Chapter #12

Objectives Resolution 1949

The first Constituent Assembly had set up a Basic Principles Committee to decide the principles on which
the new constitution should be based. Its findings were contained in a document called ‘The Objectives
Resolution’ which was passed on 12th March 1949.

1. The Constitution should observe the principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social
justice as laid down by Islam.
2. Muslims would be able to lead their lives according to Islamic principles.
3. Minorities and the poor would be able to practice their religion freely.
4. All fundamental human rights should be guaranteed.
5. The legal system should be independent of government.

Criticism
▪ Religious groups complained that the Constitution was not sufficiently Islamic. The Ulemas criticised
that the new government had not made Pakistan a proper Islamic state, with a constitution based on
Shariat.
▪ East Pakistan had a much larger population than West Pakistan and resented the idea of equal
representation in the National Assembly. They also wanted Dhaka to be the capital.
▪ The East Pakistanis also resented Urdu as the national language, they wanted that as they were a
majority therefore they needed Bengali to be the national language.
▪ Provincial politicians objected to the powers being given to the Head of the State and the Federal
Government.

Liaquat Ali Khan (1947 – 1951)

When Pakistan came into being on 14th August 1947, Liaquat Ali Khan became the first Prime Minister of
Pakistan. He also became the in-charge of Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Relations and Defence. He
proved his worth in Pakistan’s second stern testing period. He introduced a resolution to approve a pattern
of the flag on 17th August 1947. After the death of Jinnah, he had all the major responsibilities. In 1949,
India devalued its currency but he did not do so. There was no effect when pound was devalued in 1950.
Pakistan sought new markets for the export of cotton and jute and stabilised its economy.
He had an impartial foreign policy – When Raja of Kashmir, Hari Singh Dogra opted for India, protests
started in the country, India informed the UN of Pakistan’s attack and requested for peace solution. During
his ministry, ceasefire was announced in Kashmir in January 1948.
In 1949, a ceasefire line was demarcated between India and Pakistan. Admiral Chester Nimitz was
appointed as the administrator to hold plebiscite. As unlimited refugees were pouring into Pakistan, it
created a lot of social problems. He visited India in 1951 and signed a pact with Nehru to be responsible for
safety and security of their minorities.
On 8th July 1951, India gathered its forces on the border of Pakistan. He challenged India in a rally in
Lahore, India therefore withdrew its forces by the threat. On 22nd June 1949, the Russian government
invited Liaquat Ali Khan, but he preferred to visit America. When Pakistan signed Defence Pacts with
America, the relations of Pakistan deteriorated with Russia.
Liaquat Ali Khan presented the Objectives Resolution 1949 in Constituent Assembly and it became the
base for the future constitution. On his advice, Khawaja Nazimuddin set up a Basic Principles Committee.
Its function was to determine the Basic Principles for the future Constitution of Pakistan. He was appointed
its Vice President. He wished the Muslims to be united.
He convened an International Economic Conference on 20th Nov 1949 – Sixteen Muslim countries
participated in it. He used to say that the world should know that the Muslim world stand together.
On 14th August 1951, he addressed the nation and said, “If for the defence of Pakistan, the nation has to
shed blood, Liaquat’s blood should be mixed with it.”
On 15th Oct 1951, he reached Rawalpindi to address a public meeting of city Muslim League in Company
Gardens. He was shot dead by Syed Akbar Ali during his address on 16th Oct 1951. He lived and died for
the glory of Pakistan.
Khawaja Nazimuddin’s Rule
After the death of Quaid-e-Azam, the Chief Minister of East Pakistan and a Muslim Leaguer, Khawaja
Nazimuddin was made the Governor General of Pakistan. His powers were shared among Prime Minister
Liaquat Ali Khan and Mr. Tamizuddin, the Speaker of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. After the death
of Liaquat Ali Khan, he was appointed as the second Prime Minister of Pakistan. Malik Ghulam Muhammad
became the third Governor General of Pakistan.

Nazimuddin helped in completion of the important task of the Objectives Resolution on 12th March 1949. He
also helped Liaquat Ali Khan in the establishment of Basic Principles Committee. The report was presented
in 1952 for the future Constitution which consisted the power of head of the state, bicameral legislature, a
board of Ulemas, establishment of Supreme Court, Public Service Commission.

During his rule, the Ahrar Party demanded that Qadianis should be declared as non-Muslims in Punjab.
They should be removed from the key posts of Pakistan, including Sir Zafarullah Khan, the Foreign Minister
of Pakistan. The movement spread like wildfire in Pakistan. The conflict started, situation worsened in
Pakistan (Punjab). The Government declared Martial Law in Punjab to hold the situation. He dismissed the
Government of Mian Mumtaz Daultana and appointed Feroze Khan Noon, the Governor of East Pakistan
as new Chief Minister of Punjab, the political situation further aggravated and relations of Khawaja
Nazimuddin worsened wit Malik Ghulam Muhammad, the Governor General of Pakistan on situation of
internal peace and food crisis due to failure crops. He dismissed Khawaja Nazimuddin on 17th April 1953
and appointed Muhammad Ali Bogra from East Pakistan in his place.

Malik Ghulam Muhammad

After the death of Quaid-e-Azam, Malik Ghulam Muhammad became the third Governor General of
Pakistan. Food crisis and movement of Ahrar Party against the Qadianis crippled Pakistan politically and
brought the country at the threshold civil war. He dismissed Khawaja Nazimuddin in 1953 and appointed
Mohammad Ali Bogra, an East Pakistani, ambassador of Pakistan in USA as the Prime Minister. He
imported wheat from USA to please the people. He made friendly relations with America. The draft Bill of
Constitution made by the Basic Principles Committee was finalised on 14th Oct 1954. Mohammad Ali Bogra
was retained as the interim Prime Minister but just a puppet. Elections were held in 1955 and the second
Constituent Assembly was installed on 28th May 1955 in which East and West Pakistan both were granted
equal seats.
During his Governor General ship, Pakistan signed the Baghdad Pact with Iran, Iraq and Turkey and
England in September 1955. It was renamed CENTO (Central Treaty Organisation). Pakistan also became
the member of SEATO (South East Asian treaty Organisation) in 1954. The member countries of SEATO,
recognised the Durand Line as an international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In 1954, the National Anthem was approved, its music and tune was composed by Karmim Ahmad Chaghla
and it was written by Hafeez Jalandhari. His health worsened, so he resigned on 4th Oct 1955 and general
Mohammad Iskander Mirza succeeded him.

General Muhammad Iskander Mirza

He took over from Malik Ghulam Muhammad as the 4th Governor General of Pakistan on 4th Oct 1955. After
the enforcement the first Constitution of Pakistan in 1956, he took over as the first President of Pakistan.
He did not possess any experience of the Parliamentary democracy. He wanted to rule as a dictator. It is
learnt that he signed the first Constitution of Pakistan on the condition of that he would be made the first
President of Pakistan. During his rule, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali succeeded Mohammad Ali Bogra as the
Prime Minister of Pakistan. He faced economic crisis - the government devalued its currency. After a short
period, he appointed Sir Feroze Khan Noon as Prime Minster, which brought East and West Pakistan’s
politicians close to each other. Iskander Mirza was worried because he had lost the grip over the politicians
after Noon’s Ministry. He feared elections and conspired against the Ministry of Pakistan. Disappointed and
exhausted politically and scared of being removed from the political arena of Pakistan he aligned towards
the Commander in Chief of Armed Forces of Pakistan, General Muhammad Ayub Khan to accomplish his
aim. He resigned on 27th Oct 1958 and left the country for good. Martial Law was imposed

1956 Constitution
It was enforced by General Iskander Mirza on 23rd March 1956.
Salient Features:
▪ Sovereignty belongs to Almighty Allah.
▪ Pakistan was declared as the ‘Islamic Republic of Pakistan’.
 ▪ Federal Parliamentary system was introduced in the country.
▪ Governor General was replaced by the President.
▪ The powers were distributed between the Centre and the two provinces of Pakistan, namely East
Pakistan and West Pakistan under the Federal System of Government.
▪ It was ensured to provide all the opportunities to the Muslims to lead their lives according to the
teachings of Islam.
▪ Maintenance of close relations with the Muslim countries was emphasised.
▪ The office of the Head of the State was restricted to Muslims.
▪ Any existing law contrary to the principles of Islam was to be amended.
▪ Urdu and Bengali were declared as the national languages of Pakistan.
▪ The rights of the non-Muslims minority were given due protection.
▪ Islamic Ideological Council will be set up for the legislation true to Islamic teachings.

Causes of Failure (Reasons – Why Martial Law was imposed in 1958?):

The Constitution was abrogated in 1958, as Martial Law was imposed by General Muhammad Ayub Khan.
There was crisis of leadership as the invaders of the political parties had negative attitudes. There was lack
of democracy as the President had more powers. The inflation was high, therefore there were poor
economic conditions. There was no consistency in elections. Politically, there was instability as four prime
ministers in only two years. People had no political awareness. Provincialism and sectarianism was
common. There was an unbalanced economic development. Many leaders were hungry for power. The
Bengalis were against the equal number seats in the National Assembly. They did not like the twin
languages to be the national ones.

Reasons behind 1958 Martial Law

● Political unrest prevailed – there was lack of leadership. The political parties were against each
other. Muslim League had lost its popularity in East Pakistan due to language issue and equal
representation in the Assembly. East Pakistanis also felt deprived for not being involved in decision
making process though they comprised 56% of Pakistan’s population.
● East Pakistan’s natural discontent was made worse by food shortages and flooding through 1955.
This led to inflation, unbalanced economic development and provincialism.
● Political turmoil prevailed as Iskander Mirza gained power under 1956 Constitution to nominate and
dismiss Prime Ministers. Hence, he did not develop proper working relationship with the Prime
Ministers:
o Chaudhry Muhammad Ali resigned as Prime Minister on 12th September 1956.
o Mirza replaced him with Hussein Shaheed Suhrawardy, politician from East Pakistan who
gave important Cabinet post to politicians from East Pakistan to win support for his
government. He did not want to be a puppet Prime Minister and wanted Mirza to allow him a
meaningful degree of authority. He was dismissed in October 1957. Being a shrewd
politician, he challenged to hold a vote in Assembly to test his popularity. Mirza knew he
would win therefore he refused.
o On 18th October 1957, Iskander Mirza appointed Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar to replace
Suhrawardy. His government was collection of politicians with differing views and could not
agree on major issues and One Unit Scheme.
o Feroze Khan Noon was the next choice. His government contained members from number
of political parties and was even more divided. He was forced to appoint a large Cabinet to
bring all shades of opinion in government to create unity, but it did not work. His rule became
increasingly unpopular, and the 1956 Constitution had been introduced with the promise of
elections in 1957. Mirza did not call elections as he knew he would lose.
o Using the constant disagreement in the government as his excuse, proclaimed Martial Law
on 7th October 1958. Iskander Mirza turned to the military and asked Commander-in-Chief
General Ayub Khan to take charge as Chief Martial Law Administrator, because he had lost
support of leading politicians and was alarmed by Suhrawardy’s plan to unite political
leadership of Bengal and Punjab against him.
Thus the Constitution was abrogated in 1958 as Martial Law enforced by Ayub Khan.