HIS103 Lec 07 Election 1954 The Constitution of 1956

HIS-103: Emergence of Bangladesh
Lecture 07
Election of 1954 & The Constitution of 1956
Dr. Sadik Hasan

Course Teacher
Election of 1954
 Elections 1954 held in East Pakistan in March 1954 under the India Act of 1935, and on
the basis of universal adult franchise. Apart from the United Front, the other major
political party was the ruling Muslim League.
 In the elections held from 8 to 12 March 1954, 1285 candidates contested for 304 seats,
5 seats having been won uncontested.
 Of them, 986 were Muslim candidates for 228 seats, 101 Hindu candidates for 30 seats,
and 151 scheduled caste candidates for 36 seats. The seats for the non-Muslims were
contested by candidates mainly from the Pakistan National Congress, United Progressive
Party and the Scheduled Caste Federation.
 The total electors numbered 1,97,48,568 of whom 73,44,216 (37.19%) cast their votes.
The lower turnout was ascribed to poor communications in rural areas and the reluctance
of conservative Muslim women to come out of their houses.
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 The elections resulted in a landslide victory for the United Front which won 228 seats in a
House of 309 (including nine reserved seats for women).
 On the other hand, the Muslim League, the party in power directly or indirectly ever since
1937, managed to get only 7 seats.
 Of the total of 228 elected Front members, 143 belonged to Awami Muslim League, 48 to
Krishak Sramik Party, 22 to Nezam-e-Islam, 13 to Ganatantri Dal and 2 to Khilafat-e-
Rabbani Party. Of the non-Muslim seats, Congress got 25, Scheduled Caste Federation
27, and the United Front of the Minorities 13.
 The United Front's victory proved illusory long before the euphoria wore out. On March
25, East Pakistan governor Choudhury Khaliquzzaman asked Krishak Sramik Party
leader AK Fazlul Huq to form the ministry.
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 But in the ministry formed on 3 April the Awami Muslim League was left out. This created a
crisis in the Front, and Fazlul Huq was obliged to expand his cabinet on May 15 to include
Abul Mansur Ahmed, Ataur Rahman Khan, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Abdus Salam Khan and
Hashimuddin.
 The same day a serious riot between the Bangalee and non-Bengali workers of the Adamjee
Jute Mills at Narayanganj caused the death of nearly 1500 workers. The communist activists
were held responsible for the tragedy, and the Fazlul Huq government was blamed for its
failure in controlling the situation.
 On May 30, the ministry was dismissed, and direct governor's rule was imposed. Around
1600 Front leaders and workers, including 30 members of the legislature, were put behind
the bars. The Awami League, however, returned to power on its own on 30 August 1956 with
Ataur Rahman Khan as chief minister, but only to resign a few months later.
Constitution of 1956
 The Constitution of 1956 was the fundamental law of Pakistan from March 1956 until the 1958
Pakistani coup d'état. It was the first constitution adopted by independent Pakistan. There were
234 articles 13 parts and 6 schedules.
 Pakistan became independent of the United Kingdom in 1947 but remained a British Dominion
like Canada or Australia until 1956. Under Section 8 of the Indian Independence Act, 1947, the
Government of India Act 1935 with certain adaptations, served as the working constitution of
Pakistan, but the need of a full independence and a constitution to be framed by the elected
representatives of the people was all the more necessary for the free citizens of a sovereign
state. Therefore, the first Constituent Assembly was formed under the Independence Act and
was entrusted with two separate functions:
 To frame a Constitution for the country, and
 To set as a Federal Legislative Assembly or Parliament until that Constitution came into effect.
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 The Constitution of 1956 provided for federal system with the principle of parity between East
Pakistan and West Pakistan. The Federal Legislature was to perform like the British
Parliament. The Center was invested with such powers as to take unilateral action in
emergency and it could influence the provincial autonomy.
 The Constitution of 1956 provided for the parliamentary form of government, where real
executive authority was vested in a cabinet, collectively responsible to the legislature. The
cabinet was presided over by the Prime Minister.
 The Constitution declared that there would be only one house of parliament known as the
National Assembly and equality between the two Wings (i.e. East Pakistan and West
Pakistan) was maintained in it.
 The Governor General was replaced by a President, who was to be elected by the Electoral
College of Pakistan composed of members of the National Assembly and Provincial
Assembly.
Salient Features
 Written Constitution: This is a written and lengthy document.
 Rigid Constitution: The constitution could be amended through a process requiring the amendment to
be passed by at least a two-thirds majority of the parliament. However the president had the right to
veto the draft, which then could be overridden by simple parliamentary majority.
 Islamic Republic of Pakistan: The name of the country was adopted as the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan.
 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.
 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.
 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.
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 The President: required to be a Muslim of at least forty years of age. The tenure 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 General.
 The Prime Minister: He was to be the leader of the Parliamentary group and was thus indirectly
elected by the people. He could choose his cabinet from the members of the National Assembly; the
cabinet was answerable to the Assembly.
 Provincial Autonomy: Curtailed in the constitution to a great extent.
 Islamic Law: No law would be passed against the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.
 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.
 Fundamental Rights: Included freedom of movement, freedom of speech and expression, freedom to
choose profession and freedom to profess religion. Right to life, liberty, and property.
 Language: Urdu & Bengali
Drawbacks
 The Bengalis were underrepresented 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.

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HIS-103: Emergence of Bangladesh

Dr. Sadik Hasan

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