1973 constitution and its features

1. z
1956 Constitution
of Pakistan
.

2. z
Introduction
●After assuming charge as Prime Minister, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali along with his team worked day
and night to formulate a constitution for Pakistan
●The Constituent Assembly adopted it on 29 February 1956, and it was enforced on 23 March 1956.
Thereupon the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan became the temporary National Assembly and
Governor General Iskandar Mirza was confirmed in as the first President of Pakistan.

3. z
Written and Rigid Constitution
 Constitution of was a written and lengthy document. It had 234
Articles and 6 Schedules.
 The constitution could only be amended through a process
requiring the amendment to be passed by at least a two-thirds
majority of the parliament and authentication by the President.

4. z
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
 The name of the country was adopted as the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan.

5. z
Objective Resolution
 The objective resolution was included as a introduction of the
constitution.

6. z
Federal System
 The constitution provides for a federal system in the country.
Powers was divided between the center and the provinces. The
subjects were divided into three lists; The Federal List, The
Provincial List, and the Concurrent List.

7. z
Unicameral Legislature
 The legislature would consist of a single house. Both the wings
of the country were given representation in the National
Assembly
 . The National Assembly consisted of 300 members. 150
members were drawn from each wing.
 Age limit of a candidate for a seat in National Assembly was 25
years.

8. z
Parliamentary System
 A parliamentary system was adopted, according to it the
president was the head of state and the Prime Minister the head
of government.

9. z
The President
 The president must be a Muslim of at least forty years of age. The
term of his office was five years. In case of internal or external
danger he could declare a state of emergency in the country. He
was authorized to appoint the Governors, the Judges of the
Supreme Court, Auditor General and the Advocate Genera. 3/4th
members of the Assembly could charge the president.
 President had the power to summon and dissolve the Assembly on
the advice of the cabinet. No bill imposing taxes or involving
expenditure could be moved without his consent. He had partial
veto power. He could give or withhold his agreement to a bill
passed by the Assembly.

10. z
The Prime Minister
 He/she was to be the leader of the Parliamentary group and
was thus indirectly elected by the people. He/she could choose
his/her cabinet from the members of the National Assembly; the
cabinet was answerable to the Assembly. The Prime Minister
had to inform the president about all the decisions of the cabinet.

11. z
Provincial Autonomy/Independence
 It was shortened in the constitution to a great extent.

12. z
Islamic Law
 No law would be passed against the teachings of the Quran and
Sunnah.

13. z
Free Judiciary
 An independent judiciary in the country. A Supreme Court
interpreted the constitution, advised the state whenever
required, and decided the issues whenever required.

14. z
Fundamental Rights
 It included freedom of movement, freedom of speech and
expression, freedom to choose profession and freedom to
profess religion. Right to life, liberty, and property.

15. z
Rights of Minorities
 Rights of minorities were provided in the constitution of Pakistan
1956. Minorities freely perform own religion festivals.

16. z
Language
 Both Urdu and Bengali were selected as national language of
Pakistan in 1956 constitution.

17. z
Drawback
 The Bengalis were diminished in the National Assembly.
 The provisional autonomy was not given to provinces, and
their demands were tried to be crushed by 'One Unit Scheme.
 The first step towards institutionalizing army into politics was
taken by giving the president the right to declare emergency at a
time of so-called internal or external danger.

18. z
Demise
 On 7 October 1958, President Iskandar Mirza abolished the
constitution, imposed martial law and appointed General
Muhammad Ayub Khan as the Chief Martial Law Administrator
and Aziz Ahmad as Secretary General and Deputy Chief Martial
Law Administrator.