KSB Politics

Political History of Pakistan (1958 – 1969): Era of Ayub Khan General Muhammad Ayub Khan declared himself President on 27 October 1958 , only twenty days after President Iskander Mirza had imposed Pakistan’s first nationwide martial law. Ayub swiftly exiled Mirza to London, ended all talk of power-sharing, and ushered in a decade that mixed headline-grabbing economic growth with deep political repression. This article builds on the turmoil and experiments of Pakistan’s first eleven years. For complete context, read the earlier chapters: Liaquat Ali Khan Era (1947–1951) Political History of Pakistan 1951-55 – Instability Before the Martial Law Chaudhry Muhammad Ali (1954–1956) – First Constitution & One-Unit Scheme Political History of Pakistan 1956-1958 – Suhrawardy, Chundrigar & Feroz Khan Noon 1 | Prelude: How Ten Years of Instability Paved Ayub’s Path Pakistan’s first decade was scarred by four revolving prime ministers, two dissolved assembl...

Political History of Pakistan (1956–1958) The years 1956 to 1958 were among the most politically unstable times in Pakistan’s early history. Following the ratification of the first constitution in 1956, the country saw rapid changes in leadership, policy shifts, internal protests, and constitutional dilemmas. This period is marked by three Prime Ministers in just two years, each with a distinct approach, limited tenure, and unique challenges. 1. Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy (12 Sept 1956 – 17 Oct 1957) Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, the first Bengali Prime Minister of Pakistan, took office on 12 September 1956. His appointment was significant in a nation where over 50% of the population lived in East Pakistan but had seen no representation at the top level until then. Suhrawardy was a seasoned politician and had a strong connection with Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who had publicly appreciated his leadership during his 1947 Karachi speech. One of Suhrawardy's major achievemen...

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 ...

Political History of Pakistan (1951–1955): Khawaja Nazimuddin & Muhammad Ali Bogra – From Assassination Shock to Constitutional Daydreams Pakistan entered 1951 reeling from Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan’s assassination. What followed was a rapid-fire sequence of leadership crises. Khawaja Nazimuddin, a soft-spoken aristocrat, stepped into shoes far larger than his political footing. Two years later, diplomat-turned-premier Muhammad Ali Bogra arrived with foreign charm but the same domestic headaches. Together, their combined era (1951-1954) demonstrates how fragile Pakistan’s polity was before Ayub Khan ever dreamed of a coup. 1. Khawaja Nazimuddin (17 October 1951 – 17 April 1953) Leadership Vacuum: Nazimuddin inherited a nation still moving refugees, balancing budgets, and fighting the First Kashmir War’s diplomatic fallout. Lacking Liaquat’s authority, he faced provincial jealousy and economic shortages—especially Punjab’s food crisis of 1953. Second Draft Constitutio...

  Introduction Pakistan emerged as an independent state on 14 August 1947. However, its birth brought a series of immediate and complex challenges including economic instability, social unrest, geographical disputes, and most critically, the absence of a constitution. Liaquat Ali Khan, Pakistan's first Prime Minister, took charge at this crucial time and led the country through its formative years. Early Challenges Right from the beginning, Pakistan faced severe political and administrative instability. Among the earliest issues was the refugee crisis which intensified after 15 August 1948, as waves of migrants arrived from India. Simultaneously, the Kashmir conflict of 1947–48 resulted in a full-fledged war between India and Pakistan, further straining the young nation's resources. Internal Tensions Internally, Pakistan also dealt with unrest in Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), which posed significant threats to national unity and governance. ...