Constitutional and Political History of Pakistan - Hamid Khan

Jul 30, 2026

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Constitutional and Political History of Pakistan traces the evolution of political institutions and constitutional arrangements in South Asia from the pre-partition period through the creation of Pakistan and subsequent reforms up to October 1958. It covers British legislative control, major colonial constitutional acts, the path to partition, and foundational post-independence debates and resolutions. The narrative also examines key political crises, constitutional litigation, federal-centre relations, and landmark legal doctrines shaped by constitutional cases and governmental transitions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1414

Reading Time59 h 23 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Part I - Pre-Partition Constitutional and Political History

The State of Undivided India

A Colonial Constitution

Countdown to Partition

Part II - Constitutional and Political Developments from August 1947 to October 1958

Birth of a Nation and Death of Jinnah

The Objectives Resolution, 1949

Debates within the Constituent Assembly

CONSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL HISTORY OF PAKISTAN Hamid Khan OXPORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 69 70 MBtjBtei OXPORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Great Clarendon Street, Oxford ox2 6DP Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford New York Auckland Cape Town Dar es Salaam Hong Kong Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Nairobi New Delhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto with offices in Argentina Austria Brazil Chile Czech Republic France Greece Guatemala Hungary Italy Japan South Korea Poland Portugal Singapore Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries © Oxford University Press 2001 The moral rights of the author have been asserted This edition published 2005 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retneval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press. Enquiries concerning reproduction should be sent to Oxford University Press at the address below. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. ISBN-13: 978-0-19-597975-6 Second Imjoression 2006”Typeset in Times Printed in Pakistan by Ibn-e-Hassan Offset Printers, Karachi. Published by Ameena Saiyid, Oxford University Press No. 38, Sector \5, Kotsmgi Industrial Area, PO Box 8214 Karachi-74900, Pakistan. This work is dedicated to the People of Pakistan whose rights would not have been trampled upon had the ruling elite faithfully followed the constitutional and democratic path set for the nation by its founder Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah Contenl Table of Cases Preface PRE-PARTITION POLITI 1. The State of Ui Introduction British Expansic Legislative conti Parliament The Government The Indian Coun Constitutional D 1861 and 1909 The Minto-Mork The Indian Coun The Government Diarchy in the Pr Central and Provi and their Power Political Develop 2. A Colonial Cons The Government The Federal Execi The Federal Legis The Federal Cour Provincial Goverr Provincial Legisla Formation of Mm Provinces Conclusion 3. Countdown to Pi The Pakistan (LaiSecond World We IYJSJP& Missi Contents Table of Cases Preface page xv xix Parti PRE-PARTITION CONSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL HISTORY 1. The State of Undivided India 3 Introduction 3 British Expansionism in India 4 Legislative control by the British Parliament 5 . The Government of India Act, 1858 6 The Indian Councils Act, 1861 7 Constitutional Developments between 1861 and 1909 7 The Minto-Morley Reforms, 1909-1919 9 The Indian Councils Act, 1909 10 The Government of India Act, 1919 11 Diarchy in the Provinces 12 Central and Provincial Legislaturesand their Powers 13 Political Developments, 1919-1935 13 2. A Colonial Constitution 21 The Government of India Act, 1935 21 The Federal Executive 22 The Federal Legislature 23 The Federal Court 27 Provincial Governments 28 Provincial Legislatures 29 Formation of Ministries in the Provinces 31 Conclusion 32 3. Countdown to Partition 34 The Pakistan (Lahore) Resolution, 1940 34 Second World War and the Termination of Congress Ministries 36 The Cripps’ Mission, 1942 36 The ’Quit India’ Movement 37 Elections to Provincial and Central Legislatures, 1945-46 38 The Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946 38 Direct Action Plan and the Interim Government 40 Constituent Assembly and Attlee’s statement, February 1947 41 The Mountbatte

FAQs

What periods does the book cover in Pakistan’s constitutional and political history?

It spans from pre-partition political developments in undivided India through independence and the constitutional evolution up to October 1958.

Which major constitutional acts in British India are discussed?

Key British legislative frameworks include the Government of India Acts of 1858, 1919, and 1935, along with the Indian Councils Acts of 1861 and 1909.

What are some central post-1947 constitutional themes included?

The book addresses Pakistan’s constitutional foundations such as the Interim Constitution, the Objectives Resolution, constituent assembly debates, minority-related discussions, and federal legislative arrangements.

Jul 30, 2026

180

Uploaded by Logic