Who ruled Pakistan and Punjab from the creation of Pakistan until the imposition of the One Unit scheme?
Date: June 14, 2025
After the creation of Pakistan, the Governor-General of Pakistan was a Sindhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and the Prime Minister was an Urdu-speaking Indian Muhajir, Liaquat Ali Khan. Meanwhile, Iftikhar Hussain Mamdot, a Yusufzai Pathan, was appointed as the Chief Minister of Punjab. The Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army was a British officer, General Sir Frank Messervy.
However, on January 25, 1949, the elected assembly of Punjab was dissolved, and the cabinet of Pathan Chief Minister Iftikhar Mamdot was dismissed. Governor’s Rule was imposed in Punjab, initially under British Governor Sir Robert Francis Mudie. Later, on August 2, 1949, Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, a Pashtun from Peshawar, was appointed as the Governor of Punjab. At this time, the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army was British General Sir Douglas David Gracey.
In 1951, Urdu-speaking Indian Muhajir Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and Pashtun Governor Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar conducted elections for the Punjab Assembly and ensured their preferred candidates were elected. These elections in Punjab were later dubbed the “Jharloo Elections” (fraudulent elections).
On April 15, 1951, Mian Mumtaz Daultana (Punjabi), was made Chief Minister—the first Punjabi to become Chief Minister of Punjab after Pakistan’s creation. However, the Governor of Punjab remained Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar (Pashtun), and the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army was General Ayub Khan (Tarin Pathan).
After the assassination of Urdu-speaking Indian Muhajir Liaquat Ali Khan on October 16, 1951, Khawaja Nazimuddin, another Urdu-speaking Indian Muhajir who had succeeded Jinnah as Governor-General, became Prime Minister of Pakistan on October 17, 1951. At the same time, Malik Ghulam Muhammad (Kakazai Pathan), became the Governor-General of Pakistan. The Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army was General Ayub Khan (Tarin Pathan).
On November 24, 1951, Governor-General Malik Ghulam Muhammad (Kakazai Pathan), and Prime Minister Khawaja Nazimuddin (Indian Muhajir), removed Abdur Rab Nishtar (Pashtun) and appointed Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar (Indian Muhajir) as the Governor of Punjab. Mian Mumtaz Daultana (Punjabi), remained Chief Minister of Punjab, and General Ayub Khan (Tarin Pathan) remained Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army.
On April 3, 1953, Governor-General Malik Ghulam Muhammad (Kakazai Pathan), and Prime Minister Khawaja Nazimuddin (Indian Muhajir), dismissed Mian Mumtaz Daultana (Punjabi), and appointed Sir Feroz Khan Noon (Punjabi), as Chief Ministerof Punjab— making him the second Punjabi to hold the post. Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar (Indian Muhajir), remained the Governor of Punjab. General Ayub Khan (Tarin Pathan) remained Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army.
When Muhammad Ali Bogra (Bengali) became the first Bengali Prime Minister of Pakistan on April 17, 1953, the Governor of Punjab, Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar (Indian Muhajir), was removed on May 2, 1953, and replaced with Mian Aminuddin (Punjabi), who became the first Punjabi Governor of Punjab after Pakistan’s creation. Sir Feroz Khan Noon (Punjabi), remained the Chief Minister of Punjab, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army remained General Ayub Khan (Tarin Pathan).
The first Punjabi Governor of Punjab, Mian Aminuddin (Punjabi), served for only one year, one month, and 22 days. On June 24, 1954, during the tenure of Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Bogra (Bengali), Governor-General of Pakistan Malik Ghulam Muhammad (Kakazai Pathan), appointed Habib Ibrahim Rahimtoola (Indian Muhajir), as Governor of Punjab. He served until September 26, 1954. Sir Feroz Khan Noon (Punjabi), continued as Chief Minister of Punjab and General Ayub Khan (Tarin Pathan) remained Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army.
On November 27, 1954, during the tenure of Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Bogra (Bengali), Governor-General of Pakistan Malik Ghulam Muhammad (Kakazai Pathan), dismissed Habib Ibrahim Rahimtoola (Indian Muhajir), and appointed Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani (Baloch) from Punjab, as Governor of Punjab. Sir Feroz Khan Noon (Punjabi), remained Chief Minister of Punjab. The Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army remained General Ayub Khan (Tarin Pathan).
On May 21, 1955, Governor-General of Pakistan Malik Ghulam Muhammad (Kakazai Pathan), and Prime Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Nazimuddin (Indian Muhajir), removed Sir Feroz Khan Noon (Punjabi), and appointed Abdul Hameed Khan Dasti (Baloch), as Chief Minister of Punjab. Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani (Baloch), remained Governor of Punjab. The Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army remained General Ayub Khan (Tarin Pathan).
On August 7, 1955, General Iskander Mirza (Indian Muhajir), replaced Malik Ghulam Muhammad (Kakazai Pathan), and became the new Governor-General of Pakistan. At this time, Abdul Hameed Khan Dasti (Baloch), was the Chief Minister of Punjab, and Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani (Baloch), was the Governor of Punjab. The Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army was General Ayub Khan (Tarin Pathan).
On August 12, 1955, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali (Punjabi), the first Punjabi Prime Minister of Pakistan, was appointed. At the time, General Iskander Mirza (Indian Muhajir), was Governor-General of Pakistan, while Abdul Hameed Khan Dasti and Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani, both Baloch, served as Punjab’s Chief Minister and Governor respectively. General Ayub Khan (Tarin Pathan), remained Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army.
On October 14, 1955, the One Unit policy was introduced in Pakistan. Provinces in West Pakistan were abolished, and Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani (Baloch), the Governor of Punjab, was appointed as the Governor of West Pakistan. Dr. Abdul Jabbar Khan (Pashtun), became the Chief Minister of West Pakistan. General Iskander Mirza (Indian Muhajir), remained the Governor-General of Pakistan. The Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army remained General Ayub Khan (Tarin Pathan).
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