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Final Political and Constitutional Phases (1947-1956)

Establishment of Pakistan

• Pakistan established on 14 August 1947 as the fifth most populous Muslim state.

• Quaid-e-Azam (Muhammad Ali Jinnah) addressed the nation emphasizing sacrifices made for independence.

• Elected first President of the Constituent Assembly on 11th April 1947.

• Assigned Mr. Justice Mohammad Sharif to draft the constitution with modifications from the 1935 Act.

• Interim constitution based on the amended Indian Act of 1935 was to stay until a new constitution was formulated.

• India created its constitution around 1950-51; Pakistan faced constitutional complications.

• Key challenges included: determining the role of religion in governance, federal structure, and cultural differences.

Early Efforts for Constitutional Process

Objectives Resolution

• Passed by the Constituent Assembly on 12 March 1949, laying down guiding principles for the constitution.

• Emphasized democracy, freedom, equality, justice as per Islamic teachings, and rights of minorities.

Basic Principles Committee (1950)

• Established on the same day the Objectives Resolution was passed.

• Comprised 25 members, chaired by Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan.

• Tasked with determining the foundational principles for the constitution.

• Four sub-committees formed to deal with specific issues.

• Interim report presented on 28 September 1950:

  • Proposed a federal legislature with two houses.

  • President to be elected by both houses for a five-year term.

  • Proposed cabinet headed by a Prime Minister responsible to both houses.

Khwaja Nazimuddin Draft Constitution Report (December 1952)

• Presented after the assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan on 22 December 1952.

• Key features of the draft:

  1. Head of state to be a Muslim, elected by joint session of both houses.

  2. Tenure of state head: five years.

  3. Bicameral legislature with provision for equal representation from East and West Pakistan.

  4. Required agreement from both central and provincial legislatures for constitutional amendments.

  5. Cabinet accountability to the lower house.

• Report faced strong opposition and was rejected due to lack of Islamic character.

Second Constituent Assembly (1955)

• Formed after the first assembly's dissolution by Ghulam Mohammad.

• Chaudhry Mohammad Ali led a coalition cabinet and presented the draft constitution on 8 January 1956.

• Constitution approved on 29 February 1956, enforced 23 March 1956.

Salient Features of 1956 Constitution

• President as chief executive and Head of State, to be a Muslim and at least 40 years old.

• National Assembly: 300 members, equally divided between two wings.

• Governors appointed by the President for each province.

• Supreme Court headed by a chief justice appointed by the President.

• Islamic provisions in the constitution:

  1. Official name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

  2. Sovereignty of Allah acknowledged in the preamble.

  3. State Head must be Muslim.

  4. Islamic Advisory Council to be established.

  5. Prohibition of any law harmful to Islam.

Political Condition Post-1956 Constitution

• Political instability led to delays in elections after enforcement; Martial Law declared on 8 October 1958.

• General Muhammad Ayub Khan took power and became Field Marshal and Head of State by 27 October 1958.

Constitution of 1962

• Ayub Khan established a Constitution Commission led by Justice Shahab-ud-din.

• Constitution submitted on 6 May 1961, enforced soon after.

• Key features:

  1. Executive head: President elected indirectly by Basic Democratic Members.

  2. President held significant powers including appointing ministers, issuing ordinances, and dissolving National Assembly.

  3. National Assembly originally 156 members, later increased to 218, with reserved seats for women and intellectuals.

  4. Constitutional amendments required a two-thirds majority.

Political Challenges with 1962 Constitution

• Public discontent emerged due to authoritarian rule and limits on democratic practices.

• Political protests led to Martial Law in March 1969, Yahya Khan took over and restored old provinces in July 1970.

• 1970 elections resulted in Sheikh Mujib's Awami League winning 167 seats, leading to separation of East Pakistan in 1971.

Constitution of 1973

• Committee for drafting established on April 17, 1972, led by Abdul Hafeez Pirzada.

• Draft presented on February 2, 1973, passed and enforced by April 14, 1973.

• Main characteristics:

  • Preamble, 12 parts, multi-chapter structure, federal parliamentary system.

  • President as titular Head of State, must be a Muslim aged 45.

  • Bicameral legislature with designated representation for women and minorities.

First Elections under 1973 Constitution

• Conducted in 1977, followed by accusations of rigging and subsequent political instability.

• Army intervention on 5 July 1977 led by General Zia-ul-Haq.

Zia-ul-Haq Era (1977-1988)

• Zia ruled without abrogating the 1973 Constitution, introduced amendments like the 8th Amendment.

• Martial Law ended on December 30, 1985, after elections postponed after numerous political crises.

• Ghulam Ishaq Khan took over as Acting President post-Zia's death in August 1988.

1988 - 1999 Political Context

• Continued instability resulted in mutual issues between PPP and IJI leaders, leading to Bhutto's government dismissal due to corruption charges.

• Elections in October 1990 led to Nawaz Sharif's party gaining majority, followed by political turmoil and governmental dismissals.

Key Events 1993

• Nawaz Sharif's government restored by Supreme Court, but political machinations led to resignation from both Prime Minister and President.

• PPP formed the government again after winning subsequent elections, but faced challenge from President Laghari leading to dissolution.

Final Convulsions of 1990s Politics

• Benazir Bhutto’s government was dismissed by President Laghari in November 1996, leading to fresh elections.

• Nawaz Sharif returned to power by February 1997.

Transition of Power in 1999

• Nawaz Sharif's government overthrown by General Pervaiz Musharaf in yet another military intervention.

• Musharaf promised good governance with an ambitious agenda.

Musharaf's Constitutional Amendments and Political Policies

Constitutional Changes in the 2000s

• Introduced amendments to centralize power with the President while claiming to support democracy.

• Article 58 (2b) reinstated, allowing Presidents to dissolve assemblies.

• Seventeenth Amendment introduced, consolidating Musharaf’s powers.

The 18th Constitutional Amendment

• Passed in April 2010, aimed to restore parliament's power and curtail presidential authority.

• Notable changes included abolishing presidential power to unilaterally dissolve assemblies and reforms in judicial appointments.

Economic Challenges and Measures for Development

Economic Obstacles

• Poverty: High percentage of population living in poverty, hindering economic growth.

• Under-utilization of Resources: Natural resources not fully exploited, limiting potential output.

• Deficiency of Capital: Low savings rate creating barriers to sustaining economic growth.

• Technological Limitations: Reliance on low-level technology across sectors.

• Political Instability: Frequent changes in government disrupting long-term economic planning.

Strategies for Economic Improvement

• Emphasize an Islamic economic system focusing on fair wealth distribution.

• Prioritize agricultural expansion and technological advancement to boost productivity.

• Induce expertise by leveraging qualified professionals for targeted sector improvements.

Foreign Policy Orientation

Key Principles

• Pakistan's foreign policy shaped by its Islamic ideology, geographical positioning, and historical context.

• Emphasizes goodwill and friendly relations with all nations, respecting independence and sovereignty.

Influencing Factors on Foreign Policy

1. Ideological Obligations: Infusing Islamic tenets within diplomatic approaches.

2. Historical Legacy: Lessons from past conflicts and alliances.

3. Geographical Location: Strategic positioning in regional geopolitics.

4. Indian Relations: Ongoing conflicts influencing military and diplomatic strategies.

5. Economic Factors: Economic dependencies guiding foreign relations.

Ethnic Diversity in Pakistan

Overview of Ethnic Groups

• Predominantly Indo-Iranian languages with a rich tapestry of cultural influences.

• Major ethnic groups include Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Balochis, and others.

Languages and Population Statistics

• Significant languages: Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Saraiki, Urdu, and Balochi.

• Distribution reflects demographic realities and urban migration patterns.

Conclusion on Ethnic Composition

• Pakistan's ethnic diversity contributes to its rich cultural landscape, but also poses challenges for national cohesion and policy formulation.