CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE AYUB KHAN’S BASIC DEMOCRACIES: AN ERA FROM 1958-1969

Abstract

This research is based upon the system of Basic Democracy, which was introduced By President Ayub, soon after imposing Martial law in the country. This system consisted of a network of local bodies, these local bodies worked as the link between governments and people and achieves multiple political purposes through 80,000 basic democrats and elected by 800 to 1000 constituencies of adults. Under the presidential ordinance, a four-tier system was introduced. He was re-elected as a president in the 1965 presidential election against Mother of nation Miss Fatima Jinnah through this system. As military dictators are always much more fortunate in taking over the powers compared to politicians by using their abilities throughout the history of Pakistan, exact alike, this system was only introduced by Ayub khan to facilitate him and plunge on powers. This system did not allow people to take freely part in government affairs. Ayub khan even did not let political parties take part in the day-to-day government affairs. Through his extraordinary powers, he had introduced and enforced the 1962 Constitution of Pakistan, which was remembered as "the one-man show," because it gave him vast powers. The research is Qualitative, based upon Primary and Secondary sources, e.g., Books, E-Books, Newspapers, Journals, articles, etc. This research critically focuses on how this system was enforced in Pakistan, how Ayub khan had used this system, and which powers and achievements did Ayub had gotten after introducing this system.