Chief Martial Law Administrator

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

"Chief Executive of Pakistan" redirects here; not to be confused with Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Some famous holders of this post in Pakistan include:

No. Portrait Name

(birth–death)

Term of office
Took office Left office Time in office
1 A black and white portrait of Ayub Khan Ayub Khan
(1907–1974) 		7 October 1958 8 June 1962 Field Marshal Ayub Khan held the post under President Iskandar Ali Mirza. 3 years, 244 days
2 Yahya Khan
(1917–1980) 		25 March 1969 20 December 1971 General Yahya Khan held the post simultaneously as the President of Pakistan. 2 years, 270 days
3 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
(1928– 1979) 		20 December 1971 14 August 1973 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became the first civilian to hold this post in Pakistan after the secession of East Pakistan. 1 year, 237 days
4 Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
(1924–1988) 		16 September 1978 17 August 1988 General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq held this office under President Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry after overthrowing Prime Minister Bhutto. 10 years, 123 days
5 A portrait of Pervez Musharraf Pervez Musharraf
(1943–2023) 		12 October 1999 21 November 2002 General Pervez Musharraf held this office under President Muhammad Rafiq Tarar, although it was styled as "Chief Executive of Pakistan"[1] 3 years, 40 days

Bangladesh

Some famous holders of this post in Bangladesh include:

No. Portrait Name

(birth–death)

Term of office Notes
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Khaled Mosharraf
(1937–1975) 		3 November 1975 6 November 1975 4 days 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[2]
2 Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem
(1916–1997) 		6 November 1975 29 November 1976 1 year, 23 days Held this post after Mosharraf's death while serving as the fifth president of Bangladesh.[2]
3 Ziaur Rahman
(1936–1981) 		29 November 1976 6 April 1979 2 years, 128 days Succeeded 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
(1930–2019) 		24 March 1982 11 November 1986 4 years, 232 days Held 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. ^ a b c 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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