Ghulam Ishaq Khan

 

Ghulam Ishaq Khan was born on January 20, 1915 in Ismail Khel, Bannu district of NWFP. He did his graduation in Chemistry and Botany and joined NWFP Civil Service in 1940.

After the unification of West Pakistan into one unit in 1955, Ishaq Khan was appointed Provincial Secretary of West Pakistan for Irrigation Development. In this capacity he represented the provincial government in federal planning commission.

In 1958, he became Member WAPDA. In 1966, he was appointed Federal Finance Secretary and promoted to Secretary General Defense during Bhutto's term.

General Zia appointed him Advisor on Finance and later on as Federal Finance Minister. Ishaq Khan represented his country in various international conferences, which included UN conferences on finance, IMF, OIC and Asian Development Bank.

In February 1985, Ishaq Khan was elected Chairman Senate. After the death of General Zia, Ishaq Khan took over as President of the country on August 17, 1988. He was elected President on December 13, 1988 as he was the consensus candidate of PPP and IJI.

In 1993, Ghulam Ishaq Khan was forced to resign from his office due to differences with the Prime Minister.

During his tenure, Ishaq Khan dismissed the governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, using discretionary powers given to the President of the state under eighth constitutional amendment