Tag: History of Indo Pak

The 1962 Constitution | Pakistan Affairs Notes for CSS-PMS

1: Background

Military took over on 7 October 1958 and consequently Ayub Khan became Chief Martial Law Administrator. One major task was to frame a new Constitution. The administration was critical of Parliamentary system because it caused instability in the past. They sought stability of the nation in the gradual development of democracy.

2: 1962 Constitution Making

The government introduced Basic Democracies in October 1959. Under this system Forty Thousand basic democrats (local councilors) were to be elected in each province. They have to perform functions as local government and their role in developmental work. They also acted as an electoral college for the election of president and the national assembly.

Elections for the Basic Democracies (BD) were held in December 1959 and January 1960. Then Presidential referendum was held by the elected BD members on February 17, 1960. A Constitutional Commission was established in February 1960 under the chairmanship of Justice Shahabuddin, former Chief Justice. The tasks assigned to the Commission were:

The 1956 Constitution | Pakistan Affairs Notes for CSS-PMS

The Constitution of 1956 was passed after long deliberations. It replaced the Interim Constitution. It has 234 Articles and 6 Schedules. It declared that the name of the country would be the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

There was clear impact of the Government of India Act, 1935 and the Interim Constitution.

Features

1: Parliamentary System

Executive Authority vested in the President who exercised it on the advice of the Prime Minister except in the matters he had discretion.

President had ceremonial functions and exercised limited powers.

The President would be of 45 years of age, Muslim and qualified to be a member of National Assembly.

He was to be elected by National Assembly (NA) and Provincial Assemblies.