Lahore Resolution

From March 22 to March 24, 1940, the All-India Muslim League held its annual session at Minto
Park, Lahore. This session proved to be historical.
On the first day of the session, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah narrated the events of the
last few months. In an extempore speech he presented his own solution of the Muslim problem.
He said that the problem of India was not of an inter-communal nature, but manifestly an
international one and must be treated as such. To him the differences between Hindus and the
Muslims were so great and so sharp that their union under one central government was full of
serious risks. They belonged to two separate and distinct nations and therefore the only chance
open was to allow them to have separate states.
Based on the above-mentioned ideas of the Quaid, A. K. Fazl-ul-Haq, the then Chief Minister of
Bengal, moved the historical resolution which has since come to be known as Lahore Resolution
or Pakistan Resolution.
The Resolution declared: “No constitutional plan would be workable or acceptable to the
Muslims unless geographical contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so
constituted with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary. That the areas in which the
Muslims are numerically in majority as in the North-Western and Eastern zones of India should
be grouped to constitute independent states in which the constituent units shall be autonomous
and sovereign”.
It further reads, “That adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards shall be specifically
provided in the constitution for minorities in the units and in the regions for the protection of
their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights of the minorities,
with their consultation. Arrangements thus should be made for the security of Muslims where
they were in a minority”.
The Resolution repudiated the concept of United India and recommended the creation of an
independent Muslim state consisting of Punjab, N. W. F. P., Sindh and Baluchistan in the
northwest, and Bengal and Assam in the northeast. The Resolution was seconded by Maulana
Zafar Ali Khan from Punjab,
Sardar Aurangzeb from the N. W. F. P., Sir Abdullah Haroon from Sindh, and Qazi Esa from
Baluchistan, along with many others.
The Resolution was passed on March 24. It laid down only the principles, with the details left to
be worked out at a future date. It was made a part of the All India Muslim League’s constitution
in 1941. It was on the basis of this resolution that in 1946 the Muslim League decided to go for
one state for the Muslims, instead of two.
Hindu Reaction
The Hindu reaction was, of course, quick, bitter, and malicious. They called the “Pakistan”
demand “anti-national.”
British Reaction
The British were equally hostile to the Muslim demand for at least two important reasons. First,
they had long considered themselves as the architects of the unity of India and an Indian nation.
Conclusion
The All-India Muslim League Resolution of March 1940, commonly known as the Pakistan
Resolution, is undoubtedly the most important event that changed the course of Indian history
and left deep marks on world history. With the passage of this Resolution, the Muslims of the
Having passed the Pakistan Resolution, the Muslims of India changed their ultimate goal. Instead
of seeking alliance with the Hindu community, they set out on a path whose destination was a
separate homeland for the Muslims of India.

"The Story of Pakistan, its struggle and its achievement, is the very story of great human
ideals, struggling to survive in the face of odds and difficulties."
Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Chittagong, March 1948)

Cripps Mission:
From 22 March to 11 April 1942, Stafford Cripps, a member of the War Cabinet, was dispatched
to India to discuss the British Government’s Draft Declaration on the Constitution of India with
representative Indian leaders from all parties. The Cripps Mission failed and the issue of India’s
constitution was postponed until the end of the war.
By early 1942, Japan had made advances in South-East Asia and they were on the border of
India. The British Government was keen to secure the full cooperation of India in the effort
against the Japanese. China and the United States, who had entered the war at this point, were
also keen on India’s full participation in the war. Mounting pressure from China and the United
States, as well as from the Labour Party in Britain, led Prime Minister Winston Churchill to send
Stafford Cripps to India to discuss the Draft Declaration, as settled by the War Cabinet and its
Committee between 28 February to 9 March 1942, containing proposals to resolve the Indian
question of a new constitution and self-government.
Cripps arrived in Delhi on 22 March 1942 where he first met with Viceroy Linlithgow and later
discussed the Draft Declaration with a great number of Indian leaders. Whether Cripps was there
to negotiate the Declaration or to persuade the Indian leaders to accept it is unclear and, in fact, a
reflection of the different attitudes between Cripps and Clement Attlee on the one side and
Viceroy Linlithgow, Winston Churchill and Lord Amery on the other.
According to the preamble of the Draft Declaration, the object was ‘the creation of a new Indian
Union which shall constitute a Dominion associated with the United Kingdom and other
Dominions by a common allegiance to the Crown but equal to them in every respect, in no way
subordinate in any aspects of its domestic and external affairs’. The Declaration also stated that
any province not willing to accept the constitution would be given ‘the same full status as the
Indian Union’, designed to appeased the Muslim League’s call for Pakistan. The Indian National
Congress, however, was not satisfied with the fact that its demand for immediate complete
independence had been rejected. Furthermore, Congress did not accept the provision that ‘His
Majesty’s Government must inevitably bear the responsibility for and retain the control and
direction of the Defence of India as part of their world war effort’. The Congress Working
Committee rejected the Declaration on 7 April 1942. On 9 April, Cripps made one last effort to
persuade the Indian leaders to accept the Declaration, but once again Congress declined. United
States President Roosevelt tried to persuade Cripps to renew his efforts, but Cripps had already
left India.
The failure of the Cripps Mission is generally attributed to a variety of factors, especially the
constraints within which Cripps had to operate. Some analysts see the Mission merely as an
appeasement of Chinese and American concerns with British imperialism. Gandhi seized upon
the failure of the Mission and called for voluntary British withdrawal from India. It resulted in
the 'Quit India' Movement.

General Election (1945-46)

The 1945-46 elections were, by far, the most critical at all levels in the annals of the history of
the Indian sub-continent. The first Simla Conference had broken down on July 14, 1945, on the
controversial issue of the representative culture of the All-India Muslim League . Also, once
World War II was over the new government in Britain took control. The new government gave
some new instructions to the Viceroy of India. So, on August 21, 1945, the Viceroy Lord Wavell
announced that elections to the central and provincial legislatures would be held in the coming
winter. As for the first phase, it was decided that election to the central legislative assembly
would be held to be followed by the election to the provincial assemblies.
The Muslim League announced that it would fight the elections on the two clear-cut issues –
Pakistan is the national demand of the Muslims of India, and the Muslim League is their sole
representative organization. Soon after the announcement regarding the general election, the
Muslim League started preparation to contest them. The League’s position in 1945 was entirely
different from what it had been at the time of the previous election held in1937. It was now well
established as a mass organization with branches in every province, district, tehsils, and village.
To cope with the finance of the election Quaid-i-Azam asked the Muslims in his characteristic
style “give us the silver bullets and we will finish the job.”
For Jinnah and the Muslim League election campaign was urgent and also extraordinarily hectic
and brisk. He suffered bouts of serious illness at the time. However, Quaid-i-Azam did not
slacken his pace and in a mere 24 weeks, between mid-July and the end of December 1945
“addressed thousands and had talks with hundreds,” as he stated. During this short period, he
spoke at more than twenty-six gatherings across the provinces of Bombay, Sindh, Baluchistan,
and the Frontier, gave out thirty-two press statements and interviews, met several delegations,
and received and answered a great deal of political correspondence. In this endeavor, Jinnah was
helped by a team of highly committed deputies. He had formed the All India Muslim League
Committee of Action in December 1943 and later the Central Parliamentary Board whose
proceedings are also printed in this volume. These small bodies of dedicated office-holders
selected Muslim League candidates, settled differences and appeals over the award of League
tickets, distributed funds, coordinated elections work from their Delhi head office, and travelled
and supervised election activity all over India. In this, they were supported admirably by the All
India and Provincial Muslim Students Federations whose members, especially at Aligarh, set
examples of selflessness, sacrifice and dedication.
Elections for the Central Legislature were held in December 1945. Though the franchise was
limited, the turnover was extraordinary. League’s performance was even more impressive as it
managed to win all the 30 seats reserved for the Muslims. The results of the provincial election
held in early 1946 were not different. Congress won most of the non-Muslim seats while Muslim
League captured approximately 95 percent of the Muslim seats. On the other hand, the League
celebrated January 11, 1946, as the Day of victory and declared that the election results were
enough to prove that the Muslim League under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam was the sole
representative of the Muslims of the region.
All said and done, it was the last variable that made Pakistan possible. Indeed, the massive
electoral verdict in Pakistan’s favor during 1945-46 was the most important development
between 1940 and 1947 between the adoption of the Lahore Resolution and the emergence of
Pakistan. By all standards, this verdict represented the most critical step in the establishment of
Pakistan. It was clear to the Congress that the Muslim League was the authoritative
representative of an overwhelming majority of the Muslims in India, but it neither accepted it
openly nor challenged its position.
For both the Congress and the League, the prime issue in the 1945-46 elections was the creation
of Pakistan as opposed to the idea of Akhand Hindustan. Hence, the elections represented a
referendum of sorts, as suggested by Gandhi, to ascertain the declared and established will of
Muslims on the nationhood and separation issues. Once that will was given in Pakistan’s favor,
its emergence (in some form or another) could no longer be resisted or delayed.

3rd JUNE PLAN 1947:

In February 1947 Lord Attlee announced that the British would leave India no later than June
1948. A new viceroy, Viscount Mountbatten was sent to work out a plan for the transfer of
power. Attlee had deliberately set a short timespan for arrangements to be made. He feared that if
more time were given, there would only be more disagreement. Mountbatten soon realized the
need for a speedy settlement. In March 1947 there were riots and killing between Muslims and
Hindus in Punjab. Soon the trouble spread to other provinces. It seemed that civil war, with the
inevitable thousands of deaths might be only months away. Mountbatten arrived in India in
March 1947.His meeting with different political leaders convinced him that partition was
inevitable. Few people wanted India partitioned, but Jinnah adamant that the Muslims must have
their own state. On 3rd June 1947 plan was announced.
Main Points of 3rd June plan
There are following salient feature of 3rd June plan.
Two states should be set up, India and Pakistan. The interim constitution of both states was the
1935 Government of India Act.
Each state was to have Dominion status and have an Executive Responsible to a constituent
Assembly.
Muslim Majority provinces would vote either to stay in India or join Pakistan.
In Sindh and Baluchistan the provincial legislature voted to join Pakistan.
Bengal and Punjab had two decisions to make.
Firstly, on whether to join Pakistan. If so, they then had to decide whether the provinces should
be portioned into Muslim and non-Muslims-minority areas. Both decided that they should join
Pakistan, but that their Muslim-minority areas should stay in India. The NWFP also joined
Pakistan after holding a referendum. The Muslim-Majority district of Sylhet in Assam joined the
eastern wing of Pakistan.
In a press conference held the day after the 3rd June Plan was announced. Mountbatten said that
the final transfer of power might be brought forward from June 1948 to 15 August 15 August
1947.This date generally became accepted as the date When British rule would end. This meant
that there were only 7 weeks left to deal with the problems involved in partitioning British India.
There was still a need to draw boundaries between Muslim and non-Muslim areas particularly in
Bengal and Punjab.
The issue of the princes had to be resolved. What was to happen if a prince went against the
wishes of his people in deciding which country to join.
It was still undecided what the division of assets ( army,civil service,finance etc) was to be.
Although India had decided that Mountbatten should be the first Governor General of India,
Jinnah was to be Pakistan’s Governor General .Consequently Pakistan’s relationship with Britain
still had to be resolved.
INDEPENDENCE ACT.
Many of these problems had to wait until after partition before they were resolved. On 15 July
1947 the Indian Independence Act was passed. The Act stated that from 15 August British India
would be partitioned into two dominion states, India and Pakistan. Each state has complete
freedom to pass any law it wished. The Government of India Act would be provisional
constitution until the states devised their own. On 14 August a new country came into being-
PAKISTAN. On 15 August India declared its independence.

Post-Independence MCQs
1947 3 June 1947: British Government decides to separate British India, into two
sovereign Dominions of India and Pakistan.
14 August 1947: Pakistan became independent. Quaid-a-Azam took oath as the first
Governor General of Pakistan. Liaqat Ali Khan took oath as the first Prime minister of
Pakistan.

30 September 1947: Pakistan becomes a member of the UN by a unanimous vote of

the Security Council.

27 October 1947: Indian Air troops land in Kashmir as the Maharajah declares
accession of Kashmir to India.

1 January 1948: UNO cease-fire orders to operate in Kashmir. War stops accordingly.

1 May1948: Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Pakistan enters war on behalf of Kashmir

against India.

1 July 1948: Quaid-e-Azam inaugurated the State Bank of Pakistan.

11 September 1948: Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the first governor general of Pakistan,
passes away.

12 March 1949 : Objectives Resolution passed by Liaquat Ali Khan.

14 September 1949: Khwaja Nazimuddin becomes 2nd Governor-General of Pakistan.

1950s
11 July 1950 Pakistan joins the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

16 October 1951: First Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan assassinated in Liaqat National
Bagh, Rawalpindi.

17 October 1951: Finance Minister Malik Ghulam Mohammad (1895–1956) of Muslim

League becomes the third Governor General. Governor-General Khawaja Nazimuddin
of Muslim League becomes the second Prime Minister.

21 August 1951: Pakistan and India agree on the boundary pact between East Bengal
and West Bengal.

24 December 1951: UN Security Council adopts the Resolution on Kashmir urging

immediate demilitarization talks between India, Pakistan.

17 April 1953: Muhammad Ali Bogra is sworn as prime minister.

7 August 1954: Government of Pakistan approves the National Anthem, written by Abu
Al-Asar Hafeez Jalandhari and composed by Ahmed G. Chagla.
21 September 1954: Constituent Assembly unanimously passes the resolution in
favour of Urdu and Bengali as national languages.

24 October: 1954 Malik Ghulam Muhammad dissolved first constitutional assembly.

1955: Constitutional crisis, Mohammad Ali Bogra removed, new assembly, new cabinet.

7 August 1955: PM Mohammad Ali Bogra resigns after the election of Chaudhri
Mohammad Ali.

6 October 1955: Governor-General Ghulam Mohammad's resignation is succeeded by

Iskander Mirza.

1956: The Constituent Assembly promulgates first indigenous constitution

1956: Constituent Assembly decides the country shall be a Federal Republic known as
Islamic Republic of Pakistan

16 December 1957: Malik Firoz Khan Noon is sworn in as seventh Prime Minister of
Pakistan.

7 October 1958: After a military coup dictator Ayub Khan takes over.
1960s
1960: Ayub Khan becomes first elected president

1 August 1960: Islamabad is declared as the principal seat of the Government or

Capital of Pakistan.

8 June 1962: 1962 Constitution is promulgated. National Assembly elected. Ayub Khan
takes oath of first President of Pakistan under new constitution.

2 January 1964: Fatima Jinnah lost the presidential elections, Ayub completes the
second term.

6 September 1965: Second war between Pakistan and India over Kashmir.

10 January 1966: Pakistan and Republic of India sign the Tashkent Declaration to end
hostilities.(1965 WAR)

30 November 1967: Pakistan Peoples Party founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Lahore.

25 March 1969: Ayub Khan resigns; Yahya Khan declares martial law and assumes
presidency.
1970s
7 December 1970: 1970 Pakistani general election were held on 7 December 1970,
although the polls in East Pakistan, originally scheduled for October, were delayed by
disastrous floods and rescheduled for later in December and January 1971.

1971: East Pakistan attempts to secede, leading to civil war; India intervenes in support
of East Pakistanis; Pakistan fights another war with India; East Pakistan breaks away to
become Bangladesh;

20 December 1971: Yahya Khan resigns.

21 April 1972: Martial Law lifted; constitutional rule is restored in the country.
Hamoodur Rahman is sworn in as Chief Justice of Pakistan.

10 April 1973: 1973 Constitution of Pakistan enacted by the National Assembly.

11 August 1973: Chaudhry Fazal Ilahi is elected as president.

14 August 1973: Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto becomes prime minister. Constitution of Pakistan
1973 promulgated.

7 March 1977: 1977 Pakistani general election

5 July 1977: General Muhammad Zia ul-Haq overthrows prime minister Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto and declares martial law.

16 September 1978: General Muhammad Zia ul-Haq becomes Pakistan's sixth

president.

1979: The military ruler Zia Ul-Haq enacts the Hudood Ordinances.

4 April 1979: Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto hanged.