Chaudhry Muhammad Ali (1955 - 1956) : Pakistan's First Constitution and Controversial One -Unit
Chaudhry Muhammad Ali (1955–1956): Pakistan’s First Constitution & the Controversial One-Unit When seasoned civil servant Chaudhry Muhammad Ali became prime minister on 12 August 1955, Pakistan was a state without a constitution, a budget in deficit, and provinces itching for autonomy. He was neither a spell-binding orator nor a mass-mobiliser, but his administrative acumen would gift Pakistan its first charter—and ignite a provincial identity storm. 1. Mission: A Written Constitution Eight Years, Zero Charter: By 1955 India had long been running on its 1950 constitution, while Pakistan fumbled with draft after draft. Muhammad Ali declared, “No more delays.” Through marathon sessions and back-room bargaining, he delivered the landmark 23 March 1956 Constitution . For the first time Pakistan was officially styled the “Islamic Republic of Pakistan.” 234 Articles defined citizen rights, Islamic injunctions, and federal structures. President: Muslim, at least 40 years ...