General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq محمد ضیاءالحق |
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Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq in 1983
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6th President of Pakistan | |
In office 16 September 1978 – 17 August 1988 |
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Prime Minister | Muhammad Khan Junejo |
Preceded by | Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry |
Succeeded by | Ghulam Ishaq Khan |
Chief of Army Staff | |
In office 1 March 1976 – 17 August 1988 |
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Preceded by | Tikka Khan |
Succeeded by | Mirza Aslam Beg |
Personal details | |
Born |
Jalandhar, Punjab, British India (now in Punjab, India) |
12 August 1924
Died | 17 August 1988 Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan |
(aged 64)
Resting place | Faisal Mosque |
Nationality | British Indian (1924–1947) Pakistani (1947–1988) |
Political party | None |
Spouse(s) | Begum Shafiq Zia (1950–1988; his death) |
Children |
Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq Anwar-ul-Haq Zain Zia Rubina Saleem Quratulain Zia |
Alma mater |
St. Stephen's College, Delhi United States Army Command and General Staff College |
Military service | |
Nickname(s) | Mard-i-Momin |
Allegiance |
British India Pakistan |
Service/branch |
British Indian Army Pakistan Army |
Years of service | 1943–1988 |
Rank | General |
Unit | 22 Cavalry, Army Armoured Corps (PA – 1810) |
Commands | 2nd Independent Armoured Brigade 1st Armoured Division II Strike Corps Chief of Army Staff |
Battles/wars |
World War II Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Black September in Jordan Soviet war in Afghanistan |
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (Urdu: محمد ضياء الحق; 12 August 1924 – 17 August 1988) was a Pakistani four-star general who served as the 6th President of Pakistan from 1978 until his death in 1988, after declaring martial law in 1977. He was Pakistan's longest-serving head of state.
Educated at Delhi University, Zia saw action in World War II as a British Indian Army officer, before opting for Pakistan in 1947 and fighting in the war against India in 1965. In 1970, he led the Pakistan military's training mission in Jordan, proving instrumental to putting down the Black September insurgency against King Hussein. In recognition, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto approved Zia's four-star appointment and elevated him as the Chief of Army Staff in 1976. Following civil disorder, Zia deposed Bhutto in a military coup and declared martial law on 5 July 1977. Bhutto was controversially tried by the Supreme Court and executed less than two years later, for authorising the murder of a political opponent.