 Malik organized two coups, first of the two on June 26, 1977 (which was aborted later).In 1980, he organized yet another coup attempt against the military regime of Zia-ul-Haq, with many other senior army officers, including his son Naveed Tajammul.The plan was to assassinate Zia-ul-Haq during the Pakistan Day parade on March 23, 1980.