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. In foreign policy, he strengthened diplomatic ties with China and the United States. His administration celebrated 28 October as the Revolution Day of Pakistan. During his presidency, his government celebrated his 1958 Pakistani coup as the Revolution Day.
Cabinets Ayub Khan's first cabinet was inaugurated within hours of the 1958 coup that toppled President Iskander Mirza and imposed martial law. Second presidential cabinet took oath on 17 February 1960 after Ayub Khan was confirmed as the president in the presidential confidence referendum. 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. 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.
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 Muhammad 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 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 Wajid Ali Khan 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 Muhammad Ibrahim Law 17 Feb 1960 – 15 Apr 1962 K. M. 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 Abul Kashem 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 Md. Hafizur Rahman Commerce 17 Feb 1960 – 28 May 1962 Akhter 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 Afzal Rahman 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 Choudhury 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.
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.
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.
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