Pakistan's Constitutional Autocracy

Abstract

WX THEN GENERAL AYUB SEIZED POWER in October i958, nobody had any illusion that his action would usher in a radical economic or social revolution in the country. The Army, a fairly cohesive and united instrument, having been largely drawn from the four districts of West Punjab and the two districts of the North-West Frontier, seized power from scheming and feuding politicians. The latter had become so hopelessly divided that neither the Punjabi nor the Bengali politicians were loyal even to their regional factions. However, one could not go so fair as to agree with the American observer, Mr. C. B. Marshall, that General Ayub had got hold of a clean blackboard with nothing to write on. Ayub did introduce several salutary changes (such as the land reforms), restored efficiency in the administrative machine, and took strong measures against evils like corruption, black-marketeering, smuggling, etc. He can also take credit for being one of the very few Muslim leaders of this century who undertook to bring about changes in the Muslim matrimonial laws and customs so that polygamy might be checked and women given better protection and rights in the matter of divorce and property. Nevertheless, the imposition of martial law did not radically disturb the social and economic structure of the Pakistani society. Industrialists and traders were called upon to declare their foreign-exchange holdings and pay their taxes. There was no confiscation of property. Ceilings on land-holdings were to be 500 acres for irrigated, and i,ooo acres for unirrigated, land. Most of the Army officers came from families owning such middle-sized holdings. After the land reforms were announced, it was found that some of the generals themselves held lands in excess of the ceilings announced in the reforms.' The Pakistan Government has also made it clear, both during the martial law regime and recently, that maximum incentive and scope would be given to private enterprise under certain broad limitations. The private sector, dominated by four trading communities, has spearheaded Pakistan's industrial development which is considered one of the most impressive in Asia. The