Eleanor Finch
Pakistan's first constitution, which was adopted in 1956, was short-lived. It was abrogated in 1958 following a military coup d'état. The 1956 Constitution failed to arrest political instability and was rejected by all Hindu minority parties and the largest Muslim political party, the Awami League, from East Pakistan. The constitution was a hybrid form of government that failed to satisfy stakeholders and was neither parliamentary nor presidential. It introduced a unicameral legislature, depriving provinces of a federal forum to resolve differences, and failed to address economic inequality. Lack of leadership and consensus among ethnonational groups also contributed to its failure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Length | 234 articles, 13 parts, 6 schedules |
| Lack of consensus among ethnonational groups | Rejected by Hindu minority parties and the largest Muslim political party, the Awami League |
| Lack of leadership | Pakistan never found its way to developing its parliamentary system |
| Hybrid constitution | Failed to satisfy stakeholders, not a parliamentary or presidential form of government |
| Unicameral legislature | Abolished the upper house, depriving provinces of a federal forum |
| Inequality | No economic equality, and deprived East Bengal of its legitimate right to strike compromises with other provinces |
| Federal system | Principle of parity between East and West Pakistan |
| Presidential powers | Right to declare emergency, and very authoritative role |
| Non-separation of powers | The executive branch was given power to enforce fundamental rights |
| Islamic provisions | Included the Objective Resolution, affirmed the role of Islam |
| Civil rights | Familiar rights such as rights to life, liberty and property were granted |
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What You'll Learn
Lack of consensus among ethnonational groups
Pakistan gained independence from the British Raj in 1947, and the first Constituent Assembly was elected that same year. However, it took nine years of protracted constitution-making for Pakistan to adopt its first indigenous constitution in 1956. This constitution was lengthy and detailed, consisting of 234 articles, 13 parts, and 6 schedules. It provided for a federal system with parity between East and West Pakistan, and a parliamentary form of government. The constitution also granted familiar democratic rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, assembly, movement, and profession. It ensured civil rights, including the rights to life, liberty, and property, and made Urdu and Bengali the national languages.
However, the 1956 Constitution of Pakistan ultimately failed due to several factors, including a lack of consensus among ethnonational groups. Pakistan is a multiethnic and deeply divided society, and the centripetal forces representing state elites aimed to create a monolithic national identity with Islam as a unifying force. This attempt to impose a homogeneous society failed to address the diverse nature of the country and the need for consensus among ethnonational groups.
The constitution-making process involved three constituent assemblies (1947-1954, 1955-1956, and 1972-1973), and the question of the Islamic character of the state and federalism proved challenging. The Objectives Resolution, passed in 1949, laid the foundation for the constitution but sparked debate between Muslim and non-Muslim members. Non-Muslim members, particularly from East Bengal, expressed concerns about their position and role in the new policy, highlighting the lack of consensus among ethnonational groups.
The 1956 Constitution introduced a unicameral legislature, which created issues for Pakistan's federal structure. The abolition of the upper house went against the federal nature of the country and deprived provinces of a forum to resolve their differences. This dynamic led to a power struggle between East and West Pakistan for supremacy and resource distribution.
The 1956 Constitution also failed to address the economic inequality in the country. While it outlined principles for economic development, nepotism and feudalism prevented the implementation of these principles. The constitution's hybrid nature, attempting to satisfy numerous stakeholders, resulted in dissatisfaction among various groups. The role of the president remained authoritative, and the parliamentary system struggled due to a lack of leadership and political training.
The failure of the 1956 Constitution to gain consensus among ethnonational groups contributed to political instability, leading to its abrogation and the imposition of martial law in 1958. The subsequent constitutions of 1962 and 1973 underwent similar challenges and amendments as Pakistan continued to navigate its political development.
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Hybrid constitution failed to satisfy stakeholders
Pakistan became an independent state in 1947 following the dissolution of the British Indian Empire. The first Constituent Assembly was elected in 1947, and after nine years of protracted constitution-making, the first indigenous constitution of Pakistan was adopted on 29 February 1956. It was enforced on 23 March 1956, proclaiming Pakistan to be an Islamic republic.
The 1956 Constitution of Pakistan was a hybrid constitution that failed to satisfy stakeholders. It was a lengthy and detailed document with 234 articles, 13 parts, and 6 schedules. The constitution introduced a unicameral legislature, with a parliamentary form of government where the real executive authority was vested in a cabinet, presided over by the Prime Minister. The constitution was neither a federation nor a unitary country, and it failed to address the Islamic character of the state and federalism, which were the two vexatious questions that prevented consensus among ethnonational groups.
The 1956 Constitution failed to satisfy stakeholders because it was trying to satisfy too many interests at the same time, resulting in its inability to fully satisfy any of them. It was neither a parliamentary form of government where the Prime Minister is accountable nor a presidential system where the President is accountable. The role of the President remained very authoritative, and the constitution gave the President the right to declare an emergency, influencing provincial autonomy.
The 1956 Constitution also failed to address the concerns of minority groups. It was rejected by all Hindu minority parties and the largest Muslim political party, the Awami League, from East Pakistan. The abolition of the upper house, a key feature of a federation, further alienated East Bengal, as it deprived the province of a federal forum to resolve differences with other provinces. The constitution also failed to address the economic inequality in the country, as nepotism and feudalism prevented the implementation of principles for economic development.
The failure of the 1956 Constitution to satisfy stakeholders led to political instability and the imposition of the first martial law in Pakistan on 7 October 1958. The constitution was abrogated, and the parliamentary system collapsed, leading to a shift towards a presidential form of government under the 1962 Constitution.
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Undue interference with political parties and ministers
The 1956 Constitution of Pakistan was the first constitution of the country since gaining independence from the British Empire in 1947. It was the result of a nine-year constitution-making process that involved two constituent assemblies and four prime ministers. However, the constitution ultimately failed, and martial law was imposed in 1958.
One of the key reasons for the failure of the 1956 Constitution was the undue interference of President Iskander Mirza with political parties and ministers. President Mirza, who assumed office in 1956, was accused of continuously interfering in the affairs of the legislature, creating political conflict between the head of state and the head of government. This interference disrupted the functioning of the parliamentary system and contributed to the instability that plagued the country at the time.
The civilian government during this period was characterised by incompetence and inexperience in governance. The political leaders struggled to understand the basics of politics, such as accommodation and compromise, instead prioritising their own petty interests. This management failure of the political leadership played a crucial role in the constitution's demise.
The constitution-making process in Pakistan was marked by a struggle for power between various political factions. Every political party sought to gain power, and elections were delayed due to these circumstances. The delay in elections further contributed to the failure of the parliamentary system under the 1956 Constitution. The weak and disorganised state of political parties at the time also hindered their ability to effectively represent public opinion and shape the direction of the country.
Additionally, socio-economic contradictions, including high inflation and unfair wealth distribution, created unrest and made it difficult for the constitution to be implemented successfully. The failure to address these socio-economic issues contributed to the overall instability and dissatisfaction with the political leadership.
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Lack of leadership and political training
Pakistan gained independence from the British Raj in 1947, and the first Pakistani Constituent Assembly was elected that same year. Nine years later, in 1956, the Constituent Assembly adopted Pakistan's first constitution. The constitution was lengthy and detailed, with 234 articles divided into thirteen parts and six schedules. It provided for a federal system with parity between East and West Pakistan, and each province was to run its own government. The constitution also provided for a parliamentary form of government, with the Prime Minister presiding over the cabinet, in which real executive authority was vested.
However, the constitution was never truly implemented, as no elections were held. The parliamentary system under the 1956 Constitution failed due to a lack of leadership and political training in the country. There was undue interference with political parties and ministers, which prevented constitutional development. Many political parties were formed without any clear political goals, and their primary motivation was to gain power. This led to a delay in holding elections, which ultimately caused the failure of the parliamentary system under the 1956 Constitution.
The 1956 Constitution was a hybrid constitution that attempted to satisfy too many stakeholders at once, resulting in its inability to satisfy any of them completely. It was neither a parliamentary nor a presidential form of government, and the role of the President remained very authoritative. The constitution introduced a unicameral legislature, which created problems for Pakistan, as it deprived the provinces of a truly federal forum to resolve their differences.
The failure of the 1956 Constitution can also be attributed to the non-existence of economic equality in the country. While the constitution outlined principles for economic development, nepotism and feudalism prevented the implementation of these principles. Additionally, the constitution took steps towards institutionalising the army into politics by giving the President the right to declare an emergency in times of internal or external danger. This ultimately led to the suspension of the constitution by a Presidential proclamation on 7 October 1958, when the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, General Mohammad Ayub Khan, was appointed Chief Martial Law Administrator.
The 1956 Constitution of Pakistan failed due to a combination of factors, including a lack of leadership and political training, a hybrid form of government, economic inequality, and the increasing influence of the military in politics. The failure to implement the constitution and the subsequent imposition of martial law highlighted the instability and challenges faced by the young nation during its early years of independence.
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Non-existence of economic equality
The 1956 Constitution of Pakistan was the first constitution of the country since it gained independence in 1947. It was the result of a nine-year-long constitution-making process involving three constituent assemblies. The 1956 Constitution was lengthy and detailed, consisting of 234 articles, 13 parts, and 6 schedules. It introduced a federal system with the principle of parity between East Pakistan and West Pakistan, a parliamentary form of government, and a unicameral legislature.
However, the 1956 Constitution ultimately failed, and it was abrogated in 1958 following a military coup d'état. One of the reasons for its failure was the non-existence of economic equality in the country. While the 1956 Constitution outlined principles for economic development, nepotism and feudalism prevented these principles from being implemented.
The constitution-making process in Pakistan was challenging due to the country's diverse ethnonational groups and the need to balance their interests. The question of the Islamic character of the state and federalism were particularly contentious issues. The 1956 Constitution aimed to establish a homogeneous society and a monolithic national identity, employing Islam as a unifying force. However, this approach failed to address the concerns of non-Muslim minorities, particularly those from East Bengal, who expressed apprehensions about their position and role in the new political system.
The 1956 Constitution also introduced a unicameral legislature, which created problems for Pakistan. The abolition of the upper house went against the federal structure and deprived the provinces of a forum to resolve their differences. This dynamic contributed to a power struggle between East and West Pakistan for supremacy and resource distribution.
The failure of the 1956 Constitution to address economic inequality, along with other factors, led to political instability and ultimately resulted in its abrogation and the imposition of martial law in 1958.
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Frequently asked questions
The 1956 Constitution was the first constitution of Pakistan, adopted on 29 February 1956 and enforced on 23 March 1956. It was lengthy and detailed, with 234 articles, 13 parts, and 6 schedules. It provided for a federal system with the principle of parity between East Pakistan and West Pakistan. It also introduced a unicameral legislature, with a parliamentary form of government.
The 1956 Constitution of Pakistan failed due to a lack of consensus among ethnonational groups, resulting in continued political instability. It was rejected by Hindu minority parties and the largest Muslim political party, the Awami League, from East Pakistan. The constitution also failed to address economic inequality, with nepotism and feudalism preventing the implementation of principles for economic development. Additionally, there was a lack of leadership and political training, with political parties focused on gaining power rather than holding elections, which delayed the development of a parliamentary system.
Following the failure of the 1956 Constitution, Pakistan experienced political turmoil. On 7 October 1958, the constitution was abrogated by President Iskander Mirza, who was soon deposed by General Ayub Khan, leading to the imposition of the country's first martial law. General Ayub Khan then enacted a new constitution in 1962 to establish a firm socio-economic and political order.
