Malik Ghulam Muhammad

Malik Ghulam Muhammad (Urdu: ملک غلام محمد‎; Bengali: মালিক গোলাম মাহমুদ; 20 April 1895 – 12 September 1956) commonly known as Ghulam Muhammad, was a notable chartered accountant who served as the third Governor-General of Pakistan from October 1951 until being dismissed in August 1955. Prior to that, Ghulam Muhammad was also as well as the first Finance minister of Pakistan from 15 August 1947 until being elevated as Governor-General in 19 October 1951.

Born and hailing from Lahore, British-controlled Punjab Province (now part of modern Pakistan), Ghulam Muhammad educated and graduated from the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), and started his professional career in accountancy from Mahindra and Mahindra Limited. In 1947, Ghulam Muhammad joined the Indian Railway Services and initially worked as a financial auditor at the Indian Ministry of Finance. Prior to independence of Pakistan, Ghulam Muhammad settled back to his native city, and subsequently elevated as country's first Finance minister. As Finance minister, he is credited for drafting and formulating the Soviet-style high centralized plans for the national economy, and presented the First Five-Years Plans in 1948.

Prior to the assassination of Prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan, Ghulam Muhammad was appointed as third Governor-General by Prime minister Khwaja Nazimuddin, who was dismissed by Ghulam Muhammad in matter of two months. He is held responsible for launching anti-communist campaigns in East-Pakistan and brought forward the role of the Pakistan Armed Forces in national politics. He notably dissolved the Parliament after concluding that his powers were being threatened and keenly devalued democratic norms in the country. Ghulam Muhammad left the office in extremely poor health in 1955 and died in his native city the following year.


Read more about Malik Ghulam Muhammad:  Family and Education, Career in Finance and Accountancy, Finance Minister, Governor-General, Dismissal and Death