Pakistan was one of the two original successor states to British India, which was partitioned along religious lines in For almost 25 years following independence, it consisted of two separate regions, East and West Pakistan, which are today Bangladesh and Pakistan respectively. What is now Pakistan, was in prehistoric times the Indus Valley civilization (c. 2500–1700 BC ). A series of invaders—Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Turks, and others—controlled the region for the next several thousand years. By 1857, the British became the dominant power in the region.

With Hindus holding most of the economic, social, and political advantages, the Muslim minority's dissatisfaction grew, leading to the formation of the nationalist Muslim League in 1906 by Mohammed Ali Jinnah (1876–1949). The idea of a Muslim nation, distinct from Hindu India, was introduced in 1930 by the poet Muhammad Iqbal and was ardently supported by a group of Indian Muslim students in England, who were the first to use the name Pakistan [land of the pure, from the Urdu pak,=pure and stan,=land]. It gained wide support in 1940 when the Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, demanded the establishment of a Muslim state in the areas of India where Muslims were in the majority. The League won most of the Muslim constituencies in the 1946 elections, and Britain and the Congress party reluctantly agreed to the formation of Pakistan as a separate dominion under the provisions of the Indian Independence Act, which went into effect on Aug. 15, 1947.

Jinnah became the governor-general of the new nation and Liaquat Ali Khan the first prime minister. While India inherited most of the British administrative machinery, Pakistan had to start with practically nothing; records and Muslim administrators were transferred from New Delhi to a chaotic, makeshift capital at Karachi. Disputes between India and Pakistan arose also over the princely states of Junagadh, Hyderabad, and Kashmir. In the first two, Muslim rulers held sway over a Hindu majority but India forcibly joined both states to the Union. In Kashmir the situation was precisely the opposite; a Hindu ruler held sway over a Muslim majority. The ruler signed over Kashmir to India in Oct 1947, but Pakistan refused to accept the move.

In the meantime, Pakistan faced serious internal problems. A liberal statement of constitutional principles was promulgated in 1949, but it ran into orthodox Muslim opposition. On Oct. 16, 1951, Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated by an Afghan fanatic. His death left a leadership void that prime ministers Khwaja Nazimuddin (1951–53) and Muhammad Ali (1953–55) and governor-general Ghulam Muhammad (1951–55) failed to fill. In East Bengal, which had more than half of the nation's population, there was increasing dissatisfaction with the federal government in West Pakistan. In Feb, 1956, a new constitution was finally adopted, and Pakistan formally became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations; Gen. Iskander Mirza became the first president. After 1956 the threat to the stability of the Pakistan government gradually increased; economic difficulties, frequent cabinet crises, and widespread political corruption.

East Pakistan's long-standing discontent with the federal government was expressed in 1966 by a movement for increased autonomy, supported by a general strike. Following disastrous riots in late , President Ayub Khan resigned and handed the government over to Gen. Agha Khan. The Awami League, under Sheik Mujibur Rahman, in a campaign for full autonomy, won an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly East Pakistan declared its independence as Bangladesh on Mar. 26, 1971, but was occupied by the Pakistani army, followed by a civil war. India supported Bangladesh and on Dec. 3, 1971, sent troops to Bangladesh. Following a two-week war between Pakistan and India, in which fighting also broke out along the India-Pakistan border, Pakistani troops in Bangladesh surrendered (Dec. 16). Following Pakistan's defeat, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, came to power in Pakistan.

MILITARY RULE IN PAKISTAN

“Nations take great pride in their armed forces. Nations cherish them and protected by them. In contrast, people of Pakistan have mostly suffered hardships at the hands of their own army.”

Pakistan military has the big share in Pakistan's stock exchange. It operates commercial bank, airline, steel, cement, telecom, petroleum and energy, education, sports, health care and even chains of grocery shops and bakeries and what not...!!

“ The DAWN of Dictators” In 1956, Pakistan established its first constitution, and the position of Governor-General was replaced by that of President. Iskander Mirza was officially elected as President by the Assembly. Iskander Mirza imposes martial law in American Intervention: General Ayub Khan (October 1958 – March 1969) Ayub Khan sent commanders about midnight to the Presidential House and Mirza was threatened either to Resign or loose his life. Mirza thus left the Office of President and Ayub Khan declared himself President on 27 October.

Ayub Khan was first Pakistani Field Marshall 1965 Indo- Pak war was a result of covert operations under the guidance of Ayub Khan. Zulfilar Ali Butto later became hostile to his policies. As Ayub's popularity plummeted in later of his career, he decided to give up rule.

General Yahya Khan (25 March 1969 – 20 December 1971) Yahya Khan took over after Ayub Khan’s decision to quit. Soon after Yahya took over he imposed martial law. Yahya had to mend many actions taken by Ayub. He held elections in his tenure. Creation of Bangladesh. Yahya finally transferred power to Zulfikar Ali Butto.

General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (September 1978 – August 1988) Elections were held on March 7, The Pakistan Peoples Party won these elections, but was accused by their opponents, Pakistan National Alliance, of rigging the elections. Talks between the Alliance and Bhutto government were held in June 1977 and an agreement was reached, but it was not be implemented.

Fresh elections were announced for October 15, But on July 5, 1977, the Chief of Army Staff, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, imposed Martial Law and the elections were postponed. General Zia-ul-Haq announced holding of elections within 90 days. A year later, in 1979, General Zia-ul-Haq declared political parties to be defunct and certain political leaders were disqualified.

When General Zia-ul-Haq took over as the Chief Martial Law Administrator on 1977,Islamization was given a new boost. Zulfikar Ali Butto was prosecuted and finally hanged. Played active role with CIA and American diplomats in framing operations in Afghanistan. Arms supply to Afghanistan and finances were channelised through Pakistan.

General Pervaiz Musharaf (October 1999 – August 2008) On October 12, 1999, the Pakistan Army once again ousted the Civilian Government.. The coup immediately followed the PM’s attempt to replace the Army Chief while he was on a tour to Sri Lanka. Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf assumed the title of Chief Executive. Although the use of the term "Martial Law" was avoided, Pakistan once again came under military rule. It was claimed that the Army was forced to take this step to save the country from "turmoil and uncertainty”.