Reasons of the Failure of Ayub’s Government 1969

Rason of Failure of Ayub’s Government 1969

  Ayub Khan has lost his most of the support till 25th March 1969 so he had to resign from his post. He did not call for new elections to choose the next President but he simply handed over the government to another army general Gen yahya Khan. This was the time when many groups in the society were discontented by the government policies.Increasing opposition from different groups cause the failure of Ayub Khan's government.

  Ayub khan was blamed for rigging in elections two time first against was Miss Fatima Jinnah when all political parties were in her favor but Ayub khan showed  the results his favor i.e. 64% for Ayub khan and 36% for Miss Fatima Jinnah. There were riots everywhere and great opposition with the view that cheating was done. Same way rigging was blamed on the elections for the Electoral College and the president.

  Ayub Khan started widespread arrests and tortures which led to increase in opposition against him. At the arrest of Bhutto student’s protest started all over West Pakistan. Situation was constantly going out of the control. This opposition could be seen clearly by assassination attempt targeted on Ayub khan in a public meeting at Peshawar. This was all result of oppressive policies.

  The economy had shown improvement but it was not for the common man. All profits were gone in the pockets of landlords and industrialists. This situation had caused widened class difference, greater discontentment and increased opposition.                                    Food production had increased but food prices had still gone far higher. More Industrial development was seen with the larger benefits just for industry owners not for workers.

  An elite group of wealthy Pakistanis had almost complete control on everything. There were some families having the control of the whole wealth of the country while masses were suffering. People in East Pakistan were observing the situation considering it as an unfair treatment with the younger brothers. Small industries and mechanized Agriculture was entangling Pakistan in foreign aid and interest based loans which was opposed by religious groups.

  Policies of Ayub Khan about population control area were also disliked being an Islamic state. Family planning programs of Americans were taken as a conspiracy to reduce the Muslim population and were badly rejected. Large industries and mechanization in agriculture required huge sums of money and could not be afforded by poor farmers. Big landlords become richer and richer while the small farmer owners had to sell their farms to pay back the loans taken during the process of mechanization.

  Most important of all these was the signing of Tashkent treaty with India and giving back all the conquered areas of Pakistan in result of 1965 war, this was the time when Kashmir issue could be settled because Pakistan had occupied very important areas of Indian Punjab in the result of this war which India was ready to take at any cost. Ayub behaved like a Dictator and even without consulting the foreign Ministers or any other person he himself decided to give the conquered areas of the war back to India. This turned civilians as well as Army Generals against him who felt that their sacrifices had gone wasted. Intense pressure was created and Ayub could not withstand so finally he resigned and handed over the government to General Yahya Khan.