Mohammad Ayub Khan

Mohammad Ayub Khan, (born May 14, 1907, Hazāra, India—died April 19, 1974, near Islāmābād, Pak.) president of Pakistan from 1958 to 1969, whose rule marked a critical period in the modern development of his nation.

After studying at Alīgarh Muslim University, in Uttar Pradesh, India, and at the British Royal Military College, at Sandhurst, Ayub Khan was commissioned an officer in the Indian army (1928). In World War II he was second-in-command of a regiment in Burma (Myanmar) and commanded a battalion in India. After the 1947 partition of British India he was rapidly promoted in the army of the new Muslim state of Pakistan: from major general (1948) to commander in chief (1951). In addition, Ayub became minister of defense (1954) for a brief

Riots continued, and he resigned his office on March 26, 1969, to be succeeded by General Yahya Khan, commander in chief of the army.

Basic Democracies System 1959-70

On 27th October 1958, after a decade long political turmoil in the country, the army took over and General Ayub Khan became the chief Marshal Law administrator and Field Marshal. He was welcomed by the people of the country. On the first anniversary of his government, on 27th October, 1959, General Ayub Khan addressed the nation and announced the introduction of a new system of government or basic democracies system to bring democracy to the door steps of the people and to have "direct participation of the people managing their affairs through representative bodies not far from their own villages and Mohallas”.

Under the Presidential ordinance a four tiered hierarchical system of local-self-government was introduced, namely

1. The Union

The head of the council was the Deputy Commissioner of the district and the Vice-Chairman used to be selected from amongst the chairmen of the tehsil council / Union Councils by the deputy commissioner. This council consisted of elected and non-elected members or official and non- official members. The non-official members were the Chairmen of the tehsil councils and chairmen of the Municipal committees within the district to represent both urban and rural areas.

1. One half of the appointed members were from amongst the chairmen of the Union Councils.

2. The no. of official and non-official members was equal.

3. This tier had vast financial and executive powers. In addition to the development functions, it could levy any tax. The deputy Commissioner had to coordinate the activities of the departments.

4. The functions and powers of the DC were divided into ‘compulsory’ and ‘optional’. Compulsory functions included the provision and maintenance of schools, libraries, hospitals, public roads and play grounds, as well as protection of food stuff, regulation of traffic, and measure to increase agriculture production.

5. The optional functions included the council enjoyed wide jurisdiction over education, Culture, social welfare, economic welfare, public health and public