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Yahya Khan

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World Leader

The Resume

    (February 4, 1917-August 10, 1980)
    Born in Chakwal, Pakistan
    Full name was Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan
    Graduated from Indian Military Academy (July 15, 1939)
    Served in the 4th Indian Infantry Division during World War II
    Commander in Chief of the Pakistan Army (1966-1971)
    President of Pakistan (March 26, 1969-December 20, 1971)
    Died in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Why he might be annoying:

    A journalist described him as 'impatient with civilians and resentful for being dragged into a large mess in the first place'.
    He believed that civilian governments have failed to lead Pakistan, which he used as a pretext to lead the military in seizing power.
    Once in power, he didn't take an active role in his position, often letting his military subordinates handle the day-to-day administration instead.
    He presided over Pakistan's first free elections that resulted in Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's victory, only to delay giving him power under pressure from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. (1970)
    His attempts at restoring unity between West and East Pakistan by allowing easterners a greater share in government only strengthened their calls for independence.
    In response, he launched a genocide against Bengalis that killed between 300,000 to 3 million people, culminating in Bangladesh's independence. (March 21-December 16, 1971)
    He enjoyed drinking alcohol and sleeping with prostitutes despite Islam's prohibition against such actions.
    Pakistanis generally consider him one of the nation's least successful rulers, and his rule a mere extension of Ayub Khan's.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He graduated first in class from the military academy he studied in.
    He was captured by Axis forces and interred in a POW camp in Italy. (June 1942)
    He modernized Pakistan's military in response to its war against India. (1965)
    He was instrumental in the normalization of relations between China and the US through Richard Nixon's visit to Pakistan and request to send a message to Zhou Enlai. (1969)
    He was the youngest officer to achieve each military rank as he rose through them.
    Unlike Pakistan's other military rulers, he wasn't interested in continuing his rule.
    His attempt at uniting Pakistan and address ethnic rivalries between the two halves, while ultimately a failure, were at least genuine in his part.
    In a stroke of irony, Bhutto put him under house arrest after repealing the order to arrest Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. (1972-1979)

Credit: Big Lenny


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 95 Votes: 55.79% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 32 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 32 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 53 Votes: 56.60% Annoying