Constitutional and Political History of Pakistan: A Comprehensive Guide
- Why is it important to study it? - What are the main themes and periods of it? Pre-independence era - The Pakistan Movement and the two-nation theory - The role of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and other leaders - The challenges and achievements of the early years Parliamentary democracy - The first constitution of 1956 and its rejection - The first martial law of 1958 and the 1962 constitution - The political instability and regional disparities Military dictatorship - The second martial law of 1969 and the separation of East Pakistan - The third martial law of 1977 and the Islamization policies - The fourth martial law of 1999 and the war on terror Democratic transition - The restoration of democracy in 1988 and the 1973 constitution - The role of political parties, civil society and judiciary - The challenges of governance, security and development Conclusion - A summary of the main points and findings - A critical evaluation of the constitutional and political history of Pakistan - Some suggestions for future research and action FAQs - What are the main sources of constitutional law in Pakistan? - How has the role of Islam changed in the constitutional and political history of Pakistan? - What are the main causes and consequences of the military interventions in Pakistan? - How has the relationship between Pakistan and India evolved over time? - What are the prospects and challenges for democracy in Pakistan? # Article with HTML Formatting Constitutional And Political History Of Pakistan
Pakistan is a country with a rich and complex constitutional and political history that spans over seven decades. It has witnessed various phases of constitutional development, political turmoil, military rule, democratic transition, regional conflict, religious diversity, social change, economic growth, and international relations. Understanding the constitutional and political history of Pakistan is essential for grasping its current realities, challenges, and opportunities. In this article, we will explore the main themes and periods of this history, from the pre-independence era to the present day.
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Pre-independence era
The constitutional and political history of Pakistan begins with the Pakistan Movement, which was a mass movement that aimed to establish a separate homeland for Muslims in South Asia. The movement was based on the principle of two-nation theory, which argued that Muslims and Hindus were two distinct nations that could not coexist peacefully under a single state. The movement was spearheaded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who is regarded as the founder of Pakistan, and supported by other prominent leaders such as Liaquat Ali Khan, Allama Iqbal, Fatima Jinnah, Khawaja Nazimuddin, Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Maulana Maududi, etc.
The movement faced opposition from some Muslim religious scholars who rejected the idea of nationalism and advocated for a united India based on Islamic principles. It also faced resistance from some Hindu nationalist groups who wanted to preserve a Hindu-dominated India. The movement gained momentum after the Lahore Resolution of 1940, which demanded a separate state for Muslims in regions where they were in majority or had significant presence. The resolution was passed by the All-India Muslim League, which was the main political party representing Muslims at that time.
The movement culminated in the partition of India in 1947, when the British colonial government granted independence to its Indian colony. The British Parliament enacted the Indian Independence Act, 1947, which transferred sovereign powers to two newly established dominions: India and Pakistan. Pakistan consisted of two wings: West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan) and East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh), separated by more than 1000 miles of Indian territory. The Government of India Act, 1935, which was previously the constitution of British India, was amended to serve as an interim constitution for both countries until their respective constituent assemblies adopted their own constitutions.
The early years of independence were marked by several challenges and achievements for Pakistan. Some of the challenges were: the integration of princely states, the settlement of millions of refugees, the distribution of assets and liabilities, the Kashmir dispute, the language controversy, the ethnic and regional tensions, the economic and social problems, etc. Some of the achievements were: the establishment of a parliamentary system, the formulation of foreign policy, the creation of national symbols and institutions, the development of infrastructure and industry, the promotion of education and culture, etc.
Parliamentary democracy
The first phase of parliamentary democracy in Pakistan lasted from 1947 to 1958. During this period, Pakistan adopted its first constitution in 1956, which made it an Islamic democratic country with a federal system and a bicameral legislature. The constitution was drafted by the second constituent assembly, which was elected in 1955 after the dissolution of the first constituent assembly in 1954 by the Governor General. The constitution was rejected by some Hindu minority parties and the largest Muslim party from East Pakistan (the Awami League), who demanded more autonomy and representation for their province.
The 1956 constitution failed to bring political stability and harmony in the country, as it faced opposition from various quarters. The political parties were weak and divided, the bureaucracy was powerful and corrupt, the judiciary was subservient and ineffective, the military was ambitious and discontented, and the public was frustrated and disillusioned. The country witnessed frequent changes of governments, constitutional crises, political scandals, regional disparities, economic difficulties, and social unrest. The situation deteriorated to such an extent that in 1958, the President Iskander Mirza imposed a state of emergency and abrogated the constitution. He appointed General Ayub Khan as the Chief Martial Law Administrator, who soon deposed Mirza and assumed power as the President.
The second constitution of Pakistan was enacted by Ayub Khan in 1962 through an executive order. The constitution introduced a presidential system with a unicameral legislature and a basic democracy system. The basic democracy system consisted of four tiers of elected councils at the local, district, provincial, and national levels. The members of these councils were called basic democrats, who also served as an electoral college for electing the president and the members of parliament. The constitution also declared Islam as the state religion and Urdu as the national language.
Military dictatorship
The second phase of military dictatorship in Pakistan lasted from 1958 to 1988. During this period, Pakistan experienced three martial laws and one civil war that resulted in the separation of East Pakistan as a new country: Bangladesh. The military dictators who ruled Pakistan during this period were: Ayub Khan (1958-1969), Yahya Khan (1969-1971), Zia-ul-Haq (1977-1988), and Pervez Musharraf (1999-2008). Each of them left a lasting impact on the constitutional and political history of Pakistan.
Ayub Khan's rule was marked by rapid economic growth, industrialization, modernization, land reforms, foreign aid, alliance with the United States, war with India in 1965, etc. However, his rule also faced criticism for being authoritarian, elitist, corrupt, nepotistic, repressive, etc. He faced widespread protests from various sections of society such as students, workers, peasants, intellectuals, journalists, lawyers, politicians, etc. He also faced opposition from some religious groups who accused him of being secular and pro-Western. He also faced resentment from East Pakistanis who felt neglected and exploited by his policies. He eventually resigned in 1969 after a mass uprising led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Yahya Khan's rule was marked by holding the first general elections in Pakistan in 1970 on the basis of adult franchise and one-man one-vote principle. The elections resulted in a landslide victory for the Awami League led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in East Pakistan and a significant victory for the Pakistan People's Party led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in West Pakistan. However, Yahya Khan refused to transfer power to Mujibur Rahman who demanded autonomy for East Pakistan based on his six-point program. This led to a civil war in East Pakistan in 1971 with the support of India. The war ended with the surrender of Pakistani forces on 16 December 1971 and the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent state. Yahya Khan handed over power to Bhutto who became the President and later Prime Minister.
Zia-ul-Haq's rule was marked by imposing martial law in 1977 after overthrowing Bhutto's government on charges of rigging elections. He suspended the 1973 constitution and banned all political activities. He executed Bhutto in 1979 after a controversial trial. He introduced Islamization policies such as enforcing Sharia law, establishing Zakat and Ushr system, creating Federal Shariat Court I have continued writing the article for you. Here is the rest of it: Military dictatorship
The second phase of military dictatorship in Pakistan lasted from 1958 to 1988. During this period, Pakistan experienced three martial laws and one civil war that resulted in the separation of East Pakistan as a new country: Bangladesh. The military dictators who ruled Pakistan during this period were: Ayub Khan (1958-1969), Yahya Khan (1969-1971), Zia-ul-Haq (1977-1988), and Pervez Musharraf (1999-2008). Each of them left a lasting impact on the constitutional and political history of Pakistan.
Ayub Khan's rule was marked by rapid economic growth, industrialization, modernization, land reforms, foreign aid, alliance with the United States, war with India in 1965, etc. However, his rule also faced criticism for being authoritarian, elitist, corrupt, nepotistic, repressive, etc. He faced widespread protests from various sections of society such as students, workers, peasants, intellectuals, journalists, lawyers, politicians, etc. He also faced opposition from some religious groups who accused him of being secular and pro-Western. He also faced resentment from East Pakistanis who felt neglected and exploited by his policies. He eventually resigned in 1969 after a mass uprising led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Yahya Khan's rule was marked by holding the first general elections in Pakistan in 1970 on the basis of adult franchise and one-man one-vote principle. The elections resulted in a landslide victory for the Awami League led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in East Pakistan and a significant victory for the Pakistan People's Party led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in West Pakistan. However, Yahya Khan refused to transfer power to Mujibur Rahman who demanded autonomy for East Pakistan based on his six-point program. This led to a civil war in East Pakistan in 1971 with the support of India. The war ended with the surrender of Pakistani forces on 16 December 1971 and the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent state. Yahya Khan handed over power to Bhutto who became the President and later Prime Minister.
Zia-ul-Haq's rule was marked by imposing martial law in 1977 after overthrowing Bhutto's government on charges of rigging elections. He suspended the 1973 constitution and banned all political activities. He executed Bhutto in 1979 after a controversial trial. He introduced Islamization policies such as enforcing Sharia law, establishing Zakat and Ushr system, creating Federal Shariat Court and Council of Islamic Ideology, revising school curricula and textbooks, banning alcohol and gambling, etc. He also supported the Afghan mujahideen against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan with the help of the United States and Saudi Arabia. He faced resistance from some secular and democratic forces such as the Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD) and some ethnic and nationalist groups such as the Sindhi nationalists and the Baloch separatists. He died in a plane crash in 1988 under mysterious circumstances.
Democratic transition
The third phase of democratic transition in Pakistan lasted from 1988 to 1999. During this period, Pakistan restored its 1973 constitution with some amendments and held four general elections that alternated power between two major political parties: the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) led by Benazir Bhutto and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) led by Nawaz Sharif. The period also witnessed the emergence of some new political actors such as Altaf Hussain's Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) representing urban Sindh, Asfandyar Wali Khan's Awami National Party (ANP) representing Pashtuns, Qazi Hussain Ahmad's Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) representing Islamists, etc.
The democratic transition was marred by several problems and challenges such as political instability, corruption scandals, judicial activism, military interference, ethnic violence, sectarian clashes, economic crisis, social unrest, etc. The period also saw some positive developments such as constitutional reforms, media liberalization, civil society activism, human rights awareness, women empowerment, regional cooperation, etc. The period ended with another military coup in 1999 when General Pervez Musharraf overthrew Nawaz Sharif's government on charges of treason and corruption.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the constitutional and political history of Pakistan is a fascinating and complex story of struggle, change, and continuity. It reflects the diversity and dynamism of the Pakistani society and its aspirations and challenges. It also reveals the influence and interaction of various internal and external factors that have shaped the course of Pakistan's history. The constitutional and political history of Pakistan is not a finished product, but an ongoing process that is constantly evolving and adapting to new realities and demands. It is a history that offers valuable lessons and insights for the present and the future of Pakistan and its people.
FAQs
Q: What are the main sources of constitutional law in Pakistan?
A: The main sources of constitutional law in Pakistan are: the constitution, the constitutional amendments, the constitutional conventions, the judicial decisions, the legislative enactments, and the Islamic principles.
Q: How has the role of Islam changed in the constitutional and political history of Pakistan?
A: The role of Islam has changed from being a basis of national identity and unity in the pre-independence era, to being a source of law and governance in the military dictatorship era, to being a subject of debate and contestation in the democratic transition era.
Q: What are the main causes and consequences of the military interventions in Pakistan?
A: The main causes of the military interventions in Pakistan are: political instability, constitutional crises, corruption scandals, regional conflicts, security threats, economic problems, etc. The main consequences of the military interventions in Pakistan are: suspension of democracy, violation of human rights, distortion of constitution, concentration of power, weakening of institutions, loss of legitimacy, etc.
Q: How has the relationship between Pakistan and India evolved over time?
A: The relationship between Pakistan and India has evolved from being hostile and adversarial in the early years of independence, to being cooperative and conciliatory in some periods of détente, to being competitive and confrontational in some periods of tension. The relationship has been affected by various issues such as Kashmir dispute, water sharing, nuclear weapons, cross-border terrorism, trade and commerce, cultural exchange, etc.
Q: What are the prospects and challenges for democracy in Pakistan?
A: The prospects for democracy in Pakistan are: popular support for democratic values and norms, vibrant civil society and media, active judiciary and opposition, emerging middle class and youth, regional and international pressure, etc. The challenges for democracy in Pakistan are: political instability and polarization, military interference and influence, corruption and nepotism, ethnic and sectarian violence, economic crisis and inequality, security threats and extremism, etc. 71b2f0854b