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SalientFeaturesOfConstitutionOf1956
Q.Discussthesalientfeaturesofthelateconstitution1956oftheIslamicrepublicof
Pakistan.(1995A)(1997A)(2000A)
Q.Describe
the
salient
features
of
the
constitution
of
1956
and
the
reasons
for
its
failure.
(1995S)
Q.Discusssalientfeaturesof1956constitution.(2001A)(2004)(2005)
1.Introduction:
WhenPakistancameintobeing,theGovernmentofIndiaact1935wasadpotedasaninterim
constitutionwithchangesmadetomeettherequirementsofthenewstateofPakistan.
2.Contitutionof1956:
Theconstitutionof1956wasputinMarch231956andwasabrogatedbecauseitcouldnotoperate
smoothly.
3.Salientfeaturesoftheconstitutionof1956:
Thesalientfeaturesoftheconstitutionof1956areusunder:
(i)Nature:
Theoftheconstitutionof1956isfundamentallyBritish.
(ii)Uni
Cameral
Legislature:
Thecentrallegislatureconsistedononehouseonlywhichwascalledthenationalassembly.nosecond
housewasthere.
(iii)Federalsystem:
Accordingtotheconstitutionofthefederalsystemwasintroducedinthecountry.
(iv)Parliamentarysystem:
The
constitution
of
1956
provided
parliamentary
form
of
Govt.
the
prime
minister
enjoyed
more
powers
thanpresident.
(v)Written:
Theconstitutionof1956iswritteninform.itconsistued13chapter,234sectionsand5schedules.
(vi)Freedomofjudiciary;
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Theconstitutionof1956recognizedtheindependenceofjudiciary.thesupremecourtofPakistanwas
entitledtoexplainandinterprettheconstitution.
(vii)FundamentalRights:
Fundamentalrightsofthepeoplewereguaranteedintheconstitutionandtheseweretobeprotected
bythecourtsoflaw.
(viii)RightsofMinortities:
Theconstitutionof1956protectstherightsofminoritiessothattheymayperformtheirreligious
obligationfreely.
(ix)SupremacyofIslamiclaws:
Intheconstitutionof1956,ShariahwasdeclaredthebasisforlegislativesystemofPakistan.
(x)Directive
principles
of
the
state
policy:
Theconstitutionlaiddowncertaindirectiveprinciplesofstatepolicyfortheguidanceofthe
Government.theywouldservesimplyasidealswhichthestateshouldstrivetoacieve.
(xi)Emergencypowersofthepresident:
Intheconstitutionof1956itwasthediscretionofthepresidenttodeclaretheemergency.
(xi)Emergencypowersofthepresident:
In
the
constitution
of
1956
it
was
the
discretion
of
the
president
to
declare
the
emergency.
(xii)OfficialLanguage:
UrduandBanglaweremadeofficiallanguagesofPakistan.itwasalsodeclaredEnglishtoremainas
officelanguageforamaximumperiod25years.
(xiii)NameofThecountry:
Thecountrywasnamedas"IslamicrepublicofPakistan"intheconstitutioof1956.
(xiv)Islamicprovisions:
Theobjectivesresloutionwasincludedasapreambleoftheconstitution.Islamwasthestate'sreligion.
(xv)Lengthyconstitution:
Theconstitutionof1956wasalengthyone.thereasonforitsbeinglengthywasthattheframernotonly
framedthefundamentalprinciplesbutadministrativedetailswerealsogiven.
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(xvi)Partyrigid:
Theconstitutionof1956ispartlyrigidandpartlyflexible.themethodofamendmentwasnotdifficult.
(xvii)Presidentialform:
Theconstitution
of
1956
adopted
certain
features
of
presidential
from
of
Government.
(xviii)Directelection:
Intheconstitutionof1956themethodofdirectelectionwasapoptedinthecountry.
(xix)Singlecitizenship:
Therewasonlysinglecitizenshipinthecountry.
5.Causesforthefailureof1956constitution:
Theconstitutionof1956wasfaildbecauseitcouldnotoperatesmoothlyandthespiritofthe
constitutionwasnotrespectedbytherulersofthecountry.
(i)Lackofleadership:
Lackofleadershipalsoplayeditsroleinthefailureoftheconstitution.
(ii)Methodofelection:
Themethodofelectionwhichwasadoptedwasfalty.itwasnotfinallydecidedonelectorateissue.
(iii)Leak
of
political
training:
therewaslackofpoliticaltraininginthecountry.theytypeofdemocracyintroducedbytheconstitution
ofPakistanwasalinetothepeople.
(iv)Roleofpoliticalparties:
Theroleofpoliticalpartieswerenothealthyaswellastheywerenotwellorderedanddisciplined.
(v)Lackofstateparliamentarysystem:
The
parliamentary
system
was
not
well
developed
in
the
country
because
it
was
not
based
upon
the
principleswhichpresencewouldcrateademocraticsociety.
(vi)NonExistenceofeconomicequality:
NonExistenceeconomicequalityinthecountrywasalsothemaincauseofthefailureofthe
constitution.
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(vii)Weaknessoftheconstitution:
Whiledraftingtheconstitution,thebackwardnessofPakistanwasnottakenintoaccountbutthe
circumstancesofthelandoftheforeignreulerswerekept.
(viii)
Undue
interference
of
the
head
of
the
state:
Undueinterferencebytheheadofthestatewiththeministersandwiththepoliticalpartiesresultedthe
failureoftheconstitution.
(x)Feudalism:
Theattempttoabolishfeudalismwasnotatallmadeintheconstitutionof1956.
6.Conclusion:
ToconcludeIcansaythat;theconstitutionof1956wasenforcedon23March1956.itprovided
parliamentaryfrom
of
Government.
it
was
republic
in
character.
president
was
elected
in
the
joint
sessionofnationalassemblyandprovincialassemblies.theconstitutionwasabrogatedonOctober8
1958beacuseitcouldnotoperatedinthecountry.hehassuchpowersandfunctionasareconferredon
himbytheconstitutionandlaw.
