# Zia-ul-Haq

_President of Pakistan from 1978 to 1988, of Saudi origin_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/zia-ul-haq
Last updated: 2026-11-08

> Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq was a Pakistani general who ruled Pakistan from his coup in 1977 until his death in an airplane crash in 1988. He served as the chief martial law administrator from 1977 to 1985, and as the president of Pakistan from 1978 until his death. Zia was also the chief of the army staff of the Pakistan Army from 1976. He remains Pakistan's longest-serving de-facto ruler to date, and his political ideology is known as Ziaism.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 12 August 1924 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200499#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Jalandhar ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200499#P19))
- **Died:** 17 August 1988 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200499#P570))
- **Place of death:** Bahawalpur ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200499#P20))
- **Citizenship:** British Raj; Pakistan ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200499#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; military officer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200499#P106))
- **Political party:** independent politician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200499#P102))
- **Education:** St. Stephen's College; University of Delhi; United States Army Command and General Staff College ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200499#P69))
- **Positions held:** Federal Minister for Defence (27 February 1985 – 24 March 1985); President of Pakistan (16 September 1978 – 17 August 1988); Federal Minister for Defence (14 January 1978 – 27 August 1978); Chief of Army Staff (1 March 1976 – 17 August 1988) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200499#P39))
- **Awards:** Order of the Rajamitrabhorn; Order of the Yugoslavian Great Star; Grand Cross of the Order of Excellence; 1939–45 Star; Burma Star; Grand Order of Mugunghwa ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200499#P166))

## Questions

**When was Zia-ul-Haq born?**  
Zia-ul-Haq was born on 12 August 1924 in Jalandhar.

**What positions has Zia-ul-Haq held?**  
Positions held by Zia-ul-Haq include: Federal Minister for Defence (1985–1985); President of Pakistan (1978–1988); Federal Minister for Defence (1978–1978); Chief of Army Staff (1976–1988).

**Where did Zia-ul-Haq study?**  
Zia-ul-Haq was educated at St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, United States Army Command and General Staff College.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Zia-ul-Haq](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zia-ul-Haq) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikipedia (Nepali): मोहम्मद जिया उल हक](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6_%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%B2_%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%95) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q200499](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200499) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: President Mohammad Zia Ul Haq.jpg by Series: Reagan White House Photographs, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989 Collection: White House Photographic Collection, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989 (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:President_Mohammad_Zia_Ul_Haq.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Zia-ul-Haq, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: President Mohammad Zia Ul Haq.jpg — Series: Reagan White House Photographs, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989 Collection: White House Photographic Collection, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Zia-ul-Haq". DigiNepal. Last updated 8 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/zia-ul-haq. Retrieved 8 November 2026.