1971 in Pakistan

Events from the year 1971 in Pakistan.

← 1970 1969 1968 1971 in Pakistan → 1972 1973 1974
Decades:	1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
See also:	History of Pakistan List of years in Pakistan Timeline of Pakistani history

Incumbents

Federal government

• President: Yahya Khan (until 20 December), Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (starting 20 December)
• Prime Minister: Nurul Amin (starting 7 December and ending 20 December)
• Chief Justice: Hamoodur Rahman

Governors

• Governor of Balochistan: Riaz Hussain (until 25 December); Ghous Bakhsh Raisani (starting 25 December)
• Governor of East Pakistan: Syed Mohammad Ahsan (until 1 March); Sahabzada Yaqub Khan (until 7 March); Tikka Khan (until 3 September); Abdul Motaleb Malik (until 14 December); A. A. K. Niazi (until 16 December)
• Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: K.M. Azhar Khan (until 25 December); Hayat Sherpao (starting 25 December)
• Governor of Punjab: Attiqur Rahman (until 25 December); Ghulam Mustafa Khar (starting 25 December)
• Governor of Sindh: Rahman Gul (until 20 December); Mumtaz Bhutto (starting 20 December)

Events

• March 2 – Start of the non-cooperation movement in East Pakistan.
• March 23 – All-Pakistan Awami League proposed Confederate States of Pakistan.
• March 25 –
  • Widespread chaos and military crackdown in East Pakistan following the failure to recognize the elected majority party All-Pakistan Awami League.
  • Guerrillas (Mukti Bahini) start the Bangladesh Liberation War in East Pakistan.
• March 26 –
  • Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the president of the All-Pakistan Awami League, is arrested by the Pakistan army.
  • President Yahya Khan banned political activities in Pakistan.
  • All-Pakistan Awami League is banned.
• August 11 – In-camera trial of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman starts for treason.
• September 17 – Formation of Malik ministry in East Pakistan.
• September 19 – Announcement of by-elections for empty seats in East Pakistan.
• October 9 – Ban on political activities lifted.
• December 3 –
  • Start of Indo-Pakistani war of 1971.
  • Pakistan launches Operation Chengiz Khan^[1]
• December 4 – In-camera of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman completed.
• December 6 – Postponement of by-elections.
• December 14 – Resignation of the Malik ministry.
• December 16 – The Pakistan army surrenders to the joint India-Bangladesh command, Bangladesh became independent.^[2]
• December 17 – 1971 Pakistan Military Officer's Revolt starts.
• December 20 – Yahya Khan resigned and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became new president.
• December 27 – Zulfikar Ali Bhutto proposed a Confederation between Bangladesh and Pakistan to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Births

• 2 January – Aamer Nazir, cricketer

See also

• List of Pakistani films of 1971