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1958 Pakistani military coup

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The 1958 Pakistani coup d'état refers to the events between October 7, when the President of Pakistan Iskander Mirza abrogated the Constitution of Pakistan and declared martial law, and October 27, when Mirza himself was deposed by Gen. Ayub Khan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistani Army. Pakistan's first military coup followed a period of prolonged political instability in which Pakistan's dominant political party, the Pakistan Muslim League, was unable to successfully govern on the basis of shared programs or policies.[1] Broadly, political scientists have argued that the susceptibility of a military system to coups is inversely correlated with the strength of its political parties.[2]

History

In 1956, the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan approved a constitution that ended Pakistan's status of an independent Dominion of the British Empire, to create the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Maj. Gen. Iskander Mirza, the last Governor General of Pakistan, simultaneously became the state's first president. However, the new constitution was followed by political turmoil in Pakistan, which saw a succession of four prime ministers - Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar and Sir Feroz Khan Noon - in a period of two years.[3] There was already a precedent in Governor General Malik Ghulam Muhammad dismissing prime ministers and ruling by decree, and many viewed Mirza as manipulating the constitution and instigating ousters of governments.[3] The One Unit scheme amalgamating the provinces of Pakistan into two wings - West Pakistan and East Pakistan - was politically controversial and proving difficult to administer. The quick succession of prime ministers fostered the view within the military and in the public that Pakistani politicians were too weak and corrupt to govern effectively, and that the parliamentary system was flawed.

Martial law

On October 7, President Mirza declared martial law in Pakistan. He abrogated the constitution of 1956, describing it as "unworkable" and full of "dangerous compromises."[4] He dismissed the Sir Feroz Khan Noon ministry, dissolved the National Assembly of Pakistan and the provincial legislatures. Mirza also proceeded to outlaw all political parties.[4] He appointed General Ayub Khan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistani army as the Chief Martial Law Administrator and nominated him to become the new Prime Minister of Pakistan, charged with administering the country.[4]

Deposing of Mirza

On October 27, Iskander Mirza resigned from the presidency, transferring it to Ayub Khan.[4] Both men saw the other as a rival to their respective positions. Mirza believed his own position had become largely redundant after Ayub Khan assumed most executive powers as chief martial law administrator and prime minister, and acted to assert himself, while Ayub Khan thought Mirza was conspiring against him.[4][5] It is widely held that Ayub Khan and generals loyal to him forced Mirza to resign.[4][5] Mirza was later taken to Quetta, the capital of the province of Baluchistan, before being exiled on November 27 to London, England, where he resided until his death in 1969.[5]

Consolidation

Ayub Khan combined the offices of president and prime minister, becoming both the head of state and government. He created a cabinet of technocrats, diplomats and military officers. These included Air Marshal Asghar Khan and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the future prime minister. In contrast with future Pakistani military rulers such as Gen. Zia-ul-Haq and Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Ayub Khan did not seek to hold the posts of president and army chief simultaneously.[5] He appointed Gen. Muhammad Musa as the new commander-in-chief.[5] Ayub Khan also obtained judicial validation of his move when the Supreme Court of Pakistan validated and legalised his take-over under the "Doctrine of necessity." [5][6][7]

Reactions

The coup was received positively in Pakistan as a relief from unstable governments and weak political leadership.[5] There was hope that a strong central leadership could stabilise the economy and promote modernisation and the restoration of a stable form of democracy.[5] The Ayub Khan regime was also supported by foreign governments such as the United States.[5]

Further reading

Maya Tudor, "The Promise of Power: The Origins of Democracy in India and Autocracy in Pakistan."(Cambridge University Press, 2013). Aqil Shah, "Army and Democracy: Military Politics in Pakistan" (Harvard University Press, 2014) K.B. Sayeed, "The collapse of Parliamentary Democracy in Pakistan," Middle East Journal, 13.4 (1959), 389–406

See Also

References

  1. ^ Maya Tudor, The Promise of Power: The Origins of Democracy in India and Autocracy in Pakistan. (Cambridge University Press, 2013):Chapter 5.
  2. ^ Samuel Huntington, Political Order in Changing Societies, 1968, p. 409.
  3. ^ a b Nagendra Kr. Singh (2003). Encyclopaedia of Bangladesh. Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. pp. 9–10. ISBN 978-81-261-1390-3.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Salahuddin Ahmed (2004). Bangladesh: past and present. APH Publishing. pp. 151–153. ISBN 978-81-7648-469-5.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Dr. Hasan-Askari Rizvi. "Significance of October 27". Daily Times. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
  6. ^ "Coups and courts". Frontline - The Hindu, Vol. 24, Issue 23. 2007-11-23. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
  7. ^ Mazhar Aziz (2007). Military control in Pakistan: the parallel state. Psychology Press. pp. 66–69. ISBN 978-0-415-43743-1.
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