Commander in Chief
Muhammad Ayub Khan is appointed Commander in Chief of the Pakistan Army.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Muhammad Ayub Khan Biography and Timeline
Follow Muhammad Ayub Khan through 34 dated historical records for Pakistan.
Muhammad Ayub Khan, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
34Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1951–1969Years on this page
1951
1954
Minister of Defence
Army chief Muhammad Ayub Khan joins the federal cabinet as Defence Minister.
Role range: 1954-1955 – 1954-1955
Turkey-Pakistan Agreement
Pakistan and Turkey sign an agreement for friendly cooperation.
Role range: 1954-1955 – 1954-1955
1958
Chief Martial Law Administrator
Ayub Khan becomes Chief Martial Law Administrator after martial law is proclaimed.
Role range: 1958-1958 – 1958-1958
Martial Law
Ayub Khan administers the martial-law regime established by President Iskander Mirza.
Role range: 1958-1958 – 1958-1958
Martial Law
Ayub Khan enforces martial law under President Iskander Mirza.
Role range: 1958-1958 – 1958-1958
Coup
Ayub Khan removes Iskander Mirza and assumes the presidency.
Role range: 1958-1969
Political Parties
Ayub Khan consolidates military rule and restricts organized political activity.
Role range: 1958-1969 – 1958-1969
President of Pakistan
Muhammad Ayub Khan begins his presidency after removing Iskander Mirza.
Role range: 1958-1969 – 1958-1969
Muslim League
Ayub's martial-law administration disrupts the old Muslim League organization.
Role range: 1958-1969
Political Parties
The martial-law government bans political parties and restricts political campaigning.
Role range: 1958-1969
Constitution of Pakistan
The Army seizes power and the martial law regime of Muhammad Ayub Khan bans all political parties, this was the end of the old Muslim League
Role range: 1958-1969
Coup
The Army seizes power and the martial law regime of Muhammad Ayub Khan bans all political parties, this was the end of the old Muslim League
Role range: 1958-1969
Muslim League
The Army seizes power and the martial law regime of Muhammad Ayub Khan bans all political parties, this was the end of the old Muslim League
Role range: 1958-1969
Political Parties
The Army seizes power and the martial law regime of Muhammad Ayub Khan bans all political parties, this was the end of the old Muslim League
Role range: 1958-1969
1959
Basic Democracies Order
Ayub Khan establishes the Basic Democracies system of local electoral councils.
Role range: 1958-1969
1960
President of Pakistan
Ayub Khan receives a renewed presidential mandate from the Basic Democracies electorate.
Role range: 1958-1969 – 1958-1969
Presidential Referendum
Basic Democrats confirm Ayub Khan as President through an indirect referendum.
Role range: 1958-1969 – 1958-1969
Federal Capital Relocation
The federal government moves from Karachi to temporary offices in Rawalpindi.
Role range: 1958-1969
Indus Waters Treaty
Ayub Khan and Jawaharlal Nehru sign the Indus Waters Treaty.
Role range: 1958-1969
1961
Muslim Family Laws Ordinance
Ayub promulgates reforms governing marriage, divorce and inheritance procedures.
Role range: 1958-1969
1962
Constitution of Pakistan
Ayub Khan promulgates Pakistan's second Constitution, establishing a presidential system.
Role range: 1958-1969 – 1958-1969
Martial Law Revocation
Ayub ends martial law as the 1962 Constitution becomes operational.
Role range: 1958-1969
National Assembly Restoration
A new National Assembly convenes under the presidential Constitution.
Role range: 1958-1969
1965
Presidential Election
Ayub Khan defeats Fatima Jinnah in an indirect presidential election.
Role range: 1958-1969
President of Pakistan
Ayub Khan continues as President following the 1965 indirect election.
Role range: 1958-1969 – 1958-1969
Operation Gibraltar
Ayub Khan's government backs Operation Gibraltar, an infiltration campaign intended to stimulate an uprising in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Role range: 1965-1965 – 1958-1969
Operation Grand Slam
Ayub Khan's government opens Operation Grand Slam against the Akhnoor sector after fighting expands in Kashmir.
Role range: 1965-1965 – 1958-1969
Ceasefire
Ayub Khan accepts the United Nations-backed ceasefire that halts major fighting between Pakistan and India.
Role range: 1965-1965 – 1958-1969
1966
Tashkent Declaration
Ayub Khan and Lal Bahadur Shastri sign the Tashkent Declaration.
Role range: 1958-1969
1967
Islamabad Capital
The government formally establishes Islamabad as Pakistan's federal capital.
Role range: 1958-1969
1968
Anti-Government Protests
Student protests broaden into a nationwide movement against Ayub Khan's government.
Role range: 1958-1969 – 1958-1969
1969
Martial Law
Ayub Khan leaves office as Yahya Khan imposes a new martial-law regime.
Role range: 1958-1969 – 1958-1969
Resignation of Muhammad Ayub Khan
Ayub Khan resigns after prolonged protests and political disorder.
Role range: 1958-1969 – 1958-1969
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.