Malcolm Rivera
The Constitution of 1956 was Pakistan's first constitution, coming into effect on 23 March 1956, and ending the country's status as a dominion. It was a lengthy and detailed document with 234 articles, 13 parts, and 6 schedules. The constitution was the result of a nine-year protracted process involving two constituent assemblies, three Governor Generals, and four Prime Ministers. It established Pakistan as an Islamic republic, with Islam as the official religion, and made it mandatory for the president to be a Muslim. The constitution provided for a parliamentary form of government, with a unicameral or bicameral legislature, and a cabinet presided over by the Prime Minister. However, the 1956 constitution failed to arrest political instability and was abrogated in 1958 after a military coup.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of adoption | 29 February 1956 |
| Date enforced | 23 March 1956 |
| Number of articles | 234 |
| Number of parts | 13 |
| Number of schedules | 6 |
| Country status | Islamic republic |
| Religion | Islam |
| Head of government | Prime Minister |
| Parliamentary form | Unicameral legislature |
| Federal system | Principle of parity between East and West Pakistan |
| Presidential eligibility | Muslim |
| Foreign policy objective | Good relations with Muslim countries |
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What You'll Learn
The 1956 Constitution was Pakistan's first
The constitution-making process took nine years and involved two constituent assemblies (1947-1954 and 1955-1956), three governor-generals, and four prime ministers. The first Constituent Assembly was formed under the Indian Independence Act and was tasked with two functions: to act as a Federal Legislative Assembly until the Constitution came into effect, and to draft the Constitution. The first Constituent Assembly was elected in 1947 and adopted its first constitution in 1956.
The 1956 Constitution was lengthy and detailed, consisting of 234 articles, 13 parts, and 6 schedules. It provided for a federal system with a bicameral legislature, an executive branch governed by the Prime Minister, and an apex federal judiciary headed by the Supreme Court. The Constitution also established Islam as the state religion and mandated that only a Muslim could become the President of the country. It provided for a parliamentary form of government, with the Prime Minister as the head of government and the President as a ceremonial Head of State.
The 1956 Constitution was abrogated in 1958 after a military coup d'état, and a new constitution was promulgated in 1962. This new constitution granted executive power to the President and abolished the office of the Prime Minister. It also institutionalised the intervention of the military in politics. The 1962 constitution was suspended in 1969 and abrogated in 1972, and the current constitution of Pakistan was enacted in 1973.
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It was adopted on 29 February 1956
The Constitution of 1956 was adopted on 29 February 1956. This was after nine years of protracted constitution-making, during which time there were three Governor Generals and four Prime Ministers. It was Pakistan's first constitution, and it was enforced on 23 March 1956, ending the country's status as a dominion and establishing it as an Islamic republic. The constitution was lengthy and detailed, consisting of 234 articles, 13 parts, and 6 schedules. It established a bicameral Parliament, with the National Assembly as the lower house and the Senate as the upper house. The parliamentary form of government was headed by the Prime Minister.
The 1956 Constitution was a hybrid, attempting to satisfy many stakeholders simultaneously. It was influenced by the philosophy of John Locke and Islamic provisions on civil rights. It was also informed by the Government of India Act, 1935, which had served as the basic legal document for the newly independent nation. The 1956 Constitution was abrogated in 1958 following a military coup d'état, and a new constitution was approved in 1962.
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It was enforced on 23 March 1956
The Constitution of 1956 was enforced on 23 March 1956, marking a significant milestone in the history of Pakistan. This date signified the culmination of a lengthy and arduous constitution-making process that spanned nine years and involved the collaboration of multiple assemblies, prime ministers, and constitution experts. The enforcement of this constitution officially proclaimed Pakistan as an Islamic republic and ended its status as a dominion.
The Constituent Assembly played a pivotal role in the adoption and enforcement of the Constitution of 1956. On 29 February 1956, the Constituent Assembly approved the constitution, despite opposition from certain groups such as the Bengali autonomists and the Awami League, who boycotted the official ceremonies. However, their objections did not deter the assembly from moving forward with the adoption process.
The Constitution of 1956 was a comprehensive and detailed document consisting of 234 articles, divided into thirteen parts and six schedules. It established a federal system with a parliamentary form of government, where the Prime Minister presided over the cabinet, which held the real executive authority. The constitution also introduced the principle of parity between East and West Pakistan, and the Federal Legislature was designed to function similarly to the British Parliament.
The enforcement of the Constitution of 1956 on 23 March 1956 was a pivotal moment in Pakistan's journey towards self-governance and nation-building. It provided a framework for the country's political system and established its identity as an Islamic republic. However, it is important to note that this constitution faced challenges due to the diverse and competing interests within the country, and it was ultimately abrogated in 1958 following a military coup. Nonetheless, the Constitution of 1956 holds a significant place in Pakistan's constitutional history and set the stage for subsequent constitutional developments.
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It was abrogated in 1958
The Constitution of 1956 was the fundamental law of Pakistan from March 1956 until the 1958 Pakistani coup d'état. It was abrogated in 1958 after a military coup d'état. On 7 October 1958, Martial law was imposed, abrogating the Constitution, and the army chief General Ayub Khan was appointed as Chief Martial Law Administrator. General Ayub Khan then took over the reins of power, enacting the 1962 constitution through an executive order. This new constitution was promulgated on 8 June 1962 and introduced a presidential system with more consolidated powers for the President.
The 1956 Constitution was the product of a nine-year protracted constitution-making process involving three Governor Generals, four Prime Ministers, and two Constituent Assemblies. It was the first constitution adopted by independent Pakistan, and it contained 234 articles, 13 parts, and 6 schedules. The Constitution provided for a federal system with the principle of parity between East and West Pakistan, and a parliamentary form of government with the Prime Minister as its head.
However, the 1956 Constitution failed to arrest the political instability that engulfed the country following its promulgation. This was due to a lack of consensus among ethnonational groups, particularly between Hindu minority parties and the largest Muslim political party, the Awami League, which rejected the Constitution on the final day of its adoption. This instability ultimately led to the coup and abrogation of the Constitution in 1958.
The 1962 Constitution, approved after the coup, granted executive power to the President and abolished the office of the Prime Minister. It also institutionalised the intervention of the military in politics, requiring that for twenty years, the President or Defence Minister must be a person who had held a rank no lower than Lieutenant-General in the army. This constitution was suspended in 1969 and abrogated in 1972.
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It was lengthy and detailed; covering many topics
The 1956 Constitution of Pakistan was the fundamental law of the country from March 1956 until the 1958 Pakistani coup d'état. It was the first constitution adopted by independent Pakistan, and its creation was a lengthy and challenging process. The constitution-making process involved three Governor-Generals, four Prime Ministers, and two Constituent Assemblies, taking nine years of protracted constitution-making to produce the final document.
The 1956 Constitution was lengthy and detailed, consisting of 234 articles, 13 parts, and 6 schedules. It established a federal system with a parliamentary form of government, where the real executive authority was vested in a cabinet, collectively responsible to the legislature, and presided over by the Prime Minister. The Federal Legislature was designed to function similarly to the British Parliament. The Centre was empowered to take unilateral action in emergencies and influence provincial autonomy.
The Constitution recognised familiar democratic rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech, expression, assembly, association, movement, and profession. It also granted civil rights, such as the rights to life, liberty, and property, with the usual qualifications and safeguards. The executive was given the power to enforce these fundamental rights, while the courts decided on the compatibility of laws with the provisions of the fundamental rights.
The Constitution declared that there would be a single house of parliament, the National Assembly, maintaining equality between East and West Pakistan. It replaced the Queen of Pakistan with a President, elected by an Electoral College composed of members of the National Assembly and Provincial Assembly. The Constitution designated the President as the ceremonial Head of State, representing the unity of the state, while Islam was established as the state religion.
The 1956 Constitution also addressed the issue of the Islamic character of the state and federalism, which were vexing questions that prevented consensus among ethnonational groups. The centripetal forces, represented by state elites, aimed to create a homogeneous society with a monolithic national identity, using Islam as a unifying force. In contrast, centrifugal forces, representing diverse ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and regional groups, pushed back against this monolithic vision and advocated for the constitutional recognition of the country's multiethnic character.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of 1956 was adopted on 29 February 1956 and enforced on 23 March 1956.
The Constitution of 1956 consisted of 234 articles, 13 parts, and 6 schedules. It declared Pakistan as an Islamic republic and made it mandatory for the president to be a Muslim. It also established a bicameral Parliament, with the National Assembly as the lower house and the Senate as the upper house.
The Constitution of 1956 failed to satisfy all stakeholders and was a hybrid constitution that was neither a parliamentary nor a presidential system. It failed to arrest political instability and did not adequately address the ethnonational differences in the country.
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