After independence he became the first Commander‐in‐Chief of the country’s army (1951–58) and served as Minister of Defence (1954–55), taking over the presidency shortly after the declaration of martial law. His term of office saw the introduction of a new constitution and the lifting of martial law in 1962, but civil liberties were curtailed. Opposition to his foreign policy with regard to India and his increasingly repressive style of government led to widespread disorder and he was ultimately forced to resign.