consitute assembly
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The First Constituent Assembly of Pakistan came into existence under Indian Independence Act 1947,
at the time of independence. Its roots went back to 1946 when elections for constituent assembly of
United India were held to decide the destiny of All India Muslim League. First meeting of constituent
assembly of united India was held on 19th December 1946, but Muslim League boycotted it since they
demanded a separate constituent assembly for Pakistan. With the acceptance of 3rd June plan a separateconstituent assembly was formulated for Pakistan.
The inaugural session of the first constituent assembly of Pakistan was held in Karachi in August 1947.
Mr. J.N. Mandal was elected as temporary chairman of Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
Subsequently Jinnah was selected as the president of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, on 11th
August 1947 and Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan as its Deputy President. The Constituent Assembly of
Pakistan functioned from 1947 to 1954 and involved two major parties—the Muslim League
representing all Muslims with the exception of few and The Congress Party representing the twelve
million Hindus in Pakistan.
There were 69 members in the constituent assembly; this number was increased to 79 later in order to
give representation to princely states and refugees. The mode of elections was on the basis of separate
electorates. There was a clear majority of Muslim League in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan,
with 60 members out of the total 79. The second major party was Pakistan National Congress with 11
members; and the third party was Azad Group with 3 members, a number which later decreased to 1.
The Constituent Assembly of Pakistan was not able to work properly because its seats remained empty
and some members migrated to India. Members of Constituent Assembly of Pakistan were
simultaneously allowed to take seats of Provincial assembly or they can be Chief Ministers or members
of Central or Provincial Cabinet.
Under the Indian Independence Act Constituent Assembly of Pakistan was given two tasks – to prepare
a Constitution and to act as the federal legislature. The functions of central legislature under the
Government of India Act 1935 were granted to the Constituent Assembly. As a constitution making
body it was completely independent. The Constituent Assembly of Pakistan could amend the
independence act by a simple majority and pass laws; moreover, no law could be made without its
approval. Every bill that was passed needed to be signed by the President of Constituent Assembly of
Pakistan.
Though there was no opposition in the Constituent Assembly but there were groups that were critical of
the League. On the left was Iftikharuddin a former congressmen and a communist. On right were the
religious critics like Maulana Shabir Ahmad Ossmani.
The first constituent assembly setup several committees to carry out its tasks. Most important of these
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was the Basic Principles Committee; it was assigned the task to report in accordance with the
Objectives Resolution on the main principles by which the constitution of Pakistan was to be framed.
Basic Principles Committee setup three sub committees and a special committee named Talimaat-i-
Islamia which consisted of scholars to advice on the religious matters arising out of Objectives
Resolution. Basic Principles Committee submitted its interim report in September 1950 and the finalreport in December 1952.
Another important committee of the Constituent Assembly was on the ‘Fundamental Rights of the
Citizens of Pakistan’ and on ‘Matters Relating to Minorities’. It divided itself into two sections, one
dealing with fundamental rights and the other with matters relating to minorities. Interim report of this
committee was adopted by Constituent Assembly in 1950 and the final report in 1954.
Others committees of the constituent assembly were the State Negotiating Committee, which dealt with
the question of representation of princely states and the Tribal Areas Negotiating Committee, dealing
with matters related to tribal areas.
The progress of the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan can be summed up as follows:
12 March 1949 – Objectives Resolution passed by the Constituent Assembly on aims and objective of
future constitution. This report was well received by the citizens of Pakistan.
7 September 1950 – the interim report of Basic Principles Committee was presented to the constituent
assembly. This step however marked as the beginning of decline in the popularity of the Constituent
Assembly of Pakistan. This report was criticized mainly by East Pakistan.
6 October 1950 – interim report of the committee on Fundamental Rights of the Citizens of Pakistan
matters relating to Minorities was adopted by Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. This report got a
comparatively better response.
22 December 1952 – the final report of Basic Principles Committee was presented. This report was also
criticized, because of opposition in the Punjab.
7 October 1953 – Constitutional impasse was over and formation of federal legislature was resolved by
the ‘Muhammad Ali Formula’. This report was widely welcomed and helped the Constituent Assembly
regain in popularity.
21 September 1954 – the Basic Principles Committees’ revised Report was approved by Constituent
Assembly of Pakistan.
The final sketch of constitution was prepared and the Constituent Assembly was near to the completion
of its purpose. But at this point the Constituent Assembly was suspended by the Governor General
Ghulam Muhammad, on 24th October 1954. He stated that the Constituent Assembly had lost the
confidence of the people; this ruined the efforts of the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan which had
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been working towards formulating a viable constitution for seven years.