Since achieving independence from the British yoke on the 14th of August, 1947, entirely due to Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah`s commitment as well as his unflinching and determined efforts, the nation had to undergo army rule almost a half of the period during which martial law was declared three times in the country.
In the first instance, President Iskander Mirza proclaimed martial law throughout the country on 7th October, 1958, appointing the Army Chief, General Muhammad Ayub Khan, Chief Martial Law Administrator, abrogating the Constitution, dismissing the Central and Provincial Governments, dissolving the National and Provincial Assemblies, and abolishing all political parties. Next day, the President appointed an Advisory Council, consisting of Secretary-General and seven Secretaries of Ministries. However, on the 10th October, the President promulgated an Order stating that notwithstanding abrogation of 1956 Constitution, Pakistan shall be governed as nearly as may be in accordance with the late Constitution.
It is worth mentioning that under the abrogated Constitution, approved by the Constituent Assembly on the 29th February, 1956, and promulgated on 23rd March, 1956, the Dominion of Pakistan was proclaimed Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Iskander Mirza was sworn in as its first President. The Constitution was based on the Objectives Resolution, which was adopted on 12th March, 1949. The Resolution envisaged the observance of Islam and its principles of social justice, equality, democracy, freedom and tolerance.
On the 24th of October, 1958, President Iskander Mirza constituted a 12-man Central Cabinet, including General Azam Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Manzoor Qadir. General Ayub Khan was appointed Prime Minster. Iskander Mirza relinquished his office of President on 27th October, 1958, and handed over all powers to Chief Martial Law Administrator Ayub Khan, who promulgated the Presidential Cabinet Order next day according to which the Cabinet would have no Prime Minister and it would work directly under the President.
Exactly one year after taking power (27th October 1959), General Ayub became Field Marshal and promulgated Basic Democracies Order, providing for constitution of Basic Democratic institutions ranging from the Union Councils to Provincial Development Advisory Councils. He held the elections for Basic Democracy Units on 2nd January, 1960 electing their 80,000 members by adult franchise, who went to the polls on 14th January, 1960 to express, through secret ballot, their confidence or lack of it, in President Ayub Khan.
Muhammad Ayub was sworn in as elected President on 17th February, 1960. On the 8th of June, 1962, he announced to lift Martial law after nearly four years, and also took oath of the office of the President under the new Constitution, enacted by him on 1st March 1962, providing presidential form of Government. On 2nd January, 1965, he was re-elected President in Presidential election against Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, sister of Father of the nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and candidate of Combined Opposition Parties. However, the COP had refused to accept the election results.
Declaration of Martial Law in 1958 was solely due to unpleasant and uncertain situation as well as unstable political situation because of fast political manoeuvres and changes that took place in the country. During the period of 1955-57, uncertainty prevailed as four Prime Ministers were changed as President Iskander Mirza could not develop proper working relations with them. Mr Muhammad Ali Bogra (17.4.1953 to 11.8.1955) was the first Prime Minister under Mirza but he soon resigned and was replaced by Chaudhry Muhammad Ali (11.8.1955 to 12.9.1956). Mr Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy (12.9.1956 to18.10.1957), I.I. Chundrigar (18.10.1957 to16.12.1957) and Malik Feroze Khan Noon (18.12.1957 to 7.10.1958).
The second instance was when Army Chief, General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan, declared Martial Law, dissolved the Assemblies and assumed the office of the President after Ayub Khan stepped down as President on 25th March, 1969, and handed over powers to him. On 3rd April, he formed a three-member Council of Administration with himself as its Chairman, and next day issued Provisional Constitution Order, providing basis for governance of country. On 8th April, he ordered that Martial Law Administrators of East and West Pakistan will also perform duties of the Governors.
Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Chairman Pakistan People's Party took over as President and the first civilian Chief Martial Law Administrator on 20th December, 1971, when General Yayha Khan handed over powers to him. General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq overthrew Z.A. Bhutto in a bloodless coup d'état on July 5, 1977, following widespread civil disorder and imposed Martial Law in its totality.
Constitution was partially suspended, political activities banned, four-man Military Council formed and High Court Judges made acting Provincial Governors. President Zia-ul-Haq, US Ambassador and a very large number of high-ranking army officers were killed in a plane crash near Bahawalpur on 17th August, 1988.
Pakistan came under military rule again on October 12, 1999, when General Pervez Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup and dissolved elected Government of Nawaz Sharif. However, no Martial Law was imposed. As announced by him on July 11, 2002, general elections were held on 10 October 2002. But before the elections, a referendum was held on April 30, 2002 for him to be elected as the President for another five years. On November 3, 2007, he declared the state of emergency in the country which is claimed to be equivalent to the state of Martial Law as the Constitution was suspended. On November 12, 2007, Musharraf issued some amendments in the Military Act, which gave the armed forces some additional powers.
Pervez Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan as Chief Executive from 1999-2001 and as President from 2001-08, resigned on 18 August 2008 in the face of impeachment. Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Chaudhry Shujat Hussain and Shaukat Aziz served as elected Prime Ministers during his era. Last elections were held on 18 February 2008.
In the last few decades, Politics in Pakistan has been tarnished by corruption, inefficiency, domestic political upheavals and wrong policies of the ruling elite; and alternating periods of civilian and military rule have, so far, not been able to establish stability. Due to their unrealistic policies, supplemented by anti-Pakistan elements, we could not maintain its integrity and their actions resulted into the unfortunate break-up of the hard-earned country in 1971.
The painful political crises have not only universally spoiled the image of the country but weakened it economically. Besides, the nation also gravely suffered from devastating natural calamities, including strong earthquake of 2005, current and last year's rain and floods and dengue disease, The whole nation, especially the young generation, who have not still tasted the fruits of creation of Pakistan, achieved after the successful struggle of the Indian Muslims for their own homeland, are quite worried about their future due to present national state of affairs.
Nothing is impossible, we can rectify the situation by doing concrete work with sound willpower, determination, sincerity and keeping national interest upper most and following the motto and guidelines of the Founder of the nation. For ensuring national stability, security, restoring peace and law and order, the Government with whole-hearted co-operation of the political leaders will have to ban militant and extremist wings in political parties, withdraw unnecessary arms licenses, and bring culprits responsible for escalating unrest, bloodshed and violence to prompt, indiscriminate and real justice without fear and favour. However, the recent All Parties Conference is welcoming as it served the purpose of giving a strong message to the United States that people of Pakistan are united on the question of national interest and sovereignty. But no one can deny the fact that MIGHT IS ALWAYS RIGHT.
(The writer is senior journalist, broadcaster and ex-Editor Quaid-i-Azam Papers Project.)