SalientFeaturesOfConstitutionOf1956

Q.Discussthesalientfeaturesofthelateconstitution1956oftheIslamicrepublicof
Pakistan.(1995A)(1997A)(2000A)
Q.Describethesalientfeaturesoftheconstitutionof1956andthereasonsforitsfailure.
(1995S)
Q.Discusssalientfeaturesof1956constitution.(2001A)(2004)(2005)
1.Introduction:
WhenPakistancameintobeing,theGovernmentofIndiaact1935wasadpotedasaninterim
constitutionwithchangesmadetomeettherequirementsofthenewstateofPakistan.

2.Contitutionof1956:
Theconstitutionof1956wasputinMarch231956andwasabrogatedbecauseitcouldnotoperate
smoothly.

3.Salientfeaturesoftheconstitutionof1956:
Thesalientfeaturesoftheconstitutionof1956areusunder:

(i)Nature:
Theoftheconstitutionof1956isfundamentallyBritish.

(ii)UniCameralLegislature:
Thecentrallegislatureconsistedononehouseonlywhichwascalledthenationalassembly.nosecond
housewasthere.

(iii)Federalsystem:
Accordingtotheconstitutionofthefederalsystemwasintroducedinthecountry.

(iv)Parliamentarysystem:
Theconstitutionof1956providedparliamentaryformofGovt.theprimeministerenjoyedmorepowers
thanpresident.

(v)Written:
Theconstitutionof1956iswritteninform.itconsistued13chapter,234sectionsand5schedules.

(vi)Freedomofjudiciary;

Theconstitutionof1956recognizedtheindependenceofjudiciary.thesupremecourtofPakistanwas
entitledtoexplainandinterprettheconstitution.

(vii)FundamentalRights:
Fundamentalrightsofthepeoplewereguaranteedintheconstitutionandtheseweretobeprotected
bythecourtsoflaw.

(viii)RightsofMinortities:
Theconstitutionof1956protectstherightsofminoritiessothattheymayperformtheirreligious
obligationfreely.

(ix)SupremacyofIslamiclaws:
Intheconstitutionof1956,ShariahwasdeclaredthebasisforlegislativesystemofPakistan.

(x)Directiveprinciplesofthestatepolicy:
Theconstitutionlaiddowncertaindirectiveprinciplesofstatepolicyfortheguidanceofthe
Government.theywouldservesimplyasidealswhichthestateshouldstrivetoacieve.

(xi)Emergencypowersofthepresident:
Intheconstitutionof1956itwasthediscretionofthepresidenttodeclaretheemergency.

(xi)Emergencypowersofthepresident:
Intheconstitutionof1956itwasthediscretionofthepresidenttodeclaretheemergency.

(xii)OfficialLanguage:
UrduandBanglaweremadeofficiallanguagesofPakistan.itwasalsodeclaredEnglishtoremainas
officelanguageforamaximumperiod25years.

(xiii)NameofThecountry:
Thecountrywasnamedas"IslamicrepublicofPakistan"intheconstitutioof1956.

(xiv)Islamicprovisions:
Theobjectivesresloutionwasincludedasapreambleoftheconstitution.Islamwasthestate'sreligion.

(xv)Lengthyconstitution:
Theconstitutionof1956wasalengthyone.thereasonforitsbeinglengthywasthattheframernotonly
framedthefundamentalprinciplesbutadministrativedetailswerealsogiven.

(xvi)Partyrigid:
Theconstitutionof1956ispartlyrigidandpartlyflexible.themethodofamendmentwasnotdifficult.

(xvii)Presidentialform:
Theconstitutionof1956adoptedcertainfeaturesofpresidentialfromofGovernment.

(xviii)Directelection:
Intheconstitutionof1956themethodofdirectelectionwasapoptedinthecountry.

(xix)Singlecitizenship:
Therewasonlysinglecitizenshipinthecountry.

5.Causesforthefailureof1956constitution:
Theconstitutionof1956wasfaildbecauseitcouldnotoperatesmoothlyandthespiritofthe
constitutionwasnotrespectedbytherulersofthecountry.

(i)Lackofleadership:
Lackofleadershipalsoplayeditsroleinthefailureoftheconstitution.

(ii)Methodofelection:
Themethodofelectionwhichwasadoptedwasfalty.itwasnotfinallydecidedonelectorateissue.

(iii)Leakofpoliticaltraining:
therewaslackofpoliticaltraininginthecountry.theytypeofdemocracyintroducedbytheconstitution
ofPakistanwasalinetothepeople.

(iv)Roleofpoliticalparties:
Theroleofpoliticalpartieswerenothealthyaswellastheywerenotwellorderedanddisciplined.

(v)Lackofstateparliamentarysystem:
Theparliamentarysystemwasnotwelldevelopedinthecountrybecauseitwasnotbaseduponthe
principleswhichpresencewouldcrateademocraticsociety.

(vi)NonExistenceofeconomicequality:
NonExistenceeconomicequalityinthecountrywasalsothemaincauseofthefailureofthe
constitution.

(vii)Weaknessoftheconstitution:
Whiledraftingtheconstitution,thebackwardnessofPakistanwasnottakenintoaccountbutthe
circumstancesofthelandoftheforeignreulerswerekept.

(viii)Undueinterferenceoftheheadofthestate:
Undueinterferencebytheheadofthestatewiththeministersandwiththepoliticalpartiesresultedthe
failureoftheconstitution.

(x)Feudalism:
Theattempttoabolishfeudalismwasnotatallmadeintheconstitutionof1956.
6.Conclusion:
ToconcludeIcansaythat;theconstitutionof1956wasenforcedon23March1956.itprovided
parliamentaryfromofGovernment.itwasrepublicincharacter.presidentwaselectedinthejoint
sessionofnationalassemblyandprovincialassemblies.theconstitutionwasabrogatedonOctober8
1958beacuseitcouldnotoperatedinthecountry.hehassuchpowersandfunctionasareconferredon
himbytheconstitutionandlaw.