Air Marshal (Retd) Muhammad Asghar Khan’s Struggle Against Ayub Khan

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to define and analyse the Asghar Khan’s struggle against
Ayub Khan’s dictatorship in Pakistan’s historical context. The researcher conducted the
current study using the conventional approach to data analysis, as historical sources
hold greater importance than methods. The research process primarily involved data
collection, data analysis, composing the research with a descriptive and analytical
approach, and drawing conclusions and findings. During the decade-long rule of Ayub
Khan, Pakistan experienced significant political turmoil, particularly marked by the
emergence of Asghar Khan as a key political figure. Asghar Khan began his political
journey during this period, taking a strong stance against Ayub Khan's authoritarian
regime. He actively struggled for the restoration of democracy, becoming a prominent
voice of opposition. His dissent was most notably expressed through a press conference
where he renounced his awards as a form of protest against the undemocratic practices
of Ayub Khan's government. This act symbolized his commitment to democratic
principles and his resistance to the military dictatorship.