[3][5] Khan started his career being attached to the Rifle Brigade for a year then he joined the British Indian Army 1 November 1930 and was posted to the 4th battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment.

[3] As the General officer commanding (GOC) of Lahore Garrison he was appointed Martial law administrator in 1953 following cabinet's decision to declare martial law and request military aid to civil power following the provincial authorities loss of control as a result of the anti-Ahmadiyya'Punjab Disturbances'.

[12] Hailed as the 'Saviour of Lahore' he adopted very broad powers, and it is believed that the experience whetted both his conviction, and the Army's more generally, that they were better candidates to oversee administration than civilian politicians.

He later served as the 14th Division commander in East Pakistan before joining Ayub Khan's military regime.

[3] He supported Ayub Khan's coup d'état in 1958 first against the elected civilian government, and then against President Iskander Mirza, an army officer.

"[3] There were reported rumors back then that president Ayub Khan was upset by the great popularity of the governor and felt threatened by it.