The Martial Law Administrator of Balochistan was the head of the military regime of Balochistan, the largest province of Pakistan. The capacity was first established when martial law was imposed by General Yahya Khan, who appointed Riaz Hussain to the post, but was never officially ratified. It therefore lapsed when Yahya resigned. The post was officially in operation from July 1977, when martial law was imposed again, until late 1985, when it was informally terminated upon the lifting of martial law by Prime MinisterMuhammad Khan Junejo. The martial law administrator was a serving Lieutenant General of the Pakistan Army, appointed by the Chief of Army Staff. General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq was the incumbent in each instance. When the presidential term of Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry ended, the post assumed the political office of Governor of Balochistan; the civilian Chief Justices who were acting as governors of the provinces were replaced by their martial law counterparts. Of the three officeholders, none completed their designated term.
