Draft:Undivided Pakistan
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Pakistan | |||||||||||
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| 1956-1971 | |||||||||||
.svg) National Emblem
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| Motto: Īmān, Ekota, Śṛiṅkholā (Bengali) Īmān, Ittehād, Nazm (Urdu) | |||||||||||
| Anthem: Qaumi Taranah | |||||||||||
.svg) Location of East and West Pakistan (dark green) and proclaimed territories (light green) | |||||||||||
| Status | Sovereign | ||||||||||
| Capital |
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| Largest city | Karachi | ||||||||||
| Official languages | |||||||||||
| Religion | Islam (Majority) Hinduism (Minority) | ||||||||||
| Demonym | Pakistani | ||||||||||
| Government | Parliamentary Democracy (1956-58) Matial Law (1958-71)[1] | ||||||||||
| President | |||||||||||
• 1956-58 | Iskander Mirza | ||||||||||
• 1958-1969 | Ayub Khan | ||||||||||
• 1969-1971[2] | Yahya Khan | ||||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||||
• 1956 | Chaudhri Muhammad Ali | ||||||||||
• 1956-1957 | Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy | ||||||||||
• 1957 | Ismail Ibrahim Chundrigar | ||||||||||
• 1957-1958 | Firoz Khan Noon | ||||||||||
| Legislature | Pakistan Legislative Assembly | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
• Pakistan Day | 23rd March, 1956 | ||||||||||
• Surrender of Niazi at Race course, Dhaka | 16th December 1971 | ||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||
• Total | 945,096 km2 (364,904 sq mi) | ||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||
• 1961 census | 9,38,00,000 (East Pakistan: 48 millions, West Pakistan: 48 millions - 1960/61 estimation)[3] | ||||||||||
| Currency | Pakistani Rupee/Taka | ||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+05:00 ও UTC+06:00 | ||||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | PK | ||||||||||
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| Today part of | [4] | ||||||||||
| Part of a series on the |
| History of Bangladesh |
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 Bangladesh portal |
Undivided Pakistan or Pakistan (1956–1971) refers to the remarkable era starts from implementing the first constitution of Pakistan in 1956 lasts till the initiation of Bangladesh in 1971. This happened to be a successive entity of Dominion of Pakistan, was unified under the name of East Pakistan and West Pakistan.[5] After the implementation of first constitution on 23 March 1956, Dominion of Pakistan became the Republic of Pakistan and Iskander Mirza became the first president.[6]
But Pakistan was separated geographically 1600 kilometres by mainland India, had eastern wing on Eastern side and western wing on Western side.[7] The borders of this undivided Pakistan adjoined India, the then Socialist Union of Burma, monarchical Iran, the People's Republic of China, and the Kingdom of Afghanistan.[5] Earlier, under the "One Unit" scheme of 1955, the four western provinces were merged to form West Pakistan, and the name of East Bengal was changed to East Pakistan.
This period in Pakistan witnessed extreme political instability, corruption, military rule, and vast economic and political disparities between the two wings.[8] Although 56 percent of the country's total population resided in East Pakistan, they were regularly subjected to economic exploitation and political deprivation; their representation in the military and civil administration was also negligible.[8] On October 7, 1958, President Iskander Mirza imposed martial law and abrogated the 1956 Constitution. Shortly thereafter, Army Chief General Ayub Khan seized power and emerged as the country's first military ruler.[9] Subsequently, in 1962, the powers of the President were further expanded through the enactment of a new constitution.
To eliminate this disparity between the two regions, the Awami League, under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, put forward the historic "Six-Point" demands in 1966; these essentially constituted a blueprint for full provincial autonomy for East Pakistan.[6] In the 1970 Pakistani general election—the country's first—the Awami League secured an absolute majority in the National Assembly. However, the ruling military establishment at the time refused to transfer power to them.[6] In protest against this, a massive non-cooperation movement began in East Pakistan. On the night of March 25, 1971, the Pakistani military launched a military operation against the people of East Bengal under the name "Operation Searchlight."[9] In response, Bangladesh's independence was declared on March 26. After nine months of the bloody Liberation War, the Mukti Bahini achieved final victory on December 16, 1971, with the assistance of the Indian Allied Forces.[8] On that day, the formal end of undivided Pakistan came about with the surrender of the Pakistan Army.[7] East Pakistan emerged as an independent and sovereign Bangladesh, marking the permanent conclusion of this chapter in Pakistan's history.[7]
Background
[edit]In March 1940, the All-India Muslim League adopted the Lahore Resolution at its historic Lahore session. This resolution demanded the formation of independent and sovereign states comprising the Muslim-majority regions in the northwestern and eastern parts of the Indian subcontinent.[10] Muhammad Ali Jinnah declared Muslims a separate nation through his Two-Nation Theory, which served as the ideological foundation for the Pakistan Movement and further strengthened the demand for the creation of a separate state.[10]
Following the Second World War, the British government dispatched the Cabinet Mission in 1946 with the aim of transferring power. Although a proposal was made to form a federation within the framework of a united India—granting extensive autonomy to the provinces—it could not be implemented due to political disagreements.[11] Subsequently, on June 3, 1947, Lord Mountbatten announced the final blueprint for the partition of India—known as the Mountbatten Plan—which ensured the emergence of two independent states: India and Pakistan.[12]
On August 14, 1947, Pakistan was established as an independent dominion within the British Commonwealth, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah assumed office as the first Governor-General.[11] As the new state lacked a constitution of its own, the Government of India Act 1935—enacted by the British—was adopted with necessary amendments, and the interim administration continued to function under it.[13]
Ever since gaining independence, Pakistan has faced deep political instability due to the distribution of state resources, the balance of power between the center and the provinces, and ideological divisions.[12] This political crisis deepened further following the assassination of Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan in 1951. Consequently, the process of drafting a comprehensive and universally accepted constitution was severely hampered.[13]
Despite constituting the majority of Pakistan's total population, Bengalis from East Bengal faced severe discrimination in the central administration and in policymaking. Consequently, a strong movement for autonomy emerged there, finding political expression in the historic victory of the United Front in the 1954 elections.[13] On the other hand, in order to diminish the impact of East Pakistan's overwhelming majority and consolidate West Pakistan's political position, the 'One Unit' system was introduced in 1955 by merging its four provinces.[11]
Following negotiations among various political parties to resolve the prolonged political deadlock and constitutional disputes, a significant agreement—such as the Marí Agreement—was signed, paving the way for the drafting of the constitution.[12] Ultimately, as a result of these political discussions, Pakistan's first constitution was formally implemented on March 23, 1956. This marked the definitive end of Pakistan's status as a British Dominion and saw the country emerge on the global stage as an Islamic Republic.[13]
History
[edit]The Constitution of 1956 and the First Islamic Republic
[edit]Pakistan's first constitution came into effect on March 23, 1956, and the country officially emerged as the "Islamic Republic of Pakistan."[14] Under the new constitution, the powers of the President were enhanced at the expense of the Prime Minister, and the office of Governor-General was abolished, with Major General Iskander Mirza being appointed as the first President of Pakistan.[15] This constitution introduced the 'One Unit' policy—merging the four provinces of West Pakistan—and the principle of 'parity' regarding the allocation of political seats in the National Assembly between East and West Pakistan.[7] However, this system failed to reduce inequality, and political fractionalism, regional disparities, and central interference led to the rapid collapse of several cabinets between 1956 and 1958.[16]
The 1958 Martial Law and the Decade of Ayub Khan
[edit]On October 7, 1958, President Iskander Mirza abrogated the 1956 Constitution, dissolved the parliament, and imposed martial law across the country.[14] General Mohammad Ayub Khan, Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces, was appointed Chief Martial Law Administrator. On October 27, Ayub Khan assumed the presidency himself after exiling Iskander Mirza in a bloodless coup.[15]
Ayub Khan introduced an indirect election system known as 'Basic Democracy,' under which the presidential election was held based on the votes of 80,000 locally elected members.[7] In 1962, Ayub Khan promulgated a new constitution that established a strong presidential form of government in the country.[14] Although economic growth increased during Ayub Khan's regime, economic disparity between East and West Pakistan reached extreme levels, and government policies concentrated wealth in the hands of only a few select wealthy families.[16]
The 1965 Indo-Pak War and the Tashkent Agreement
[edit]A 17-day war took place between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue in September 1965.[14] During the war, East Pakistan was left in a virtually undefended state from a military perspective, creating a deep sense of insecurity among the Bengali people. In January 1966, the 'Tashkent Agreement' was signed between Pakistani President Ayub Khan and Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, mediated by the Soviet Union.[15] Widespread political discontent arose in West Pakistan over this agreement, and Ayub Khan's Foreign Minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, resigned to form the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).[7]
The Movement of Six-Point Programme
[edit]Against the backdrop of persistent economic, military, and political discrimination against East Pakistan, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman presented the historic 'Six-Point Programme' at a conference of opposition parties held in Lahore in February 1966.[3] The Six-Point Program is regarded as the fundamental charter for securing the autonomy and rights of the Bengali nation. The Ayub government branded the Six-Point Program as a separatist movement and, in 1968, filed the 'Agartala Conspiracy Case,' naming Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the primary accused.[7]
The Mass Uprising of 1969 and the Fall of Ayub Khan
[edit]In response to the Agartala Conspiracy Case and political repression, a massive anti-Ayub movement erupted across both East and West Pakistan during 1968–1969. In East Pakistan, a historic mass uprising took place, driven by the '11-Point Program' of the Student Action Committee and the '6-Point Program' of the Awami League.[3] Faced with a movement and intense protests, the Ayub government was compelled to withdraw the Agartala Conspiracy Case and release political prisoners, including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in February 1969. Sheikh Mujib was conferred the title of 'Bangabandhu' at the historic Race Course Maidan. On March 25, 1969, Ayub Khan resigned and handed over power to the military chief, General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan.[14]
The 1970 General Election and Political Crisis
[edit]Immediately upon assuming power, General Yahya Khan reimposed martial law and issued the 'Legal Framework Order,' abolishing the 'One Unit' system and restoring seat allocation based on population.[15] In December 1970, the first free and fair general election in the history of Pakistan was held. In the election, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, secured an absolute majority by winning 167 out of the 313 seats in the National Assembly (comprising 160 of the 162 general seats in East Pakistan and all 5 reserved seats for women).[16] Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party secured 88 seats in West Pakistan.[7]
Despite the Awami League holding a clear majority, the military junta and West Pakistani political parties delayed the transfer of power. When General Yahya Khan abruptly announced the postponement of the National Assembly session scheduled for March 3, 1971—a move made on March 1—intense protests erupted in East Pakistan, and a massive non-cooperation movement was launched at the call of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.[3]
The 1971 Genocide, the Liberation War, and the Dismemberment of Pakistan
[edit]Under the guise of political negotiations, the military junta amassed troops in East Pakistan. At midnight on March 25, 1971, the Pakistan Army launched a military operation and genocide against unarmed civilians in East Pakistan, codenamed 'Operation Searchlight'.[17] Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh just before his arrest in the early hours of March 26.[8]
On April 17, 1971, the first government of independent Bangladesh (the Mujibnagar Government) was formally constituted and sworn in at Mujibnagar in Meherpur, and it organized the resistance war. During the nine-month armed Liberation War, the Pakistan Army and their collaborating local militia forces killed vast numbers of people and displaced millions, forcing approximately ten million people to seek refuge in India.[18][3]
When Pakistan attacked India's western borders and airbases on December 3, 1971, India directly entered the war, and the Allied Forces (comprising Indian troops and the Mukti Bahini) were formed. Defeated in the face of this joint offensive, General A.A.K. Niazi, Commander of the Pakistan Army's Eastern Command, formally surrendered in Dhaka on December 16, 1971, along with 93,000 troops.[18] Through this process, East Pakistan broke away and emerged as the independent, sovereign state of Bangladesh, marking the end of Undivided Pakistan era.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Jalal, Ayesha (1990). The State of Martial Rule: The Origins of Pakistan's Political Economy of Defence. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-37348-7.
- ↑ Hamudur Rahman Commission Report (Report). Government of Pakistan. 1974.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Islam, Sirajul, ed. (1992). History of Bangladesh (1704-1971). Vol. 1: Political History. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 978-984-512-337-2.
- ↑ "Article: India and Bangladesh Swap Territory, Citi.. | migrationpolicy.org | Ghostarchive". ghostarchive.org. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- 1 2 Jamaluddin, Syed (2008). Formation of Republic of Jinnahpur: An Inevitable Solution. iUniverse. ISBN 978-0-595-51453-3.
- 1 2 3 Wynbrandt, James (2008). A brief history of Pakistan. Brief history. New York: Facts On File. ISBN 978-0-8160-6184-6.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Jalal, Ayesha (2014-09-16). The Struggle for Pakistan: A Muslim Homeland and Global Politics. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-74499-8.
- 1 2 3 4 Farid, Cynthia (2023-05). "Negotiating Nationhood: Constitutional Warfare, International Law, and the Birth of Bangladesh". Law and History Review. 41 (2): 317–340. doi:10.1017/S073824802300007X. ISSN 0738-2480.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - 1 2 জেমস উইনব্র্যান্ডট (২০০৯). A Brief History of Pakistan. ফ্যাক্টস অন ফাইল. ISBN 978-0-8160-6184-6.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help)CS1 maint: year (link) - 1 2 Sayeed, Khalid Bin (2009). Pakistan: the formative phase, 1857 - 1948. Oxford Pakistan paperbacks (2nd ed., 15th impr ed.). Karachi: Oxford Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0-19-577114-5.
- 1 2 3 Jaffrelot, Christophe, ed. (2009). A history of Pakistan and its origins. Anthem South Asian studies (Reprint ed.). London: Anthem Press. ISBN 978-1-84331-149-2.
- 1 2 3 Mahmood, Safdar (2004). Pakistan: political roots and development, 1947 - 1999 (Ed. in paperback, 3. impr ed.). Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0-19-579806-7.
- 1 2 3 4 Choudhury, G. W. (1969). Constitutional development in Pakistan (2d ed. rev. and enl ed.). Vancouver: Publications Centre, University of British Columbia. ISBN 978-0-582-78007-1.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Wynbrandt, James (2009). A Brief History of Pakistan. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8160-6184-6.
- 1 2 3 4 Kazimi, Muhammad Reza (2012-07-26). A Concise History of Pakistan. OUP Pakistan. ISBN 978-0-19-906512-7.
- 1 2 3 Talbot, Ian (2012). Pakistan: A New History. Hurst. ISBN 978-1-84904-203-1.
- ↑ "Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report". www.bangla2000.com. Retrieved 2026-09-24.
- 1 2 War, Pakistan Hamoodur Rehman Commission of Inquiry into the 1971 (2000). The Report of the Hamoodur Rehman Commission of Inquiry Into the 1971 War, as Declassified by the Government of Pakistan. Vanguard. ISBN 978-969-402-351-9.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)