Military State and Society in Pakistan

1600

1754: Establishment of the East India Company and recruitment of local forces for security in India.

1754

Arrival of the first group of British Army (King's forces) in India.

Late 18th Century

Beginning of East India Company forces being sent on overseas missions.

1846

Formation of the Sindh Frontier Force to counter Baloch tribes.

1849

Formation of the Punjab Frontier Force to maintain order on the northwestern borders.

1858 - Major Change in British Army Recruitment Policy

Significant shift in British army recruitment policy in India after the rebellion, with a greater focus on northern and northwestern regions.

1861 - Establishment of Separate Staff Corps

Creation of separate staff corps for officers of each of the presidency armies.

1886 - Punjab Frontier Force Under Command

Punjab Frontier Force placed under the operational control of the Commander-in-Chief of India.

1901 - Establishment of Imperial Cadet Corps

Lord Curzon established the Imperial Cadet Corps for Indian princes and noble families.

1902 - Appointment of Field Marshal Lord Kitchener

Field Marshal Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener appointed as Commander-in-Chief of India.

1903 (January 1)

Official use of the title "Indian Army".

1905

Lord Curzon resigns due to a dispute with Kitchener over military structure.

1909

Abolition of the Military Supply Department, making the Commander-in-Chief the most powerful position after the Viceroy.

1915 (December)

Arrival of the first group of the Royal Flying Corps in India.

1917 (August)

Lifting of the ban on Indians entering officer ranks with the Royal Commission.

1918

Establishment of ten positions for Indian cadets at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

1919 (April 1)

Official establishment of the Royal Indian Air Force.

1923

Initiation of the eight-unit plan for complete indigenization of certain army units.

1928

Reorganization of the Royal Indian Navy along combat lines.

1932 (September)

The first Indian officer (Mohammad Sadiq Chaudhry) was introduced as a midshipman in the executive branch of the Royal Indian Navy.

1934 - Royal Indian Navy Transformation

The Royal Indian Navy was transformed with the enactment of the Indian Navy (Discipline) Act.

1940 - Lahore Resolution

The Muslim League passed the Lahore Resolution, calling for the creation of a separate territory for South Asian Muslims.

1946 - Sardar Baldev Singh Appointed

Sardar Baldev Singh was appointed as the Minister of Defense in the interim government, marking the first time an Indian political leader held this position.

1947 - Muslim League Demands Army Division

The Muslim League demanded the division of the British Indian Army.

1947 - Liaquat Ali Khan's Formal Demand

Liaquat Ali Khan, the future Prime Minister of Pakistan, formally demanded the division of the army.

June 1947

Britain's decision to divide the Indian Army between India and Pakistan.

August 15, 1947

Military division completed. Joint Defense Council (JDC) established.

October 1947

Pakistan requests weapons and equipment from the United States.

November 30, 1947

Dissolution of Supreme Command Headquarters at India's request.

December 31, 1947

Withdrawal of regular British forces from border posts in North and South Waziristan.

1948 - Appointment of Major General Ayub Khan

Major General Ayub Khan appointed as Commander-in-Chief in East Pakistan.

1948 - Formation of East Bengal Regiment

The first East Bengal Infantry Regiment was formed.

1948 - Death of Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Muhammad Ali Jinnah passed away, 13 months after Pakistan's independence.

1950 - Suspension of Diplomatic Relations

Start of suspension of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

1951 - Ayub Khan as First Army Chief

Major General Ayub Khan appointed as the first Army Chief of Pakistan.

1951 (October)

Assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan, Pakistan's first Prime Minister. Ghulam Muhammad is appointed Governor-General.

1953 (March)

Martial law imposed in Lahore following anti-Ahmadiyya riots, providing the military with direct civil administration experience.

1953 (February)

Vice Admiral Mohammad Siddiq Chaudhry appointed as the first Commander of the Pakistan Navy.

1954

Dissolution of the Constituent Assembly by Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad.

1954 (May)

Pakistan and the United States signed a mutual defense cooperation agreement.

November 1954

Pakistan begins receiving American weapons.

August 1955

Major General Iskander Mirza appointed as Governor-General.

1955 - Pakistan Joins Baghdad Pact

Pakistan joins the Baghdad Pact (later CENTO).

1956 - First Permanent Constitution Adopted

The first "permanent" constitution of Pakistan is adopted.

1957 - First Air Force Commander Appointed

Air Marshal Mohammad Asghar Khan appointed as the first commander of the Pakistan Air Force.

1958 - Martial Law Declared

Iskander Mirza abrogates the 1956 constitution and declares martial law; General Ayub Khan appointed as Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA).

1958 - Martial Law Upheld

The Supreme Court declares martial law legitimate.

January 1959

Ayub Khan announced land reforms for West Pakistan.

March 1959

The Public Offices Disqualification Order (PODO) was issued to remove political leaders from public life.

August 1959

The Elective Bodies Disqualification Order (EBDO) was issued.

October 1959

The Basic Democracies system was launched; Ayub Khan was promoted to Field Marshal.

December 1959 - January 1960

The first Basic Democracies elections were held at the local level.

February 14, 1960

Ayub Khan was confirmed in a presidential referendum and sworn in as the first elected president.

October 1960

Approval of the master plan for Islamabad as the capital.

1961

Introduction of family laws to reform traditional/Islamic family laws.

March 1962

Ayub Khan announced a new constitution.

June 1962

End of martial law and beginning of Ayub's 'guided authoritarian democracy'.

July 1962

The Political Parties Act was passed, legalizing political party activities.

October 1962

The border conflict between China and India began.

October 1963

Islamabad began functioning as the official capital.

November 1963

Talks between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.

October-November 1964

The second BD elections were held.

1965 - Ayub Khan Re-elected

Ayub Khan was re-elected in the presidential elections.

1965 - Rann of Kutch Conflict

A limited war occurred in the Rann of Kutch between India and Pakistan.

1965 - Full-scale India-Pakistan War Begins

The full-scale war between India and Pakistan began.

1966 - Six-Point Movement Introduced

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman introduced the 'Six-Point Movement'.

1966 - Formation of FWO

The Frontier Works Organization (FWO) was established.

1967 - Agartala Conspiracy Uncovered

The Agartala conspiracy was uncovered in East Pakistan.

1968 - International Arbitration Verdict Accepted

The International Arbitration Court's verdict on Rann of Kutch was accepted.

1968 - Anti-Ayub Khan Protests Begin

Protests against Ayub Khan began in West Pakistan.

1969 - Democratic Action Committee Formed

The Democratic Action Committee (DAC) was formed to demand constitutional reforms.

1969 - Ayub Khan Announces Withdrawal

Ayub Khan announced his withdrawal from power.

1969 - Military Rule Imposed

General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan imposed martial law and removed Ayub Khan.

1969 - Integration of States

The princely states of Chitral, Dir, and Swat were integrated into West Pakistan.

1970 - Monopolies Order Issued

The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Order was issued.

1970 - Dissolution of West Pakistan

The unified province of West Pakistan was dissolved and four new provinces were established.

1970 - Legal Framework Order

The Legal Framework Order (LFO) set parameters for general elections and constitution drafting.

December 1970

General elections were held in Pakistan. The Awami League won the majority in East Pakistan, and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) won in West Pakistan.

January 30, 1971

An Indian Airlines plane was hijacked to Lahore.

March 1971

Talks between Yahya Khan and Mujibur Rahman failed.

March 25, 1971

The army intervened to suppress the popular uprising in East Pakistan.

December 1971

Pakistan lost the war with India, and East Pakistan became Bangladesh. Yahya Khan resigned, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became President and Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA).

1972 - Nationalization of Emerald Mines

Bhutto nationalized emerald mines and ten key industries.

1972 - Nationalization of Life Insurance

The life insurance industry was nationalized.

1972 - Martial Law Lifted

Martial law was lifted and a provisional constitution was enacted.

1972 - Language Riots in Sindh

Language riots occurred in urban areas of Sindh.

1972 - Establishment of Federal Security Force

The Federal Security Force (FSF) was established and military operations began in Sindh.

February 1973

Arrest of 21 army officers and 14 air force officers for plotting a coup (Attock Conspiracy).

March 1973

The United States eased the arms embargo.

March 1973

First phase of Bhutto's land reforms.

April 1973

Adoption of a new constitution with a parliamentary system and provincial autonomy.

August 1973

Bhutto became Prime Minister and Fazal Elahi Chaudhry became President. The vegetable oil industry was nationalized.

January 1974

All private banks were nationalized.

February 1975

The National Awami Party (NAP) was banned by the federal government.

July 1976

Over 2000 flour, rice, and cotton mills were taken over by the government.

January 1977

The government decided to hold general elections on March 7 and 10.

March 1977

The coalition of nine opposition parties, Pakistan National Alliance (PNA), declared the election results fraudulent and launched widespread protests.

July 5, 1977

General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the army chief, overthrew Bhutto's government and declared martial law.

November 1977

The Supreme Court legitimized martial law under the "doctrine of necessity" but called for elections.

July 1978

The Muslim League-Pagara and other PNA parties joined Zia's civilian cabinet.

September 16, 1978

The civilian president, Fazal Elahi Chaudhry, resigned, and Zia-ul-Haq assumed the presidency.

February 1979

Islamic Hudood Ordinances were issued.

April 1979

PNA parties withdrew from Zia's cabinet.

September 1979

Non-partisan local council elections held.

December 1979

Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan.

1980

Introduction of mandatory Zakat tax.

1981 - Interest-Free Banking System Initiated

The Profit and Loss Sharing (PLS) banking system was launched.

1981 - Movement for Restoration of Democracy Formed

The Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) was established.

1981 - Provisional Constitutional Order Issued

The Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) was issued, banning political parties and subordinating the judiciary to military rule.

1981 - Federal Advisory Council Introduced

The Federal Advisory Council was introduced.

1983 - Ushr Tax Implemented on Agricultural Products

The Ushr tax was implemented on agricultural products.

1983 - MRD Movement

MRD initiated another movement against Zia-ul-Haq.

1983 - Zia-ul-Haq's Announcement

Zia-ul-Haq announced plans to civilianize the military government.

1984 - New Evidence Law

The new Evidence Law replaced the previous law.

1984 - Referendum for Zia-ul-Haq

A referendum was held to confirm Zia-ul-Haq as President.

1985 - Non-Party General Elections

Non-party general elections were held.

March 1985

Muhammad Khan Junejo was appointed as Prime Minister.

December 1985

Martial law was lifted.

January 1986

Ban on political parties was lifted.

August 1986

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) held its first public meeting in Karachi.

July 1987

Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafaria (TNFJ) and Jamaat Ahl-e-Sunnat became political parties.

July 1987

Bomb explosion in Karachi killed 73 and injured over 200.

April 1988

Afghanistan peace agreement (Geneva Accords) signed by the Junejo government.

April 10, 1988

Explosion at Ojhri ammunition depot in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

August 17, 1988

General Zia-ul-Haq died in a plane crash. General Mirza Aslam Beg took command of the army. Ghulam Ishaq Khan assumed the presidency.

September 1988

Punjab High Court deemed the dissolution of assemblies illegal but refrained from reinstating them.

November 1988

General elections were held in Pakistan. The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) led by Benazir Bhutto won.

October-November 1989

A vote of no confidence against Benazir Bhutto's government in the National Assembly.

May 27, 1990

Police fired on MQM protesters in Hyderabad.

August 1990

Benazir Bhutto was dismissed by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan.

October 1990

General elections were held, and the Islamic Democratic Alliance (IJI) led by Nawaz Sharif won.

July 1991

General Aslam Beg issued a statement on the growing threat of war with India.

August 1991

General Aslam Beg retired and General Asif Nawaz Janjua succeeded him.

September 1991

Establishment of the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST).

March 1992

Start of military operations in Sindh against MQM activists.

January 1993

General Janjua passed away and General Abdul Waheed Kakar succeeded him.

April 1993

Nawaz Sharif was dismissed by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan, but the Supreme Court overturned the order.

July 18, 1993

The political deadlock was resolved with the simultaneous resignation of the President and Prime Minister. Dr. Moeen Qureshi was appointed as interim Prime Minister.

1993 - General Elections

The general elections were held, and the PPP led by Benazir Bhutto returned to power.

1994 - Judicial Appointments

Benazir's government appointed 20 judges to the Lahore High Court, 13 of whom were PPP activists.

1996 - Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court issued a significant ruling on executive powers for the appointment and transfer of judges.

1996 - Murtaza Bhutto's Death

Murtaza Bhutto, Benazir's brother, was killed by police in Karachi.

1996 - Benazir Bhutto Dismissed

Benazir Bhutto was dismissed by President Farooq Leghari.

January 1997

The National Defense and Security Council (CDNS) was established.

February 1997

General elections were held, and Nawaz Sharif was elected as Prime Minister.

April 1997

The Navy Commander resigned due to bribery allegations in defense deals.

August 1997

Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah attempted to fill vacant Supreme Court positions, but the government opposed.

October 1997

The Supreme Court suspended the 14th Constitutional Amendment regarding parliamentary defection.

November 1997

Mob attack on the Supreme Court. President Leghari resigned. General Jehangir Karamat, the army chief, was appointed as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

May 1998

Pakistan officially became a nuclear power.

June 1998

The '2010 Program for Good Governance and Socio-Economic Transformation' was launched by the government.

October 1998

General Jehangir Karamat publicly called for the establishment of a National Security Council.

October 1998

General Jehangir Karamat retired three months early, and General Pervez Musharraf succeeded him.

November 1998

Nawaz Sharif's government requested military assistance to address the severe law and order situation in Karachi.

February 1999

The Supreme Court declared military courts unconstitutional.