The party was backed by industrialists and the business community and it stood against the PPP regime's nationalisation policies.

On July 4, 1977 taking advantage of the chaos and uncertainty due to mass protests caused by allegations of rigging, General Zia initiated a coup d'etat codenamed Operation Fairplay, he took over the country and imposed martial law.

[3] Zia also helped form a unified Pakistan Muslim League in 1985 after the ban on the political parties was lifted.

In response, Pir Pagara Syed Shah Mardan Shah-II parted ways with the mother league and formed his own party.

[7][8] In January 2012 after the death of 7th Pir Pagara Syed Shah Mardan Shah-II his eldest son Syed Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi III the 8th Pir Pagara became the President of Pakistan Muslim League (F).

[10] In the 2024 Pakistani general election the GDA headed by the PMLF continued its alliance with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf however it suffered many losses and significantly undperformed.