Ziaul Haq’s career as a military officer began in 1945. In 1975, he was appointed Corps Commander and in 1976 was promoted General, and appointed Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Army. After the military coup of July 5, 1977, which ousted Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he became the Chief Martial Law Administrator. He initiated a process of islamization of the legislation of the country which contributed to the growth of sectarian and ethnic tensions and to the discrimination of religious minorities. His reign took an end when he died in an air crash in 1988.