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Pakistan Studies
Presentation # 1
Constitution of 1956
Submitted to:
Mam sajida

UoG
 Group Members 2

 Munsif Ali
 Roll # 19013122-007
 Ihtisham Fazil
 Roll # 19013122-025
 Hamza Nisar
 Roll # 19013122-029
 Historical background 3

Pakistan became independent of the united kingdom in 1947, but remained a British dominion
like Canada and Australia, until 1956. Under section 8 of the India independence Act ,1947 , the
Government of India Act 1935 – with certain adaptations – served as the working constitution of
Pakistan; still, the need of full independence and a constitution to be framed by the elected
representatives of the people was all the more necessary for the free citizens of a sovereign state.
Therefore, the first Constituent Assembly was formed under the independence Act and was
entrusted with two separate functions:
 To frame a constitution for the country and
 To set as a Federal legislative Assembly or parliament until that constitution came into effect.
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Definition of Constitution
Constitution is the supreme law of each state. It lays down rules regarding the organization,
powers and functions of government. It also defines the basic features of the state and the
relations between the citizens and the state

Types of the Constitution

 Written Constitution
 Unwritten Constitution
 Flexible constitution
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Importance of constitution

The constitution is important because it protects individual freedom, and its

fundamental principles. The constitution places the government power in the
hands of the citizens. It limits the power of the government and establishes a
system of checks and balances.
 Objective resolution 1949 6

The objectives Resolution was adopted by the constituent assembly of Pakistan on march 12, 1949. Prime
minister , liaquat Ali Khan, had presented it in the assembly on March 7, 1949. Out of 75 members of the
assembly, 21 voted for it. All the amendments proposed by minority members were rejected. Consequently,
all of them voted against it. The resolution proclaimed that the future constitution of Pakistan would not be
modeled entirely on a European pattern, but on the ideology and democratic faith of Islam. The resolution in
its entirety has been made part of the Constitution of Pakistan under Article 2(A).
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Importance of objective resolution
The objective resolution is one of the most important and illuminating documents in the
constitutional history of Pakistan. It laid down the objectives on which the future
constitution of the country was to be based and it proved to be the fundamental stone of the
constitutional development in Pakistan.

Salient features of objective resolution

 Sovereignty of Allah
 Islamic Democracy
 Islamic Principles
 Islamic ways of living
 Protection to Minorities
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Introduction of constitution 1956
 After assuming charge as prime minister, Chaudry Muhammad Ali along with his team worked
day and night to formulate a constitution for Pakistan.

 The constituent assembly adopted it on 29 February 1956, and it was enforced on 23 march
1956. There upon the constituent assembly of Pakistan became the temporary national assembly
and Governor General Iskander Mirza was confirmed as the first president of Pakistan.

 It contained 234 articles divided into thirteen parts and six schedules.
Causes of delay of constitution in Pakistan (1947- 9
1956)

Pakistan came into being on 14 august 1947. At the time of creation of Pakistan, there was no any
constitution in Pakistan. So, Quaid-e-Azam reinforced All India Act 1935 with certain
amendments in the country for the smooth functioning of the state.
 Parliamentary System 10

 A parliamentary system was adopted, according to it the president was the head of state and
the Prime Minister the head of government.

Salient features
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Federal system

 The constitution provides for a federal system in the country. Powers was divided between
the Centre and the provinces. The subjects were divided into three lists; The federal list,
The provincial list and the concurrent list.
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The President

 The president must be a Muslim of at least 40 years of age. The term of his office was
five years. In case of internal or external danger he could declare a state of emergency in
the country. He was authorized to appoint the governors, the judges of the Supreme court,
Auditor General and the Advocate Genera. 3/4th members of the assembly could change
the president.

 President had the power to summon and dissolve the Assembly on the advice of the
cabinet. No bill imposing taxes or involving expenditure could be moved without his
consent. He had partial veto power. He could give or withhold his agreement to a bill
passed by the assembly.
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The Prime Minister

 He/she was to be the leader of the Parliamentary group and was thus indirectly elected by
the people. He/She could choose his/her cabinet from the members of the National
Assembly; the cabinet was answerable to the Assembly. The Prime Minister had to inform
the president about all the decisions of the cabinet.
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Unicameral Legislature

 The legislature would consist of a single house. Both the wings of the country were given
representation in the national Assembly.

 The national Assembly consisted of 300 members. 150 members were drawn from each wing.

 Age limit a candidate for a seat in the national Assembly was 25 years.
 Objective resolution 15

 The objective resolution was included as a introduction of the constitution.

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Islamic republic of Pakistan

 The name of the country was adopted as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
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Written and rigid Constitution

 Constitution was a written and lengthy document. It had 234 Articles and 6 schedules.
 The constitution could only be amended through a process requiring the amendment to be
passed at least a two- third majority of the parliament and authentication by the president.
 Provincial Autonomy/Independence 18

 It was shortened in the constitution to a great extent.

 Islamic Law 19

 No law could be passed against the teachings of the Quran and sunnah.
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Fundamental rights

 It included freedom of movement, freedom of speech and expression, freedom to choose

profession and freedom to profess religion. Rights to life, liberty, and property.
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Rights of Minorities

 Rights of minorities were provided in the constitution of Pakistan

1956.Minorities freely perform own religion festivals.
 Language 22

 Both Urdu and Bengali were selected as national language of Pakistan in 1956
constitution.
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Drawback

 The Bengalis were diminished in the National Assembly.

 The provisional autonomy was not given to provinces, and their demands were
tried to crushed by (one unit scheme).

 The first step towards institutionalizing army into politics was taken by giving
the president the right to declare emergency at a time of so-called internal or
external danger.
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Demise
 On 7 October 1958, President Iskander Mirza abolished the constitution,
imposed martial law and appointed General Muhammad Ayub Khan as the chief
Martial law Administrator and Aziz Ahmad as secretary General and deputy
chief Martial Law Administrator.

 After 1956 constitution two more constitutions 1962 constitution and 1973
constitution were presented. In which constitution of 1973 is our present
constitution.