The second martial law was imposed on 25 March 1969 by General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan, after General Ayub Khan handed over power to the army commander-in-chief, and not the speaker of National Assembly as laid down by the constitution. On assuming the presidency, General Yahya Khan acceded to popular demands by abolishing the one-unit system in West Pakistan on 1 July 1970 and ordered general elections on the principle of one man one vote. The first ever general elections were held in December 1970, however, the government was not transferred to the Awami League Elections. This resulted in destruction of national unity (chiefly by military rulers) and eventual the separation of East Pakistan was fought.