NEW BEGINNINGS:

PAKISTAN AFTER 1947

History : Grade VIII
Students’ Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
1. Describe the key elements of the Constitution of 1956.

2. Elaborate on the reasons behind the failure of the Constitution of 1956.

 SLO 1:
AT 4: Describe the key elements of the
Constitution of 1956.
SLO 2:
Elaborate on the reasons behind the failure
Constitution of of the Constitution of 1956.
Pakistan 1956
 • After the enforcement of Objective
Resolution in 1949, a committee was
formed by the Constituent Assembly
to work on the constitution of
Pakistan. The Basic Principle
Committee was set up on 12th March
1949 by Khawaja Nazimuddin on the
advice of Prime Minister Liaquat Ali
1956 Khan. This 24 membered committee
was headed by Maulvi Tamiz-ud-din.
CONSTITUTION • The committee presented the draft of
The beginning first constitution - interim report to
the Legislative Assembly in 1050
which was adopted and enforced
after approval on 23rd March 1956.

Prime minister was seen as the head of the
Government and all cabinet members,
chosen from Parliament, were accountable
to the parliament collectively.
SALIENT
FEATURES OF 1956
CONSTITUTION
The outline of constitution
It provided the
fundamental rights. The
Supreme Court was
responsible for the
enforcement of law or
order and could declare
any law as null or void if
against human rights.
A written document consisted
• Written constitution of 234 Articles, 13 parts, & 6
The permeable was based on schedules
Objective Resolution
• Preamble Pakistan was named as
Islamic Republic of
• Islamic Republic Pakistan
• Parliamentary form of
Federalism was provided by the
government
constitution
• Federalism A system of check and balances
was introduced unlike British
• Checks and balances system.
The parliament consisted of
• Fundamental rights only one house known as
National Assembly
• Unicameralism
Sovereignty belongs to Allah and
no law should be made against
• Islamic provisions Islam.
• National Languages
Judiciary to be independent and
judges to be appointed by head of the Urdu and Bengali were
• Independent Judiciary
state whereas could be removed only declared as National
through impeachment. Languages
 Government Structure
1956 Powers:

Constitution •
•
•
Chooses Prime Minister
Emergency Powers
Can dissolve National Assembly on advice of PM
President Restrictions
• Muslim
• Over 40 years
Federal and Provincial
courts Powers:
• Chooses cabinet
Restrictions
Prime Minister • Must be from National Assembly

Islamic Committee Powers:

Right of veto on legislation • Advices President
Restrictions
Cabinet • Can only advice
• Must be from National Assembly

National Assembly
One House of parliament, with 300
members elected by adults over 21
years.
Provincial Assembly
A body for East Pakistan
A single ‘One Unit’ body for the 4
provinces of West Pakistan
Elected as before.
 • Free Speech and Assembly
• Right to vote
• Right to form political parties
• Right to criticize
• Freedom from unlawful arrests
• Freedom of religion
RIGHTS GRANTED • Equality as a citizen
BY THE • Freedom of culture
CONSTITUTION • Right to security
OF 1956 • Right to marry
• Right to education
• Right to own a property
• Right to choose trade or profession
• Right to practise that profession.
 • Muhammad Ayyub Khan abrogated the
THE FAILURE 1956 constitution and enforced Martial
Law in the country on 7th October 1958.
• It has a life of 2 years 4 months and 19
days
 REASONS FOR THE FAILURE
• The constitution was a compromise as two major parties were not completely satisfied.
• The Muslim League and United front
• United Front with drew their objections when offered equal seats in assembly and Bengali language was
accepted as official language.
• One unit policy was not supported and became highly unpopular.
• Lack of political training
• Lack of leadership
• Unicameralism
• Delay in elections
• Nonexistence of economic equality among east and west Pakistan
• The first step towards establishing an army as a political institution was the right, during a moment of so-
called inner or external danger, to declare an emergency by the president.
• In the National Assembly, the Bengalis were underrepresented.
• There was no provisional autonomy given to the provinces, and the ‘One Unit Scheme‘ was trying to squash
their demand.
 • https://lawwithshaheen.com/salient-featur
es-of-1956-constitution-pakistan/
• https://officerswiki.com/first-constitution-
of-pakistan-1956-salient-features-of-const
itution/
SOME USEFUL • http://studylecturenotes.com/salient-featur
es-of-1956-constitution-of-pakistan/
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