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Events on Tuesday 12 August 1924 1
1924 – 1988Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (1924-1988)Died 17 August 1988, aged 64Zia-ul-Haq ruled Pakistan as military dictator and later president after seizing power in a 1977 coup. His rule was marked by Islamization policies and support for Afghan mujahideen fighting the Soviet occupation. He was killed when his military aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, in an incident never conclusively explained.