Causes of failure of 1956 constitution of Pakistan

Why 1956’s constitution of Pakistan failed.

Pakistan's first constitution, which was draughted in 1956, was unsuccessful for a number of institutional, social, and political reasons. The Government of India Act of 1935 was intended to be replaced by the Constitution, which went into force on March 23, 1956, establishing a democratic parliamentary system. But when General Ayub Khan proclaimed martial law in 1958, it was repealed in barely two years. Its failure was caused by multiple factors:

1. Weak Leadership and Political Unrest 

Following the 1951 assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan, Pakistan's first prime minister, the country went through a period of political unrest characterised by frequent changes in the country's leadership. Pakistan experienced several prime ministers and governments between 1951 and 1958, which caused political division and made it difficult to properly execute the Constitution.The incapacity of politicians to establish robust democratic institutions was also mirrored in this political instability. The success of the Constitution was threatened by the absence of steady leadership, which also harmed democracy.

2. Regional and Ethnic .Discord

West Pakistan, which included what is now Pakistan, and East Pakistan, which included what is now Bangladesh, were the two geographically distinct territories that made up Pakistan. The two wings had considerable cultural, linguistic, and economic distinctions and were separated by over 1,600 kilometres of Indian land.• The 1956 Constitution did not adequately address these geographical differences. Although West Pakistan retained most of the authority, Pakistan was proclaimed to be a "federal" state. Even with a greater population, East Pakistan felt left out and under-represented, which fuelled growing discontent.• Deepening differences and increasing discontent, especially in East Pakistan, was the One entity Scheme (1955), which combined the provinces of West Pakistan into a single administrative entity to balance the power with East Pakistan.

3. Military-Civil Relations

 Pakistan's military has had a great deal of power since its founding because of security worries about its border with India, particularly in light of the Kashmir conflict. • The political unpredictability and poor governance under civilian leadership contributed to the military's growing role in politics, which culminated in General Ayub Khan's eventual coup in 1958, which put an end to the 1956 Constitution. As civilian governments failed, the military, led by individuals like General Ayub Khan, started to see itself as the only stable institution capable of running the country.

4. Financial Difficulties

 During this time, Pakistan experienced serious economic issues such as unemployment, inflation, and unequal economic growth in East and West Pakistan. Government after government failed to adequately address these problems, which eroded public trust in civilian authority.• The political crisis was further exacerbated by the economic divide between the two sides of the nation. Even though it has a larger population, East Pakistan saw less growth and investment, which exacerbated rifts.

5. Inconsistency in Governance 

Pakistan was founded as an Islamic republic with a parliamentary system of government in 1956 under the Constitution. Regarding the precise structure of government and the place of Islam in the state, political leaders and parties disagreed sharply.While some political factions preferred a more secular approach, others desired a state with a more Islamic orientation and Sharia-based legislation. The inability to harmonise these divergent viewpoints led to more rifts and complicated the successful application of the Constitution.

6. Lack of Democracy Experience

The political establishment in Pakistan lacks democratic governance experience. Many politicians were influenced by the independence movement or had served in British colonial administrations. This led to a lack of knowledge about the democratic process, the rule of law, and the significance of political compromise. This lack of experience resulted in political infighting, short-lived governments, and inefficient governance, all of which served to erode the democratic system that the 1956 Constitution had established.

No 7. Judiciary Weakness .

At the time, Pakistan's court lacked the strength and independence necessary to support democratic government and constitutionalism. The judiciary has supported the executive branch at critical junctures. One such instance is the Dosso case from 1958, in which the courts upheld Ayub Khan's martial law and the repeal of the Constitution. This weakened constitutional law even more.

8. The President's and Governor-General's Role

Although the president and prime minister had constant disagreements on the division of duties, the Constitution established the office of a ceremonial president. Iskander Mirza, the first president, was largely responsible for the political unrest by subverting democratic standards by influencing political factions and toppling administrations.Actually, President Iskander Mirza encouraged General Ayub Khan to declare martial law in 1958, demonstrating how civilian leadership played a role in the demise of the Constitution.

In summary:

Political instability, regional and ethnic conflicts, military involvement, feeble democratic institutions, and a lack of political consensus all contributed to the 1956 Pakistani Constitution's downfall. The Constitution failed to resolve regional disputes, build robust civilian governance, or establish a durable democratic system. This gave the military the opportunity to take control, which resulted in the 1958 repeal of the Constitution and the installation of General Ayub Khan as the head of a long-lasting military government.