women rights were also increased and rules related to marriages and divorces not had to be
registered by the court.
• The minimum age of marriage for female became 16
• Ayub Khan's Advisor drew up a new curriculum for schools and textbooks were published
Industrial Reforms
• Oil Refinery in 1962 at Karachi
• Mineral development Corporation for extracting and preserving mineral resources
• Signing of RCD for trade and gas pipeline projects
• Export Bonus Scheme to promote export
• Medical facilities also improved
• Staffing of more Nurses and hospitals were established
• Islamabad was made capital 1967
• But that improvement proved to be temporary because the concentration of new
wealth was only in families, which controlled 66% of the country's industrial assets
and 80% of its insurance and banking. All these families were in West Pakistan.

Agricultural Reforms

• To break the power of Land aristocracy, Ayub Khan introduced land reforms in 1958, according
to which.
• No landholder could retain more than 500 acres of irrigated and 1000 acres of non-irrigated land
surplus would be taken by the state and distributed among the tenants.
• If agricultural land remains uncultivated for consecutive two terms in would confiscated by the
government.
• Three major dams were built to help irrigation under Indus Water Treaty Farmers were also
loaned money to build wells and to reduce the need for canal irrigation. These reforms
revitalized agriculture and crop yields were at an all time record. Ayub said that they had bought
about a ‘Green Revolution’. 750000 Tubewells were installed and loans to farmers
• However, it should be noted the much of the increased productivity was due to mechanization,
which could generally only be afforded by the big landowners .
4a) What was the Basic Democracies ? (4)
• The first step in Ayub Khan’s constitutional reforms came with the introduction of the
“Basic Democracies Order” on 26th October 1959.
• This four-tier system in which ordinary people elected union council members who in
turn elected district and divisional members. Later it was stated in the 1962 Constitution
that the 80,000 elected Basic Democrats would also form the Electoral College for the
election of the President and members of the Central and Provisional Legislatures.
• System of Basic Democracies deprived the common people from taking part in the
election of President, National and Provincial assemblies directly.
• At the end of 1959, Ayub asked the Basic Democrats for a vote of confidence. Almost 95%
of them declared their confidence in Ayub Khan and on 17th February 1960 he was
confirmed as President of Pakistan for the next 5 years.
Downfall of Ayub Khan
1. Dictatorial policies of Ayub Khan: Ayub Khan introduced several measures to curb the politician e.g. EBDO (Elected Bodies
Disqualifications Ordinance). Press freedom was curtailed to a great extent. A systematic victimization of political opponents was
carried out. In fact there was an end to civil liberties in Pakistan.
2. Restricted Nature of Franchise: According to the Constitution of 1962 the method of indirect election by the Basic Democracy
generated dissatisfaction among the people.
3. Corruption in the BD System and Public services: The members of BD were enjoying tremendous power, this fed to
corruption, malpractice and suppression.
4. Student Movement in West Pakistan: Due to interference in the education system and infrequent clashes between the police
and the students, unrest spread throughout Pakistan among student in October 1968.
5. A Decade of Development: Ayub Khan decided to celebrate the achievements of his 10 years as head of state, but this did not
end the growing opposition. On a visit to Peshawar. Ayub Khan was the target of a failed assassination attempt. Ayub Khan
carried out widespread arrests, including Z.A Bhutto; there were more protests, which spread to East Pakistan.
6. Unrest in East Pakistan: East Pakistan's were not satisfied with the economic policies of the Ayub’s government .They
organize themselves under the leadership of Sheikh Mujeeb-ur-Rehman and presented their demands for full autonomy.
7. Formation of Democratic Action Committee: The major political parties formed Democratic Action Committee. They wanted
proper elections, the lifting of emergency powers and autonomy for East Pakistan. Basis Democracies scheme started failing
when large number of its members resigned.
8. On 25th March 1969 Ayub Khan resigned but instead of calling for new elections he handed over the power to Army Chief
General Yahya Khan and it was the occasion when Pakistan experienced 2nd martial law in its short history.
 The Creation of Bangladesh - Reasons for the Creation of Bangladesh -
Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman and the Awami League –

Geographical:
• A thousand miles of foreign territory separated East and West Pakistan. As the central
government was in West Pakistan, it could not effectively manage the area, which was too far, so
a close contact between the people of East Pakistan and West Pakistan could not be develop.

Economic Causes:
• There were economic disparity between the two wings because of the following reasons:
• Historically the area of West Pakistan especially Punjab was more developed because of the
fertility of the land and its central position.
• Economic policies of Ayub Khan regime intensified the regional disparity by establishing
industries in West Pakistan and making capital at Islamabad.
• The foreign exchange earned through the export of jute from East Pakistan was spent on the
development projects of West Pakistan.
• The issue of economic disparity was further exploited by Sheikh Mujeeb Ur Rehman, which finally
led to the separation.
Cultural differences: The cultural and linguistic differences between the two wings were significant.
Moreover, West Pakistan is predominantly, East Pakistan and important non-Muslim minorities.
These differences were exploited by a group of disgruntled politicians and obstructed the
development of National unity.
Political Reasons Representation in the Services: There was marginal representation of the East
Pakistanis in the government services. The appointment of West Pakistan Civil Servants without the
knowledge of Bengali language created a bitter situation. It also accused that the West Pakistani
Civil Servants looked upon their Bengali colleague and sub ordinates as worthless and inferior
people.
• Role Of Hindu teachers: The Hindu teachers who created unrest and discontentment
among the students by criticizing the economic policies of the central government
dominated East Pakistan's education Institutions.
• Military intervention by India: when the movement for autonomy reached to its climax,
Indian army regiments equipped with the latest and most sophisticated weapons rushed
across the border. Dacca fell towards the middle of December 1971. Pakistan army
surrendered
Six points of Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rehman

After the election of 1970 Sheikh Mujeeb-ur-Rehman insisted on his constructional

right to from the government as he had won majority of seats (160/162), which was as
follows:

1. Federal form of government on the basis of Lahore Resolution.

2. Center would be left with only two subjects i.e. Defense and Foreign relations.
3. All subjects would be the concern of the provinces.
4. Separate fiscal and monetary policies.
5. Separate accounts of external trade.
6. Each province to have its own troops.

This formula was neither accepted to Z.A.Bhutto nor to Yahya Khan. This situation
finally led to the massive mass movement and resulted in fall of Dhaka in December
1971.
(a) What was Operation Searchlight? [4]

• A planned military operation carried out by the Pakistan Army to put down the Bengali
nationalist movement in East Pakistan in March 1971.
• Ordered by the central government in West Pakistan, this was seen as the sequel to
"Operation Blitz" which had been launched in November 1970.
• The original plan envisioned taking control of the major cities on March 26, and then
eliminating all opposition, political or military within one month.
• Bengali resistance was not expected by the Pakistani army and led to many atrocities taking
place that caused some 10 million refugees to flee to India. These atrocities enraged the
Bengalis, who declared independence from Pakistan, and led to the creation of Bangladesh

• Qa) Who was Shiekh Mujeeb-ur –Rehman ? (4)

Establishment of FSF:

• In 1972 Bhutto had created the Federal Security force (FSF). Through it was created to reduce the dependency of government
on the army in cases of civil disobedience.

• But it was used by Bhutto to beat and punish his political opponents and to crash the opposition rallies.

• FSF was given unlimited powers. Courts were deprived from the power to allow bail to the people held in the detention of FSF.

• FSF was also given the power to detain people for an indefinite period .

Simla Agreement 1972 (Simla Accord)

• On 2nd July 1972 an agreement was signed between Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan, Indira Gandhi
and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto respectively.
• According to the terms of the agreement india agreed to release 90000 prisoners of War captured by India
in 1971 war on the condition that Pakistan would not discuss the Kashmir issue on any international forum.
IT WAS A GREAT TIME WITH U ALL
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