Ayub Khan

Q Why was Martial Law declared in 1958? [7] (N2002/P1/4b)/ (N2004/P1/4b) /(N2009/P1/4b)/
(Specimen 2010/P1/5b)/Nov 2012 (7)

Ans:

By 1958, the rule of Iskander Mirza was unpopular and the political
situation was chaotic. Between 1955 and 1958, five different prime
ministers tried unsuccessfully to establish a stable government. In East
Pakistan, sever flood caused food shortages and great distress. To most
Pakistanis and the rest of the world the government seemed corrupt
and inefficient. People were in despair as Pakistan faced bankruptcy
and chaos. Ayub Khan was convinced that the system of parlimentry
democracy had well and truly failed. General Ayub Khan’s dislike of
politicians was further increased by their frequent criticisms of both the
army and his leadership.

This convinced him, the army had to step in and he got the opportunity
when to do so on 7th October 1958 when Iskander Mirza, using the
constant disagreements in the government as an excuse, proclaimed
martial law with himself as President. Iskander Mirza had lost the
support of many of the leading politicians and was alarmed by a plan by
Suharwardy to unite the political leadership of Bengal and Punjab
against him. Therefore, he turned to the military and asked the
Commander-in-chief of the army, General Ayub Khan to take charge as
Chied Martial Law Administrator. On 24th October, he was appointed
as the prime minister and on 27th October, he fored Mirza to resign
and was exile to London.

Q Source: Ayub Khan seized power because he had no faith in the

democratic parliamentary process, but he wanted to show that he had
the support of the people. He felt it important that all national
decisions were made by the president but believed in controlled
democracy. On the first anniversary of his takeover he introduced the
Basic Democracies.

What were the Basic Democracies? [4] (N2011/P1/4a)

The Basic Democracies was in four-tier system introduced by Ayub

Khan in 1959. Local committee named Basic Democrats and numbering
80,000 were to elect union council member who in turn elected district
and divisional members. The first election for the Basic Democrats was
held between 26 December 1959 and 7 January 1960.In the end of
1959, Ayub khan asked the newly elected Basic Democrats asking if
they wanted him to continue as president and he continued as the
president when he95 % of them voted yes.

Q1a Which of the following was the most important contribution of

Ayub Khan’s government during

the ‘decade of development’ between 1958 and 1969:

(i) agricultural and other economic reforms;

(ii) constitutional reforms;

(iii) foreign policy?

Explain your answer with reference to all three of the above. [14]
(N2003/P1/4c)

Q1b ‘Constitutional reforms were the most important of Ayub Khan’s

domestic policies during the ‘decade of development’ between 1958
and 1969.” Do you agree? Give reasons for your

answer. [14] (J2005/P1/5c)

Qc) ‘Ayub Khan’s agricultural reforms were more successful than any
other of his domestic policies between 1958 and 1969’. Do you agree
or disagree? Give reasons for your answer. [14]

(N2007/P1/4c)

Q1D) ‘Constitutional reforms were the most important of Ayub Khan’s

domestic policies during the ‘Decade of Progress’ between 1958 and
1969.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.

[14] (June 2012)

Q1BD) Ayub Khan introduced the Basic Democracies in 1959

which was a four-tier system that allowed elections at all levels.
A local committee named Basic Democrats and numbering
80,000 was to elect union council member who in turn elected
district and divisional members. The success of this was that it
lifted martial law as the constitution of 1962 was based on the
Basic Democracies. All important national decisions power lay
with the President and there was no opportunity for any
effective opposition. By 1969, Ayub Khan had become
unpopular and many of his cherished Basic Democrats resigned
.When Ayub Khan declared martial law in 1969 he himself
abrogated the Basic Democracies.
Ayub Khan’s other domestic reforms included agricultural
reforms. Land was redisturbuted amongst famers. A limit of
unirragated land 12.5 acres and 100 acres maximum and
irrigated land 500 acres minimum and 100 acres unirrigated
was set on farm land. This enabled small farm holders to
receive more land and large landowners were forced to sell
land which would otherwise be unproductive. Three new dams
were also build, farmers were loaned money for wells reducing
the need for tubewells and so crop yields were at an all time
record. Therefore, this era is also known as the ‘Green
Revolution’.He also subsidized fertilizers and mordenized
agriculture through irrigation development.
His social reforms included the introduction of a family planning
programme and a Rehabilitation Programme which settled
75,000 refugees into dwellings in Karachi. Medical facilities
were improved and new medical schools were opened. Factory
owners were also ordained to give cheap accommodation to
factory works. Ayub Khan stopped the hoarding of goods to
raise price and also took action action against smuggling. Goods
were seized from profiteers and many arrests made. Also, the
price of milk vegetables and ghee to stop traders making too
much profit. In 1961, the Muslim Family Laws Ordiance helped
improve the position of women. Marriages and divorces had to
be registered and approved by a court.The minimum age for
marriage was set as 16 for women and 18 for men.
Ayub Khan’s constitutional reforms were soon to attract
opposition as they gave the president autocratic powers.The
elections were accused of vote rigging and Ayub Khan himself
abrogated the Basic Democracies. Agricultural reforms only
benefitted rich farmers and the landowners cleverly
undermined his land consolidation policy. However, his social
reforms were the most successful putting ,although temporary,
an end to the corrupt practices that were embedded in
Pakistan’s society.
Q1C) Ayub Khan’s made many domestic reforms which included
agricultural reforms. Land was redisturbuted amongst famers. A
limit of unirragated land 12.5 acres and 100 acres maximum
and irrigated land 500 acres minimum and 100 acres
unirrigated was set on farm land. This enabled small farm
holders to receive more land and large landowners were forced
to sell land which would otherwise be unproductive. Three new
dams were also build, farmers were loaned money for wells
reducing the need for tubewells and so crop yields were at an
all time record. Therefore, this era is also known as the ‘Green
Revolution’.He also subsidized fertilizers and mordenized
agriculture through irrigation development.
Ayub Khan also introduced constitutional reforms. He
introduced the Basic Democracies in 1959 which was a four-tier
system that allowed elections at all levels. A local committee
named Basic Democrats and numbering 80,000 was to elect
union council member who in turn elected district and
divisional members. The success of this was that it lifted
martial law as the constitution of 1962 was based on the Basic
Democracies. All important national decisions power lay with
the President and there was no opportunity for any effective
opposition. By 1969, Ayub Khan had become unpopular and
many of his cherished Basic Democrats resigned .When Ayub
Khan declared martial law in 1969 he himself abrogated the
Basic Democracies.

His social reforms included the introduction of a family planning

programme and a Rehabilitation Programme which settled
75,000 refugees into dwellings in Karachi. Medical facilities
were improved and new medical schools were opened. Factory
owners were also ordained to give cheap accommodation to
factory works. Ayub Khan stopped the hoarding of goods to
raise price and also took action action against smuggling. Goods
were seized from profiteers and many arrests made. Also, the
price of milk vegetables and ghee to stop traders making too
much profit. In 1961, the Muslim Family Laws Ordiance helped
improve the position of women. Marriages and divorces had to
be registered and approved by a court.The minimum age for
marriage was set as 16 for women and 18 for men.
Ayub Khan’s constitutional reforms were soon to attract
opposition as they gave the president autocratic powers.The
elections were accused of vote rigging and Ayub Khan himself
abrogated the Basic Democracies. Agricultural reforms only
benefitted rich farmers and the landowners cleverly
undermined his land consolidation policy. However, his social
reforms were the most successful putting ,although temporary,
an end to the corrupt practices that were embedded in
Pakistan’s society.
Q1a) Ayub Khan’s domestic reforms included agricultural
reforms. Land was redisturbuted amongst famers. A limit of
unirragated land 12.5 acres and 100 acres maximum and
irrigated land 500 acres minimum and 100 acres unirrigated
was set on farm land. Three new dams were also build, farmers
were loaned money for wells reducing the need for tubewells
and so crop yields were at an all time record. An Export Bonus
Scheme was introduced to offer incentives to people who
exported goods. In 1962, an oil refinery was found and a
Mineral Cooperation was also formed. His policies like cuts in
taxation such as the abolition of the Business Profits Tax
encouraged industries to expand.
Ayub Khan also introduced constitutional reforms. He
introduced the Basic Democracies in 1959 which was a four-tier
system that allowed elections at all levels. A local committee
named Basic Democrats and numbering 80,000 was to elect
union council member who in turn elected district and
divisional members. The success of this was that it lifted
martial law as the constitution of 1962 was based on the Basic
Democracies. All important national decisions power lay with
the President and there was no opportunity for any effective
opposition. By 1969, Ayub Khan had become unpopular and
many of his cherished Basic Democrats resigned .When Ayub
Khan declared martial law in 1969 he himself abrogated the
Basic Democracies.
During his presidency, the Central Intelligence Agency's
activities grew with a secret intelligence base, Peshawar Air
Station, was leased to United States. The station and its
activities were exposed in 1960, when Soviet Air Defence
Forces's S-75 Dvina missile shot down the U-2 Dragon Lady,
capturing its pilot near the vicinity. This brought the Soviet ire
on Pakistan. The turning point in his rule was the Indo-Pakistani
War of 1965, and it ended in a settlement reached by Ayub at
Tashkent, called the Tashkent Declaration. The settlement was
perceived negatively by many Pakistanis. In 1959, his interest in
building defence forces diminished when He also made an offer
of joint defence with India during the Sino-Indo clashes in
October 1959 in Ladakh, in a move seen as a result of American
pressure and lack of understanding of Foreign affairs.
Ayub Khan’s constitutional reforms were soon to attract
opposition as they gave the president autocratic powers.The
elections were accused of vote rigging and Ayub Khan himself
abrogated the Basic Democracies. Agricultural reforms only
benefitted rich farmers and the landowners cleverly
undermined his land consolidation policy. His industrial
reforms, though benefitted only the upper class, were his
greatest reform. Annual economic rate rose by 7 % which was
three times faster than any south Asian country at that time.

There were also many industrial reforms during his time. Foreign aid
was used to develop industrialization. An Export Bonus Scheme was
introduced to offer incentives to people who exported goods. In 1962,
an oil refinery was found and a Mineral Cooperation was also formed.
His policies like cuts in taxation such as the abolition of the Business
Profits Tax encouraged industries to expand. During the Second Five
Year Plan ( 1960-5), manufacturing output grew at an annual average
rate of around 11.5 per cent. Gross national product rose by 45 % and
manufactured goods began to overtake such traditional exports as jute
and cotton.During this period, people’s income went up by an average
of 14 percent. Annual economic rate rose by 7 % which was three
times faster than any south Asian country at that time. Pakistan
achieved faster economic growth than India. However, only the rural
and urban middle classes were able to benefit and they didn’t feel their
voice politically.

Q: Why were the years 1958 to 1969 called the ‘Decade of Progress’?
[7] (J2010/P1/5b)

Q:Explain why Ayub Khan called the years 1958 to 1969 the ‘Decade of
Progress’. [7] (J2008/P1/4b)
Ayub Khan introduced the Basic Democracies in 1959 which
was a four-tier system that allowed elections at all levels. A
local committee named Basic Democrats and numbering 80,000
was to elect union council member who in turn elected district
and divisional members. The success of this was that it lifted
martial law as the constitution of 1962 was based on the Basic
Democracies.Agricultural reforms were also taken such as a
limit of unirragated land 12.5 acres and 100 acres maximum
and irrigated land 500 acres minimum and 100 acres
unirrigated was set on farm land. Three new dams were also
build, farmers were loaned money for wells reducing the need
for tubewells and so crop yields were at an all time record.
His social reforms included the introduction of a family planning
programme and a Rehabilitation Programme which settled
75,000 refugees into dwellings in Karachi. In 1961, the Muslim
Family Laws Ordiance helped improve the position of women.
Marriages and divorces had to be registered and approved by a
court.The minimum age for marriage was set as 16 for women
and 18 for men. An Export Bonus Scheme was introduced to
offer incentives to people who exported goods. In 1962, an oil
refinery was found and a Mineral Cooperation was also formed.
His policies like cuts in taxation such as the abolition of the
Business Profits Tax encouraged industries to expand. Annual
economic rate rose by 7 % which was three times faster than
any south Asian country at that time. However, Ayub Khan may
also have celebrate ‘The Decade of Progress’ to deflect growing
criticism in 1968.