INITIAL PROBLEMS FACED BY THE NEWLY BORN STATE OF PAKISTAN

BACKGROUND

According to the third June Plan 1947, provincial Assemblies were given the option either to

join the Pakistan or Indian. The majority of the Muslim members in Punjab and Bengal

assemblies decided to join the Pakistan. On the other hand, the majority of non-Muslims

members decided to vote for the partition of these Provinces, for this purposes a

commissions was appointed for the demarcation of boundaries in the two provinces in which

Cyril Radcliff a British lawyer was nominated as a joint Chairman of the both commission. The

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah argued that the task of the demarcation should be

handed over to the neutral commission appointed by the UN or to the members of the British

“Privy Council” (the highest British Court). The proposal was turned down by the British

government. The Viceroy Lord Mountbatten has the closed relationship with the congress. As

a result, the Congress nominated the Radcliff as “Chairman of the boundary Commission”. He

was the well known lawyer of the England and also belonged to the Royal family wherein he

had held the great influence in the family.

On the next side, the Muslim league did not in favour of the partition of these Provinces; it

would be carried out in the light of principles finalized by the Lord Mountbatten in the Third

June Plan 1947, wherein he had said that Gurdaspur, Ferozepur District and Tehsils of Zira

and Fazilka will be the part of Pakistan.

RADCLIFF AWARD

The Commission was to consist of an equal number of representatives of India and Pakistan

and one or more neutral members. The members of the Punjab boundary commission were
Justice Din Muhammad and Justice Munir on behalf of Pakistan and Justice Mehar Chand

Mahajan and Justice Tej Singh on behalf of India. The members of the Bengal Boundary

Commission were Justice Abu Saleh, Justice M. Akram and Justice S.A. Rehman on behalf of

Pakistan and Justice C.C. Biswas and Justice B.K. Mukerjee on behalf of India. The

commission was notified by the end of June 1947. Radcliffe arrived in India on July 8, 1947.

The two commissions were assigned the responsibility of demarcating the boundaries of the

two parts of the Punjab and Bengal on the ground of the adjacent majority areas of Muslims

and non-Muslims. India and Pakistan agreed to accept the award of the boundary commission

and to take proper measures to implement it. Radcliffe did not take part in the public meetings

of the commission, wherein the observations raised by the Muslim League, the Congress, the

Sikhs and other interested parties. He studied the record and proceedings of the meetings

and held discussion with other members of the commission. As expected the members of the

boundary commission were unable to reach agreement on the boundaries.

Radcliff (Chairman) of the boundary commission announced his Award during the

demarcation of boundaries lines on August 17, 1947. The following Provinces, of the Award

were un-justice from Pakistan’s point of view:

The Gurdaspur and Ferozpur Districts and Tehsils Zira and Fazilka were given to India in the

eastern part, the city of Calcutta, district of Murshidabad that are comes under the jurisdiction

of India. Radcliff finalized his job uptill August 08, 1947. Out of which a one member of

boundary Commission i.e. Justice Muhammad Munir, later on he had presented the case

wherein Radcliff had agreed that to include the Ferozepur Headwork’s in Pakistan, but

unexpectedly when the Award was announced on 17th of August, 1947 all these areas were

given to the India.

Apart from these areas the Pakistan Times indicated in-justices done in the certain area for

example Tehsils Batala was a 55% Muslim majority area, the city of Batala had a nice

industrial base, mainly dominated by the Muslim Industrialists. Similarly Tehsil Ajnala and the

Amritsar District had 60% Muslim majority all these areas were given to India.

ADMINISTRATION PROBLEMS

Pakistan faced the many administration problems in the early days. The most of the

government functions and senior officers serving in the army were Hindus, who had migrated

to India after the partition. They replaced with raw hand and in un-experienced functionaries.

British officers were employed due to non availability of the Muslim army officers, most of the

officers including the army Chief were Englishmen and same was the case with the higher

executive officers and senior bureaucracy like the Governors, Chief Secretaries and

Secretaries were the Non-Muslim. The city of Karachi was designated as the Capital of the

newly born state of Pakistan. The Indian government with held Pakistan’s share of stationery

items and office equipment even paper was not available for official use. The Hindus

functionaries spoiled the office record before leaving Pakistan. India refused to rent out its

airplanes for airlifting the officials who had opted for Pakistan, British airplanes was hired for

airlifting the record and the other things.

REHABILITATION OF REFUGEES

According to reliable estimate 5.5 million people migrated from Pakistan to India and 6.5

million migrated to Pakistan. In this way the already weak economy of Pakistan was made to

bear the burdon of one million more people. Rehabilitation of Refugees and provisions

required the basic needs which has creates the various problems. The Quaid-e-Azam

Muhammad Ali Jinnah estimated a Refugees Relief fund. In this way the problems was soon
overcome through the personal efforts of father of nation and due to the sense of scarifies

displays by the people of Pakistan.

DIVISION OF ASSETS

At the time of partition the total currency reserves of the United India were estimated at Rs.

4.00 billion. According to the partition formula Pakistan was entitled to receive Rs. One billion

as per her share, but the Indian government did not agree to pay the full amounts. Anyhow

only pay the Rs. 75.00 crore 0.75 billion out of it. After the payment of Rs. 20 crore the

balance amount was with held on one pretext or other. The balance amount was never paid by

the Indian government. On the other hand, 20% of the total debt which government of United

India allocated was paid to Pakistan as a liability. Some of the functionaries spoiled the

official record, and injured the factories and military equipments before leaving for India; they

did not spare even the hospital equipment which was to be used for the treatment of the

patients.

The Indian government gave Pakistan only a small part of her share in the military assets,

even that was not in working conditions and was badly damage. The aircraft and ship sent to

Pakistan were not in working conditions. At the time of partition there were sixteen (16)

ordnance factories in the sub continent, all went to Indian side. Thus Pakistan started its new

life with a small military force having absolutely meager resources.

 KEY POINTS

INITIAL PROBLEMS FACED BY THE NEWLY BORN STATE OF PAKISTAN

1. According to third June plan 1947, the Provincial Assemblies are given the choices either

to join the Pakistan or India.

2. The majority of the Muslim members in Punjab and Bengal decided to join the Pakistan.

3. On the other hand, the majority of Non-Muslim members decided to vote for the partition

of these provinces.

4. For this purposes a commission was appointed for the demarcation of boundaries of

these two provinces, wherein Radcliff a British lawyer was nominated as a joint Chairman

of the commission.

5. Whereas, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah argued that the task of demarcation

should be handed over to the neutral Commission, which will be appointed by the United

Nations or to the members of British “Privacy Council” (The Highest British Court).

6. As a result, Congress nominated the Radcliff as “Chairman of Boundary Commission”. He

was a well-known Lawyer of the England and belonged to Royal Family.

RADCLIFF AWARD

- The commission was consisting to an equal number of representatives of India and

Pakistan.
- The following were the members of Punjab boundary Commissions such as Justice

Din Muhammad and Justice Munir on behalf of Pakistan whereas Justice Mehar Chand

Mahajan and Justice Teja Singh on behalf of India.

- Whereas the members of the Bengal Boundary Commissions i. e. Justice Abu Saleh,

Justice M. Akram and Justice S.A. Rehman on behalf of Pakistan and Justice C.C.

Biswas and Justice B.K Mukerjee on behalf of India.

- The two commissions were assigned the responsibility of demarcating the boundaries

of the two parts of Punjab and Bengal, on the basis of nearby majority areas of

Muslims and Non-Muslims.

- India and Pakistan agreed to accept the award of boundary commission and to take the

proper measurement of its implementation.

- But the Chairman of the Commission could not properly chair any single meeting.

- The Radcliff (Chairman) of the boundary commission announced his Award on August

17, 1947, wherein he has made un-justice from Pakistan’s point of view:

- The Gurdaspur and Ferozpur Districts as well as Tehsils Zira and Fazilka were given to

India. In these areas the Muslims were in majority.

- Similarly, Tehsil Ajnala and Amritsar district, the Muslims were in majority and these

areas also given to India.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS

- The Pakistan faced the numerous administrative problems in the beginning such as the

most of the government functions and Senior Officers serving in the army were Hindus,

who had migrated to India after the partition.

- They replaced with raw hand and un-experienced functionaries. The British officers
 were employed due to non-availability of the Muslims army officers.

- Most of the officers including the Chief of army staff were British and same the case

with the higher executive officers and Senior bureaucracy like Governors, Chief

Secretaries and Secretaries were non-Muslims.

- The city of Karachi was designated as Capital of the newly born State of Pakistan.

- The Hindu functionaries spoiled the office record before leaving to Pakistan.

- India refused to rent out its airplanes for airlifting the officials who had opted for

Pakistan.

- The British airplanes were hired for airlifting the record and other things.

Rehabilitation of Refugees

- According to reliable estimates 5.5. million peoples migrated from Pakistan to India

and 6.5 million peoples migrated from India to Pakistan.

- In this way weak economy of Pakistan to bear the extra burden of one million more

peoples.

- The rehabilitation of Refuges and provisions the basic needs which has creates the

numerous problems for the newly born state of Pakistan.

- For this purpose, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah established the Refugees Relief

fund to facilitate him.

DIVISION OF ASSETS

- At the time of partition, the total currency reserved of the United India were estimated

at Rs. 4.00 billion.

- According to the partition formula, Pakistan was entitled to receive Rs. One billion as

per her share, but the Indian government did not agree to pay the full amounts.
- Anyhow, only pay Rs. 75.00 crore (0.75) billion out of it. After the payment of Rs. 20.00

crore, the balance amount was withheld on one pretext or other.

- The balance amount was never paid by the Indian government. On the other hand, 20%

of the total debt which government of the United India allocated was paid to Pakistan

as a liability.

- The Indian government gave a small part of share in the military assets, even that was

not in working conditions, and badly damaged.

- The aircraft and ship sent to Pakistan were not in working position. At the time of

partition, there are sixteen (16) ordinance factories in the Sub-Continent, all went to

Indian side. So that Pakistan started its new journey with a small military forces having

a meager resource.