Second Marshal Law In Pakistan

The Second Military Regime:

The imposition of martial law by General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan on 25 March 1969 brought the military back to power unimpeded by any constitutional or popular check. The response of the politically active circles was generally positive as most were happy to get rid of Ayub Khan and they viewed the second military regime as a transitional arrangement that would lead to the establishment of a participatory political process. The students, labour, the urban unemployed and other alienated groups that were the mainstay of the anti-Ayub agitation went back to their routine which restored peace and order in the society and revived economic activity. However, this was not the acceptance of military rule; it was a wait-and-see situation that temporarily calmed these elements and gave some political space to the new military rulers.

                                                                            

The second instance was when the then 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 March 25, 1969, and handed over powers to him. On April 3, 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 April 8, he ordered that Martial Law Administrators of East and West Pakistan will also perform duties of the governors.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Chairman Pakistan People's Party, took over as president and the first civilian Chief Martial Law Administrator on December 20, 1971.