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| 1956 constitution |
The constitution of 1956 was a result of efforts of the constituent assembly for almost 9 years. This constitution was adopted on the 29th of February, 1956 and was enforced on the 23rd, March of the same year. Some of the salient features of the 1956 constitution are as below.
1) Written shape
The constitution of 1956 was in written form and was quite lengthy in nature. It consisted of 234 articles with 13 parts and 6 schedules.
2) Rigid constitution
It was not easy to amend the constitution because of any amendment required at least 2/3rd majority in the parliament and the approval of the president.
3) Preamble
A preamble was included in the constitution. This preamble was actually the objective resolution of 1949, which states that sovereignty belongs to Allah and there can be the law against the spirit of Islam.
4) Name of the state
Pakistan was officially given the name of the ‘Islamic Republic of Pakistan’.
5) Federal system
This constitution gave the state a federal form of the system, in which provinces were given some level of autonomy. To be precise, there were three lists of subjects; federal list, provincial list and concurrent list. The federal list consisted of those subjects that were purely under the command of center, the provincial list consisted of those subjects that were under the command of provincial governments and concurrent list consisted of those subjects that were under the command of provincial governments but can be overruled by the federal government.
6) Parliamentary form of government
The state was given a parliamentary form of government. In this constitution, more powers lied with prime minister than the president. President was a symbol of federation and was liable to exercise powers on the advice of prime minister.
7) Unicameral parliament
The constitution comprised of only one house of parliament and that was the national assembly. The assembly consisted of 300 members with 150 each from East and West Pakistan. They were to be elected for 5 years through direct election.
8) Islamic constitution
It approved the objective resolution as the preamble of the constitution which stated that sovereignty belongs to Allah and that no law can be formed against the Quran and Sunnah. It bounded the government to take measures to facilitate people in their practice of Islam.
9) Dual national languages
Urdu and Bengali were declared the national languages of Pakistan.
10) Independence of Judiciary
It was made sure in the constitution that judiciary would be free and independent from any pressure. It was being made sure that judiciary exercises its role in a transparent manner.
11) Directives of policy
This constitution provided some policy guidelines for the people in prominent positions. According to which they must provide basic necessities of life to the common people and must protect their interests.
12) Fundamental Rights
Fundamental rights were guaranteed in the constitution irrespective of religion, caste, culture or creed etc. Every citizen has the right of expressing his opinion, voting candidate of his choice, practicing his religion etc.
Most of the Bengali nationalists did not accept this constitution and boycotted the celebration on the eve of its enforcement. This constitution went on for only two years and was abrogated on 7th October 1958 by the then president Sikandar Mirza.
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