[SIR UMAR KHAN DAWAR (0325-2512225)] 1

Ayub Khan (1958-1969)

Introduction:
The constitution of 1956 was a product of compromise and expediency. The constitution that came into form after a
strenuous struggle of 9 years lasted only for 32 months. The period between Liaqat Ali’s death and 1958 was
distressing. There was a great amount of political wrangling within the central government. After having a constitution
in 1956, Pakistan had 4 prime ministers in quick successions. The last one in the list was Malik Feroz Khan Noon,
who was toppled by president Iskander Mirza when he declared martial law for the first time on October 7, 1958. The
president suspended the 1956 constitution and appointed Ayub Khan as chief martial law administrator. However, on
th
27 October, Iskander Mirza was busted by Gen. Ayub Khan, the commander in chief of armed forces, and assumed
control of a military government.

Ayub’s era starts:

People of Pakistan were tired and fed up of the corruption in administration, and inefficient politicians, and therefore,
welcomed Ayub Khan as a national hero. During his period, Ayub Khan used the approaches of governance,
simultaneously:
• Consolidating power and intimidating the opposition on one hand and,
• At the same time introducing reforms in economic, constitutional and educational fields.

Political/constitutional reforms:
According to Ayub Khan, people wanted a system in Pakistan, which could be understood by them. Ayub had a low
opinion of parliamentary system in Pakistan, and was convinced that a presidential system would work in the country.

Basic democracies:
This was the first of his political reforms. Ayub Khan initiated a plan of Basic Democracies, a measure to create a
system of local government from the grass root. The basic idea behind it was to seek peoples’ participation in different
developmental projects. The president issued the Basic Democracies Order in 1959.

The structure:
The Basic Democracies set up a 5 tier institution like a pyramidal structure. These were (i) union council, (ii) Tehsil
council, (iii) District council, (iv) Divisional council, (v) Provincial development advisory council (PDAC).
PDAC was later dissolved, , leaving the system a 4 tier one.
→ Union Councils were directly elected by the people.
→ Union councils elected > Tehsil council elected > District council elected > divisional councils

Importance:
→ It was a measure of creating a system of local govt. from the grass root.
→ People got awareness to some extent about their political rights, and had an easy access to their
representatives.
→ The entire system was tailor made for Ayub Khan, and was designed to keep him in power.
→ The system did not find time to take roots, and thus, did not last long.

Constitution of 1962:
st
The president implemented the new constitution on 1 March, 1962. The new constitution contained certain provisions
of the 1956 constitution with certain modifications. But the underlying purpose of the constitution was to clothe Ayub’s
dictatorship with an outlook of democracy.
1. Nature of the constitution:
It was a written and detailed document with Islamic provisions, and was partly rigid and partly flexible. It could be
rd
amended with 2/3 majority of National assembly.
2. Federal type of government:
The constitution divided powers between the center and its provinces (E. Pakistan and W. Pakistan). It was a
federal constitution.
3. Presidential form of government:
It was a presidential form of government, with the president acting as both head of state and head of govt. No bill
could be passed without the approval of the president, by national assembly.
4. Unicameral legislature:
There was a single house legislature-National assembly. Seats in NA were allocated for East and West
Pakistan on the basis of parity (50%-50%)
5. Indirect elections:
 2 [SIR UMAR KHAN DAWAR (0325-2512225)]

The constitution provided for indirect election for the president, NA and PA’s. The people were to elect basic
democrats, who were then to vote for and elect the president, members of National Assembly and provincial
assemblies.
6. Independence of Judiciary:
Independence of judiciary was provided in the constitution of 1962.
7. Fundamental rights of the people were granted in the constitution.
8. Official language: Urdu and Bengali were declared official languages.

Islamic provisions of 1962 constitution:

1. Sovereignty of God was reaffirmed and it was mentioned that power delegated to the members of parliament
were a sacred trust of God.
2. The name of the country shall be “Islamic Republic of Pakistan”.
3. No laws against the teachings of Islaßm shall be made.
4. The teaching of Quran and Islamiat was made compulsory to Muslims of Pakistan.
5. Proper organization of zakat, Wakfs, and mosques should be ensured.
6. Right and interests of non-Muslims (minorities) should be protected.
7. Muslims of Pakistan would be enabled to live their lives according to the principles of Islam.

Social reforms:
Ayub had visualized extensive program of introducing reforms in all sectors. Some of the reforms introduced in the
social sector were as follows.
→ Family laws ordinance (1961): gave protection to women folk.
o It was to regulate number of wives and pattern of divorce.
o Polygamy was prohibited except under special circumstances.
o Age was prescribed for marriage of males and females.
o It also prescribed maintenance allowance for divorced women and children.
→ Family planning program tried to control growing population.
→ Steps were taken for the eradication of corruption.

Educational reforms:
• A commission on education as appointed in December, 1958.
• It was entrusted with the job to review existing educational system.
• It recommended re-orientation of curricula at all levels.
th
• Primary education was recommended to be free and compulsory up to 8 class.
• Intermediate class was to be included in secondary education and separated from the colleges.
• It also recommended a 3 year degree course, opening of technical colleges and emphasis on religious
education.
Agricultural reforms:
Many effective steps were taken by the govt. for agricultural development.
• Credits were extended to farmers by Agriculture Development Bank.
• Efforts were made to increase agricultural productivity through control of water logging and salinity.
• Agricultural development corporations were set up in provinces to raise agricultural productivity.
• Agricultural universities were built, one in each wing in 1961, for modernized farming.
→ Green revolution was the most important even in the agri-sector.
o Under this, modes of irrigation were introduced (under Indus water treaty- Sep 1960).
o New scientifically tested seeds were introduced along with more chemical fertilizers, pesticides, more
tube wells and more tractors.
o All these efforts resulted in increased production, and growth rate in agri-sector increased by 6%.
→ Land reforms: in order to eliminate the monopoly of big land owners, a land reform commission was set up in
October, 1958.
o it fixed the limit for individual land owners of 500 acres of irrigated, and 1000 acres of non-irrigated
land.
o The resumed land would be offered to existing tenants for sale, and if not purchased by them would
be offered to others.
Result: Though it benefitted some poor farmers a lot, however,
→ it was not strictly enforced and
→ uncultivable land was handed over to tenants.

Industrial reforms:
 [SIR UMAR KHAN DAWAR (0325-2512225)] 3

Govt. directed its best attention to industrial development.

• Pakistan enjoyed a high growth rate of over 6.7% during 1960s. It is for this reason that the 1960s is known as
the ‘decade of development’.
• Local goods were given protection by imposition of tariffs on imported goods.
• Quality of local goods was improved, and exports were subsidized.
• New industries were given tax holidays.
• National Investment Trust was set up to attract small savings into industrial investment.
• Export Bonus Scheme was also launched.
• In 1964, RCD (regional cooperation for development) was formed by Pakistan, Turkey and Iran.

Important events:
• Ayub elected president in 1960, and then for the second time in 1965.
• Work on new capital begins in 1960-Islamabad, the new capital.
• Fatima Jinnah in 1965 stood as the opposition candidate in the presidential elections against Ayub Khan. She
lost it, however;
• 1965 war fought with India and Tashkent treaty signed in January, 1966 with India, mediated by Soviet PM-
Kosygin.
• September 1960, Indus water treaty signed.
• Govt. celebrated decade of development (1958-1968) for one whole year till October 1968.
• Z. A. Bhutto formed PPP in 1967.
• Democratic Action Committee formed in 1969, an opposition alliance of 8 political parties.
th
• Ayub resigns on 25 March, 1969, handing over power to army chief Yahya Khan.

Q) what led to Ayub’s fall in 1969?

• Reforms not implemented in proper manner in all sectors-pol, social, agriculture and education, and it faced
much opposition from many circles, for e.g. religious scholars against the family laws, students against 3 year
degree program etc.
• Tashkent treaty- much criticized by Bhutto and used to the disadvantage of Ayub.
• Decade of development celebrations not popular with the people.
• Chief economist of planning commission revealed that only 22 families-mostly from West Pakistan
monopolized wealth of the country.
• Democratic Action Committee-opposition alliance formed against Ayub, ultimately bringing him down.

Q) Why were the 1960s known as Decade of Development?

• Agricultural reforms
• Industrial reforms } Explained

Q) Ayub’s political reforms were the most important of his domestic reforms. Do you agree or not? Give
reasons for your answer. (14 marks)
• Introduction
• Political reforms explained
• Agricultural and industrial reforms
• Social reforms
• A conclusion to be made