Chief Martial Law Administrator

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The office of the chief martial law administrator (CMLA) was a senior and authoritative post created in countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia that gave considerable executive authority and powers to the holder of the post to enforce martial law in the country in events to ensure the continuity of government. This office has been used mostly by military officers staging a coup d'état . On some occasions, the office has been under a civilian head of state.

Contents

Pakistan

Some famous holders of this post in Pakistan include:

No.PortraitName

(birth–death)

Term of officeNotes
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Muhammad Ayub Khan.JPG Ayub Khan
(1907–1974)		7 October 19588 June 19623 years, 244 daysField Marshal Ayub Khan held the post under President Iskandar Ali Mirza.
2 Bakhtiar Rana
(1910–1999)		– Lt. Gen. Bakhtiar Rana: held the post of Chief Martial Law Administrator West Pakistan
3 Yahya Khan (cropped version).jpg Yahya Khan
(1917–1980)		25 March 196920 December 19712 years, 270 daysGeneral Yahya Khan held the post simultaneously as the President of Pakistan.
4 Tikka Khan.png Tikka Khan
(1915–2002)		196919711–2 years Lt. Gen. Tikka Khan was appointed Chief Martial Law Administrator of West Pakistan in 1969 and of East Pakistan in 1971 by Yahya Khan.
5 Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi.png A. A. K. Niazi
(1915– 2004)		1971–0 years Lt. Gen. A. A. K. Niazi was appointed Chief Martial Law Administrator of East Pakistan in 1971 by Yahya Khan.
6 Z A Bhutto (President of Pakistan).jpg Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
(1928– 1979)		20 December 197114 August 19731 year, 237 days Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became the first civilian to hold this post in Pakistan after the secession of East Pakistan.
7 General Muhammad Zia-Ul-Haq.jpg Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
(1924–1988)		16 September 197817 August 198810 years, 123 daysGeneral Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq held this office under President Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry after overthrowing Prime Minister Bhutto.
8 Pervez Mushrraf2 crop.jpg Pervez Musharraf
(1943–2023)		199920022–3 yearsGeneral Pervez Musharraf held this office under President Muhammad Rafiq Tarar, although it was styled as "Chief Executive of Pakistan" [1]

Bangladesh

Some famous holders of this post in Bangladesh include:

No.PortraitName

(birth–death)

Term of officeNotes
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Khaled Mosharraf
(1937–1975)		3 November 19756 November 19754 daysHeld this post in 1975 for four days after a bloodless coup only to be killed in a counter coup resulting from a popular uprising led by JSD leader retired Lt. Col. Abu Taher [2]
2 Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem
(1916–1997)		6 November 197529 November 197523 daysHeld this post after Mosharraf's death while serving as the fifth president of Bangladesh. [2]
3 Bangladeshi president Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttom.jpg Ziaur Rahman
(1937–1975)		29 November 19756 April 19793 years, 128 daysSucceeded to this post during Sayem's presidency until the withdrawal of martial law a year after being elected as president. [2]
4 Hussain Muhammad Ershad and Abel Matutes (cropped).jpg Hussain Muhammad Ershad
(1937–1975)		24 March 198211 November 19864 years, 232 daysHeld this post after a bloodless coup overthrowing Abdus Sattar until withdrawal of martial law in 1986. [3]

Indonesia

In Indonesia, this post was briefly held by army chief Suharto, who seized power in 1966 and forced President Sukarno to resign in 1967. Sukarno had also enforced martial law during his tenure as President of Indonesia.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "A coup in Thailand". Dawn (Editorial). 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Bari, Md Ershadul (1 January 1985). "Martial Law in Bangladesh 1975-1979: A Legal Analysis". doi:10.25501/SOAS.00033751.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ↑ "Martial Law Ends in Bangladesh". The Washington Post. 11 November 1986. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 19 September 2025.
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