Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
Encyclopedia
The Constituent Assembly of Pakistan was formed to write Pakistan
's constitution, and serve as its first parliament
. It first convened on 11 August 1947, before the end of British rule
on August 15, 1947. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah
was the first President of this Assembly until his death on 11th September 1948. Subsequently Liaquat Ali Khan
headed the constituent assembly for three years, but failed to produce any document. The only job that this assembly was able to do was to write a ten liner "Objective Resolution". It was dissolved on October 24, 1954. On the contrary, Indian Constituent assembly which had more diversity, took two years, eleven months and seventeen days to complete the constitution
.
After fresh elections were held, it was reconstituted on May 28, 1955 lasting until March 23, 1956 when the new constitution came into place and Pakistan became a Republic
.
Pakistan's Constituent Assembly was preceded by the Constituent Assembly of India which first met on December 9, 1946 in Delhi
, while India was still under British rule
. It originally included the provinces that now compose Pakistan
and Bangladesh
, and the representation of the princely states of India. In June 1947, the delegations from the provinces of Sindh
, East Bengal
, Baluchistan
, West Punjab and the North West Frontier Province formed the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
in Karachi
.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
's constitution, and serve as its first parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
. It first convened on 11 August 1947, before the end of British rule
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
on August 15, 1947. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
was the first President of this Assembly until his death on 11th September 1948. Subsequently Liaquat Ali Khan
Liaquat Ali Khan
For other people with the same or similar name, see Liaqat Ali Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan was a Pakistani statesman who became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Defence minister and Commonwealth, Kashmir Affairs...
headed the constituent assembly for three years, but failed to produce any document. The only job that this assembly was able to do was to write a ten liner "Objective Resolution". It was dissolved on October 24, 1954. On the contrary, Indian Constituent assembly which had more diversity, took two years, eleven months and seventeen days to complete the constitution
Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...
.
After fresh elections were held, it was reconstituted on May 28, 1955 lasting until March 23, 1956 when the new constitution came into place and Pakistan became a Republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
.
Pakistan's Constituent Assembly was preceded by the Constituent Assembly of India which first met on December 9, 1946 in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, while India was still under British rule
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
. It originally included the provinces that now compose Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, and the representation of the princely states of India. In June 1947, the delegations from the provinces of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, East Bengal
East Bengal
East Bengal was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly corresponded to the modern state of Bangladesh. Both instances involved a violent partition of Bengal....
, Baluchistan
Baluchistan (Chief Commissioners Province)
The Chief Commissioner's Province of Baluchistan was a province of British India located in the northern parts of the modern Balochistan province.- History :...
, West Punjab and the North West Frontier Province formed the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
Constituent Assembly of Pakistan
The Constituent Assembly of Pakistan was formed to write Pakistan's constitution, and serve as its first parliament. It first convened on 11 August 1947, before the end of British rule on August 15, 1947. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the first President of this Assembly until his death on...
in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.