Presidency of Ayub Khan
| Presidency of Ayub Khan 27 October 1958 – 25 March 1969 | |
| Party | Convention Muslim League |
|---|---|
| Election | 1960, 1965 |
| Seat | Prince Palace, Rawalpindi |
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Elections Political parties |
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Ayub Khan's tenure as the second president of Pakistan began on 27 October 1958 when he overthrew President Iskander Mirza in a coup d'état, and ended in 1969 when he resigned amid mass protests and strikes across the country.
During his presidency, he implemented economic policies such as price controls and land reforms, while increasing military compensation to keep it loyal to his administration.[1][2] In foreign policy, he strengthened diplomatic ties with China and the United States.[1] His administration celebrated 28 October as the Revolution Day of Pakistan.[3][4]
Cabinets
Ayub Khan's first cabinet was inaugurated within hours of the 1958 coup that toppled President Iskander Mirza and imposed martial law.[5] Second presidential cabinet took oath on 17 February 1960 after Ayub Khan was confirmed as the president in the presidential confidence referendum.[6][7] The cabinet operated under the Presidential (Election & Constitution) Order 1960 and its mandate was to supervise the constitution-making process, lift martial law and normalise politics through the basic democracies system. Once the 1962 Constitution was promulgated and martial law formally ended on 8 June 1962, a new presidential cabinet was inaugurated. Several reshuffles in 1962-63 created specialist divisions (Scientific & Tech Research, Natural Resources) as the government tried to project a developmentalist image.[8] The cabinet stood down after Ayub's victory over Fatima Jinnah in the indirect presidential election of January 1965 and another presidential cabinet was inaugurated. The last cabinet was dissolved Ayub resigned on 25 March 1969 amid strikes and the East Pakistan uprising.[9][10]
Presidential cabinet (28 October 1958 – 17 February 1960)
President
| Office-holder | Portfolio(s) | Period |
|---|---|---|
| General Mohammad Ayub Khan (N.Pk., H.Pk., H.J.) | Cabinet Division | 28 Oct 1958 – 17 Feb 1960 |
| Defence | 28 Oct 1958 – 17 Feb 1960 | |
| Kashmir Affairs | 28 Oct 1958 – 17 Feb 1960 | |
| Establishment Division | 28 Oct 1958 – 23 Apr 1959 |
Ministers
| Minister | Portfolio(s) | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Azam Khan | 1. Rehabilitation 2. Food & Agriculture 3. Works, Irrigation & Power |
28 Oct 1958 – 17 Feb 1960 16 Jan 1960 – 17 Feb 1960 16 Jan 1960 – 17 Feb 1960 |
| Wajid Ali Khan Burki | Health & Social Welfare | 28 Oct 1958 – 17 Feb 1960 |
| Manzur Qadir | Foreign Affairs & Commonwealth Relations | 29 Oct 1958 – 17 Feb 1960 |
| Mohammad Ibrahim | Law | 28 Oct 1958 – 17 Feb 1960 |
| K. M. Sheikh | 1. Interior (Home Affairs Division) 2. States & Frontier Regions 3. Establishment Division |
28 Oct 1958 – 17 Feb 1960 18 Nov 1958 – 17 Feb 1960 23 Apr 1959 – 17 Feb 1960 |
| Muhammad Shoaib | Finance | 15 Nov 1958 – 17 Feb 1960 |
| Abdul Kasem Khan | Industries | 28 Oct 1958 – 17 Feb 1960 |
| Khan F. M. Khan | Railways & Communications | 28 Oct 1958 – 16 Jan 1960 |
| Habibur Rahman | 1. Education 2. Information & Broadcasting |
29 Oct 1958 – 17 Feb 1960 |
| Zulfikar Ali Bhutto | 1. Minority Affairs 2. Commerce 3. Information & Broadcasting |
29 Oct 1958 – 17 Feb 1960 29 Oct 1958 – 16 Jan 1960 11 Nov 1958 – 16 Jan 1960 |
| Md. Hafizur Rahman | 1. Minority Affairs 2. Commerce 3. Food & Agriculture |
28 Oct 1958 – 16 Jan 1960 28 Oct 1958 – 17 Feb 1960 16 Jan 1960 – 17 Feb 1960 |
Presidential cabinet (17 February 1960 – 8 June 1962)
President
| Office-holder | Portfolio(s) | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan, H.Pk., H.J. | Defence | 17 Feb 1960 – 8 Feb 1962 |
| Kashmir Affairs | 17 Feb 1960 – 23 Apr 1960 | |
| President's Secretariat — Cabinet, Establishment, SAFR, Economic Affairs | 17 Feb 1960 – 8 Jun 1962 | |
| States & Frontier Regions (separate division) | 23 Apr 1960 – 8 Jun 1962 | |
| National Reconstruction & Information | 5 Aug 1961 – 8 Jun 1962 | |
| Planning Division | 3 Feb 1962 – 8 Jun 1962 |
Ministers
| Minister | Portfolio(s) | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Lt-Gen. Mohammad Azam Khan | 1. Rehabilitation 2. Food & Agriculture 3. Works and Water Resources |
17 Feb 1960 – 15 Apr 1960 |
| Manzur Qadir | 1. Foreign Affairs & Commonwealth Relations 2. Law |
17 Feb 1960 – 8 Jun 1962 15 Apr 1962 – 22 May 1962 |
| Lt-Gen. W. A. Burki | 1. Health, Labour & Social Welfare 2. Education & Scientific Research 3. Kashmir Affairs 4. Minority Affairs |
17 Feb 1960 – 8 Jun 1962 2 Mar 1962 – 8 Jun 1962 2 Mar 1962 – 3 Mar 1962 2 Mar 1962 – 8 Jun 1962 |
| Mohammad Ibrahim | Law | 17 Feb 1960 – 15 Apr 1962 |
| Lt-Gen. K. N. Sheikh | 1. Home Affairs 2. Rehabilitation & Works 3. Food & Agriculture 4. Fuel, Power & Natural Resources 5. States & Frontier Regions 6. Establishment Division |
17 Feb 1960 – 14 Jun 1960 23 Apr 1960 – 7 Sep 1961 15 Apr 1960 – 8 Jun 1962 23 Apr 1960 – 8 Jun 1962 17 Feb 1960 – 5 Aug 1961 17 Feb 1960 – 23 Apr 1960 |
| Muhammad Shoaib | 1. Finance 2. Economic Coordination |
17 Feb 1960 – 30 Jan 1962 30 Jan 1962 – 6 May 1962 |
| Abdul Kasem Khan | Industries | 17 Feb 1960 – 8 Jun 1962 |
| Khan F. M. Khan | Railways & Communications (renamed Communications 14 May 1962) | 17 Feb 1960 – 8 Jun 1962 |
| Habibur Rahman | 1. Education (renamed Education & Scientific Research 24 Feb 1961) 2. Minority Affairs 3. National Reconstruction & Information |
17 Feb 1960 – 17 Apr 1961 23 Apr 1960 – 29 Jun 1960 17 Apr 1961 – 8 Jun 1962 |
| Zulfikar Ali Bhutto | 1. Information & Broadcasting (renamed National Reconstruction & Info. 10 Mar 1960) 2. Minority Affairs 3. Fuel, Power & Natural Resources 4. Kashmir Affairs (first term) 5. National Reconstruction & Information (second term) 6. Works 7. Kashmir Affairs (second term) |
17 Feb 1960 – 1 Jun 1960 17 Feb 1960 – 23 Apr 1960 23 Apr 1960 – 8 Jun 1962 23 Apr 1960 – 1 Jun 1960 25 Nov 1960 – 10 Apr 1961 7 Sep 1961 – 8 Jun 1962 3 Mar 1962 – 8 Jun 1962 |
| Muhammad Hafizur Rahman | Commerce | 17 Feb 1960 – 28 May 1962 |
| Akhtar Husain | 1. National Reconstruction & Information 2. Kashmir Affairs 3. Minority Affairs 4. Education & Scientific Research |
1 Jun 1960 – 28 Oct 1960 10 Apr 1961 – 17 Apr 1961 1 Jun 1960 – 1 Mar 1962 29 Jun 1960 – 1 Mar 1962 |
| Zakir Husain | Interior (renamed Home Affairs 24 Feb 1961) | 14 Jun 1960 – 8 Jun 1962 |
| Abdul Qadir | 1. Finance 2. Commerce |
30 Jan 1962 – 8 Jun 1962 28 May 1962 – 8 Jun 1962 |
| Muhammad Munir | 1. Law 2. Parliamentary Affairs |
22 May 1962 – 8 Jun 1962 |
Presidential cabinet (8 June 1962 – 23 March 1965)
President
| Office-holder | Portfolio(s) | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan (N.Pk., H.J.) | President's Secretariat – Cabinet Division | 8 Jun 1962 – 23 Mar 1965 |
| Establishment Division | 8 Jun 1962 – 23 Mar 1965 | |
| States & Frontier Regions Division | 8 Jun 1962 – 23 Mar 1965 | |
| Economic Affairs Division | 8 Jun 1962 – 23 Mar 1965 | |
| Planning Division | 8 Jun 1962 – 23 Mar 1965 | |
| Scientific & Technological Research Division | 6 Oct 1964 – 23 Mar 1965 | |
| Defence | 8 Jun 1962 – 23 Mar 1965 | |
| Information & Broadcasting | 30 Apr 1963 – 4 Sep 1963 |
Ministers
| Minister | Portfolio(s) | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Muhammad Munir | 1. Law 2. Parliamentary Affairs |
8 Jun 1962 – 17 Dec 1962 |
| Mohammad Ali | External Affairs | 13 Jun 1962 – 23 Jan 1963 |
| Abdul Qadir | Finance | 8 Jun 1962 – 15 Dec 1962 |
| Abdul Monem Khan | 1. Health 2. Labour & Social Welfare |
13 Jun 1962 – 7 Nov 1962 |
| Habibullah | 1. Home Affairs 2. Kashmir Affairs |
13 Jun 1962 – 23 Mar 1965 |
| Wahiduzzaman | Commerce | 13 Jun 1962 – 20 Mar 1965 |
| Health | 7 Nov 1962 – 17 Dec 1962 and 28 Oct 1963 – 20 Jan 1964 | |
| Labour & Social Welfare | 7 Nov 1962 – 17 Dec 1962 and 28 Oct 1963 – 20 Jan 1964 | |
| Zulfikar Ali Bhutto | 1. Industries (13 Jun 1962 – 4 Sep 1963) 2. Natural Resources (13 Jun 1962 – 4 Sep 1963) 3. Rehabilitation & Works (31 Aug 1962 – 3 Feb 1963) 4. External Affairs / Foreign Affairs (24 Jan 1963 – 23 Mar 1965; renamed 30 Jan 1964) |
13 Jun 1962 – 23 Mar 1965 |
| Abdus Sabur Khan | Communications | 13 Jun 1962 – 23 Mar 1965 |
| A. K. M. Fazlul Qader Chowdhury | 1. Food & Agriculture (13 Jun 1962 – 4 Sep 1963) 2. Rehabilitation & Works (13 Jun 1962 – 31 Aug 1962) 3. Education (17 Aug 1962 – 4 Sep 1963) 4. Information & Broadcasting (17 Aug 1962 – 30 Apr 1963) 5. Labour & Social Welfare (3 Feb 1963 – 28 Oct 1963) 6. Health (4 Sep 1963 – 28 Oct 1963) |
13 Jun 1962 – 28 Oct 1963 |
| Shaikh Khursheed Ahmad | 1. Law 2. Parliamentary Affairs |
17 Dec 1962 – 23 Mar 1965 |
| Rana Abdul Hamid | 1. Health (17 Dec 1962 – 4 Sep 1963) 2. Labour & Social Welfare (17 Dec 1962 – 3 Feb 1963) 3. Rehabilitation & Works (3 Feb 1963 – 23 Mar 1965) 4. Food & Agriculture (4 Sep 1963 – 23 Mar 1965) |
17 Dec 1962 – 23 Mar 1965 |
| Muhammad Shoaib | Finance | 15 Dec 1962 – 23 Mar 1965 |
| A. T. M. Mustafa | 1. Education 2. Information & Broadcasting |
4 Sep 1963 – 23 Mar 1965 4 Sep 1963 – 9 Jan 1964 |
| Abdullah al-Mahmood | 1. Industries 2. Natural Resources |
4 Sep 1963 – 20 Mar 1965 |
| Abdul Waheed Khan | Information & Broadcasting | 9 Jan 1964 – 23 Mar 1965 |
| Abd-Allah Zaheer-ud-Deen (Lal Mia) | 1. Health 2. Labour & Social Welfare |
20 Jan 1964 – 22 Mar 1965 |
Presidential cabinet (23 March 1965 – 25 March 1969)
President
| Office-holder | Portfolio(s) | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan (N.Pk., H.J.) | Cabinet Division | 23 Mar 1965 – 25 Mar 1969 |
| Establishment Division | 23 Mar 1965 – 25 Mar 1969 | |
| States & Frontier Regions Division | 23 Mar 1965 – 25 Mar 1969 | |
| Economic Affairs Division | 23 Mar 1965 – 25 Mar 1969 | |
| Planning Division | 23 Mar 1965 – 25 Mar 1969 | |
| Defence Division | 23 Mar 1965 – 21 Oct 1965 | |
| Scientific & Technological Research Division | 23 Mar 1965 – 1 Jan 1965 | |
| Home and Kashmir Affairs | 23 Mar 1965 – 17 Aug 1965 |
Ministers
| Minister | Portfolio(s) | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Khwaja Shahabuddin | Information & Broadcasting | 24 Mar 1965 – 25 Mar 1969 |
| Muhammad Shoaib | Finance | 24 Mar 1965 – 25 Aug 1966 |
| Abdus Sabur Khan | Communications | 24 Mar 1965 – 25 Mar 1969 |
| Zulfikar Ali Bhutto | Foreign Affairs | 24 Mar 1965 – 31 Aug 1966 |
| Ghulam Faruque | 1. Commerce (29 Mar 1965 – 15 Jul 1967) 2. Scientific & Technological Research (1 Jan 1966 – 15 Jul 1967) |
29 Mar 1965 – 15 Jul 1967 |
| Altaf Hussain | 1. Industries 2. Natural Resources |
29 Mar 1965 – 15 May 1968 |
| Syed Muhammad Zafar | 1. Law 2. Parliamentary Affairs |
29 Mar 1965 – 25 Mar 1969 |
| Kazi Anwarul Huque | 1. Education 2. Health, Labour & Social Welfare |
29 Mar 1965 – 25 Mar 1969 |
| Chaudhry Ali Akbar Khan | 1. Home Affairs 2. Kashmir Affairs |
17 Aug 1965 – 30 Nov 1966 |
| A. H. M. S. Doha | 1. Food & Agriculture 2. Rehabilitation & Works |
17 Aug 1965 – 25 Mar 1969 |
| Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada | Foreign Affairs | 20 Jul 1966 – 1 May 1968 |
| N. M. Uquaili | 1. Without portfolio (25 Jul 1966 – 25 Aug 1966) 2. Finance (25 Aug 1966 – 25 Mar 1969) |
25 Jul 1966 – 25 Mar 1969 |
| Vice-Admiral A. R. Khan | 1. Defence (21 Oct 1966 – 25 Mar 1969) 2. Home Affairs Division (5 Dec 1966 – 25 Mar 1969) 3. Kashmir Affairs Division (5 Dec 1966 – 25 Mar 1969) |
21 Oct 1966 – 25 Mar 1969 |
| Nawabzada Abdul Ghafur Khan Hoti | 1. Without portfolio (5 Jul 1967 – 15 Jul 1967) 2. Commerce (15 Jul 1967 – 25 Mar 1969) |
5 Jul 1967 – 25 Mar 1969 |
| M. Arshad Hussain | Foreign Affairs | 7 May 1968 – 25 Mar 1969 |
| Ajmal Ali Choudhry | 1. Without portfolio (6 Jul 1968 – 18 Jul 1968) 2. Industries Division (18 Jul 1967 – 25 Mar 1969) 3. Natural Resources Division (18 Jul 1967 – 25 Mar 1969) |
6 Jul 1968 – 25 Mar 1969 |
Policies
Education
To counter the opposition, his administration had replaced the elected governing boards of universities with government appointees throughout the country.[11]
Press
During his presidency, the press had limited freedom and often faced economic sanctions and restrictions. Newspaper editors and journalists were frequently imprisoned without trial for failing to follow government protocols.[11]
Opposition
Ayub Khan's presidency faced opposition from leaders such as Asghar Khan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bhutto resigned as foreign minister from Ayub's cabinet and emerged as a central figure in the opposition. His political activities led to a government crackdown and his arrest. After Bhutto's detention, Asghar Khan, former commander of the Pakistan Air Force under Ayub rule, became a major opposition leader. His entry into politics led to criticism of his military record and later when he tried to lead processions, police in East Pakistan brought summons against him for violating the law.[12]
References
- ^ a b "Field Marshal Ayub Dead; Ex-President of Pakistan". The New York Times. 21 April 1974. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- ^ "Progress in Pakistan". New York Times. 16 February 1960.
- ^ Grimes, Paul (28 October 1959). "PAKISTAN'S GAINS PRAISED BY AYUB; Nation Honors President on the Anniversary of His Revolt Against 'Chaos'". New York Times.
- ^ "PAKISTANIS MARK 3 YEARS OF AYUB; Frustration Tempers Pride on Regime's Anniversary". New York Times. 29 October 1961.
- ^ "Ayub Khan first cabinet" (PDF).
- ^ "Ayub Khan second cabinet" (PDF).
- ^ "PAKISTAN GIVES AYUB FIVE-YEAR MANDATE". New York Times. 15 February 1960.
- ^ "Ayub Khan third cabinet" (PDF).
- ^ "Ayub Khan fourth cabinet" (PDF).
- ^ "Text of Ayub Khan's Speech Resigning as President of Pakistan". New York Times.
- ^ a b Smith, Terence (3 March 1968). "Ayub Khan; They Call Him Asia's de Gaulle". New York Times.
- ^ Lelyveld, Joseph (29 December 1968). "Pakistan; Ayub Spars With a Growing Opposition". New York Times.