Introduction to the Constitution of 1956

After assuming the charge of Prime Minister (PM), Mr.Chudhary Muhmmad Ali worked hard day and night to formulate a constitution, for which a special committee was made. The committee presented a documented drafted bill to the constituent assembly on January 9^th, 1956. The opposition Bengali leader Bhashani and the Awami League opposed the bill. However, even after the opposition, the constitution bill was presented in the Assembly on  March 23rd, 1956, and the constitution of 1956 became the first constitution of Pakistan’s constitutional history. The constituent assembly became the National Assembly. Additionally, the Governor General Sikandar Mirza took the oath of President of Pakistan. Thus after nine years of independence, Pakistan made its first constitution.

Salient Features / Important Features of the 1956 Constitution of Pakistan

1. Basic Characterstactics

The Constitution of 1956 consisted of 234 articles, 13 parts, and 6 schedules.

1. Form of Government

The constitution provided for the parliamentary form of government with three lists of subjects

I)Federal II) Provincial, and III) Concurrent.

1. President

Any Muslim citizen of Pakistan, who was 45 years old, could be elected as the President. The tenure for the president was 5 years.

1. Appointment of Prime Minister

The president could appoint the Prime Minister among the elected MNAs. Who had to take a vote of confidence from the house in two months. The minimum age for the prime minister was 25 years.

• Unicameral Legislature

The constitution is entitled to be a unicameral legislature – only one house which is the National Assembly. Moreover, there were 300 members in the National Assembly.

• Preamble of the Constitution of 1956

Objectives Resolution was made the preamble of the constitution.

• The Constitution of 1956 was a written Constitution

It was a written constitution as it was passed by the constituent assembly of Pakistan.

• State and official Language in the Constitution of 1956

Urdu and Bangeli were declared as the Stated languages. However, English was kept as the official language for the first twenty years.

1. Islamic Republic

In the constitution, the State of Pakistan was declared as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

• No unIslamic law

No law shall be enforced which could be against the rules of the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

• Friendly Relations with the Muslim world

Pakistan should build healthy relations with other Muslim countries in the world.

Causes of Failure of the Constitution of 1956

1. Lack of Leadership

One of the main causes of the failure of the 1956 Constitution was a lack of leadership. After the death of Quaid e Azam and Liaquat Ali Khan, there was no such sincere leader who could lead the political leadership of Pakistan.

1. Weak Political parties

In those days there were no properly organized political parties, that could hold or save the constitution of the country.

1. Struggle or Lust of Power

Another reason for causes of the failure of the 1956 constitution was the lust for power. The heads of the State wanted to keep the power to themselves, and President Sikander Mirza always interfered with the affairs of the legislature.

1. Socio-Economic Problems

When the Feroz Khan Noon was appointed as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Inflation in the country reached a peak. This consequences in the unfair distribution of wealth. The elite and rich were getting richer, and the poor were getting poor.

• Refugees Migration into Pakistan

In those days, Muslims from different parts of India were coming to Pakistan. The government was mostly busy with refugees and could not give proper attention to the constitution. In a such way, the Constitution was getting weakened.

Conclusion

The first constitution of Pakistan was enforced in the country after nine years. This was never practically implemented as no elections were held. It was eventually abrogated on October 7, 1958, and Martial law was imposed by General Ayub Khan.

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Test Your Knowledge

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• Explain the Constitution of 1956 of Pakistan.
• What are the causes of the failures of the 1956 Constitution?
• Write down the salient features of the 1956 Constitution.