RAWALPINDI: Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan today [March 25] stepped down as President of Pakistan and handed over power to Army chief General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan who placed the country under Martial Law with immediate effect.

The 52-year-old General, in a proclamation issued as Chief Martial Law Administrator, announced the abrogation of the Constitution and dissolution of the National Assembly and the two Provincial Assemblies. Members of the President’s Council of Ministers and the two newly-appointed Provincial Governors ceased to hold their offices under the proclamation.

Field-Marshal Ayub Khan, 62, in an unscheduled broadcast over Radio Pakistan at 7-15 p.m. announced he was relinquishing charge as Head of State in view of the “fast deteriorating situation” in the country. This marks the end of his over 10 years of rule which began with Army take-over on Oct 27, 1958, at the height of a political crisis.

The proclamation said the country would be governed under two zones. West and East Pakistan will be known as Martial Law Zones A and B and would be headed by Lt-Gen Atiqur Rehman and Maj-Gen Muzaffaruddin respectively. The Chief Martial Law Administrator or officers authorised by him would be issuing various Martial Law Regulations from time to time. — Agency

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2019