The 1958 Pakistani military coup, occurring on 27 October 1958, marked Pakistan's first military coup. It led to the ousting of President Iskandar Ali Mirza by Muhammad Ayub Khan, the then army chief. Leading up to the coup, political instability plagued Pakistan, with numerous prime ministers between 1956 and 1958. Tensions were heightened by East Pakistan's demand for greater participation in central governance. Amidst these tensions, President Mirza, losing political support and facing opposition from leaders like Suhrawardy, turned to the military for support. On 7 October, he declared martial law, dissolved the constitution, dismissed the government, dissolved the National Assembly and provincial legislatures, and banned political parties. General Ayub Khan was appointed Chief Martial Law Administrator and nominated as the new Prime Minister.

However, the alliance between Mirza and Ayub Khan was short-lived. By 27 October, Mirza, feeling marginalized by Ayub Khan's growing power, attempted to assert his authority. Conversely, Ayub Khan, suspecting Mirza of plotting against him, forced Mirza's resignation and assumed the presidency. The coup was initially welcomed in Pakistan, seen as a respite from political instability and ineffective leadership. There was optimism that Ayub Khan's strong leadership would stabilize the economy, promote modernization, and eventually restore democracy. His regime received support from foreign governments, including the United States.