Pakistani presidential election, 1965
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Pakistan's first ever Presidential Elections were held on February 2, 1965. The voting was to be indirect, as the President had to be elected by the 80,000 "basic democrats", who made up the Electoral College. These basic Democrats were basically democratically elected public representatives who served in the Divisional, District, Tehsil or Union councils.
There were two major parties contesting the elections: the Convention Muslim League and the Combined Opposition Parties. The Combined Opposition Parties consisted of five major opposition parties, and had a nine-point program, which included restoration of parliamentary democracy and introduction of direct elections and adult franchise. The Combined Opposition Parties had no single leadership and were therefore, unable to select a presidential candidate from amongst themselves. Hence, they chose Fatima Jinnah as their candidate who was seen as an undisputed leader due to her relationship with Quiad-e-Azam. Meanwhile, the candidate for Convention Muslim League was the incumbent President Field Marshall. Muhammad Ayub Khan
There were four candidates; Ayub Khan, Fatima Jinnah and two obscure people with no party affiliation. There was a short campaigning period of one month, which was further restricted to nine projection meetings that were organized by the Election Commission and were attended only by the members of the Electoral College and members of the press. The public was barred from attending the projection meetings, which would have enhanced Fatima Jinnah's image.
Ayub Khan had came to power in 1958 following the declaration of Martial Law. Since then, he had been serving as a President. He consolidated his position as a Constitutional ruler by drafting the 1962 constitution. At the time the elections were held, Ayub had introduced a number of Economic reforms that had increased the growth rate of the country as well had also pulled it out of the severe economic crisis that had begun after the assassination of Prime Minister L.A Khan in 1951. This had made Ayub a popular ruler. Morevever, being the Commander in Cheif of Army, he took several steps to turn the odds in his favour. He didn't even hesitate to legislate on electoral matters, giving him an edge over rival candidate, Fatima Jinnah.
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