Rawalpindi, December 31. The former Pakistan President, Mohammed Ayub Khan, announced today that he has quit politics for ever. The 63-year old ex-President, who was forced out of office last March after months of countryside demonstrations, wrote in a letter to the Moslem League Party that he was handing over the leadership of the party to the deputy chief, Fazlul Quader Chaudhury.

Although since he left office he has continued as the head of the Moslem League, Ayub Khan has shown little inclination to exert strong leadership over it. After ruling for more than 10 years as a military strongman virtually without opposition, he now lives quietly in Rawalpindi, reading and enjoying walks in the garden. And the party is torn by factional squabbles.