Chief Martial Law Administrator

Last updated May 28, 2025

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.

Pakistan

Some famous holders of this post in Pakistan include:

No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Term of office			Notes
No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Notes
1		Ayub Khan (1907–1974)	27 October 1958	8 June 1962	3 years, 224 days	Field 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 (1917–1980)	25 March 1969	20 December 1971	2 years, 270 days	General Yahya Khan held the post simultaneously as the President of Pakistan.
4		Tikka Khan (1915–2002)	1969	1971	1–2 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		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		Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (1928– 1979)	20 December 1971	14 August 1973	1 year, 237 days	Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became the first civilian to hold this post in Pakistan after the secession of East Pakistan.
7		Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (1924–1988)	16 September 1978	17 August 1988	10 years, 123 days	General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq held this office under President Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry after overthrowing Prime Minister Bhutto.
8		Pervez Musharraf (1943–2023)	1999	2002	2–3 years	General 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:

Brig. Gen. Khaled Mosharraf (1975): held 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.
Justice Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem (1975–76): held this post after Mosharraf's death while serving as the fifth president of Bangladesh.
Maj. Gen. Ziaur Rahman (1976–79): succeeded to this post during Sayem's presidency until the withdrawal of martial law a year after being elected as president.
Lt. Gen. Hussain Muhammad Ershad (1982—86): held this post after a bloodless coup overthrowing Abdus Sattar until withdrawal of martial law in 1986.

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.

References

↑ "A coup in Thailand". Dawn (Editorial). 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.

External links

Sayeed, Khalid B. (May 1959). "Martial Law Administration in Pakistan". Far Eastern Survey. 28 (5). Institute of Pacific Relations: 72–79. doi:10.2307/3024211. JSTOR 3024211.
Bangladesh (1975-77)
Martial law in Bangladesh

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[1] "A coup in Thailand". Dawn (Editorial). 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.

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