Martial law was imposed 68 times in America, but why did military presidency never come? If the PICA Amendment Act is not martial law, then what is it? In his column in Jang, senior journalist and host of the program Capital Talk, Hamid Mir compared the situation to martial law.

Definition and Historical Context

Hamid Mir wrote that every Pakistani knows what martial law is—when, due to war or a deteriorating peace situation, a state or a city is ruled by the army for a long time. In the United States, this temporary arrangement is also called martial law. In Pakistan, the army has completely taken control four times, with four military dictators ruling Pakistan for a total of 33 years under compulsion.

Martial Law in the United States

In America, martial law has been imposed 68 times. However, the army does not act against the political government. Instead, the governor of a state or the President of the United States calls in the army during an emergency, gives orders to restore order, and the army returns after completing the task. For example, in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln declared martial law after a war, leading to the establishment of military courts. The NIFAS decree was approved by the Senate and Congress, lasting for four years.

In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt imposed martial law in the Hawaiian Territory after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which lasted for two years and ten months. In the U.S., the military has never taken over a state or imprisoned any leader.

Martial Law in Pakistan

The first experiment with martial law in Pakistan occurred in 1953, when riots broke out in Lahore during the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat movement. Governor General Ghulam Mohammad imposed martial law in Lahore, establishing military courts. Maulana Modi and Maulana Abdul Sattar Khan Niazi were sentenced to death. However, martial law was lifted after two months, and the sentences were overturned.

General Ayub Khan, however, was waiting for an opportunity to impose martial law. In 1958, he arrested Governor General Iskandar Mirza and imposed martial law. Shortly thereafter, he arrested Mirza and took over the state, ruling for 11 years and declaring himself Field Marshal.

Subsequent Military Rules

Hamid Mir highlights how General Yahya Khan replaced Ayub Khan, much like Ayub Khan had done to Iskandar Mirza. In 1977, General Zia-ul-Haq imposed the third martial law, leading to the execution of Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto by the Supreme Court. General Zia’s rule ended with his death in an air crash.

In 1999, when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif removed Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf and appointed General Ziauddin Butt, a rebellion followed. Nawaz Sharif was arrested and accused of hijacking the army chief’s plane. He was later sent to Saudi Arabia by foreign intermediaries. General Musharraf ruled for nine years, after which political reforms were introduced through the 18th Amendment, preventing courts from imposing martial law.

New Doctrine Without Martial Law

During General Bajwa’s tenure, a new doctrine was created to allow the army to control governance without imposing martial law. After the 2018 elections, Imran Khan became Prime Minister, but judicial and media freedoms were suppressed. Imran Khan attempted to use General Faiz Hameed’s influence but failed and was eventually removed from power.

A draft law was introduced to restrict political activity, but it was not passed by the assembly. However, amendments to the PICA Act were introduced through a presidential ordinance, later nullified by the Islamabad High Court. The Shahbaz Sharif government further restricted political gatherings, approving the Public Order Act 2024. The PICA Amendment Act 2025 was also passed, allowing the formation of special courts to punish government critics.

Conclusion

Under the new law, political gatherings are only allowed in designated areas of Islamabad. Social media users can be prosecuted in special courts for spreading fake news. If this is not martial law, then what is it?