ISKANDAR MIRZA + LIQALIKAT ALI KHAN + GHULAM MUHAMMAD

Question 1

What major political development took place during Liaquat Ali Khan’s time between 1948 and 1951?

Answer 1

• In March 1949, during Liaquat Ali Khan’s time, the Objectives Resolution was passed, laying down fundamental principles to create a constitution.
• It was reviewed by the Basic Principles Committee in September 1950, recommending a bicameral legislature with both houses having equal powers, keeping Urdu as the national language.
• However, religious parties criticized it as not Islamic enough, and East Pakistan objected because of demands for more parliamentary representation and recognition of Bengali

Question 2

How did Liaquat Ali Khan tackle corruption and political instability before his assassination?

Answer 2

• Liaquat Ali Khan introduced the PRODA (Public Representatives and Officers Disqualification Act) to curb corruption and successfully foiled a coup attempt in 1951 known as the Rawalpindi Conspiracy case, arresting Major Akbar Khan and fourteen others.
• However, he was assassinated in October 1951 while addressing a rally in Rawalpindi.

Question 3

How did Malik Ghulam Muhammad come to power, and what economic steps did he take after 1951?

Answer 3

• After persuading Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din to step down, Malik Ghulam Muhammad became the third Governor-General in October 1951.
• He introduced a 6-year economic development plan aimed at the industry, power, and transport sectors, which later became a 5-year plan.
• During his time, a major jute processing plant was set up in East Pakistan in 1952, and natural gas was discovered at Sui in Balochistan.

Question 4

What were the economic and political challenges faced during Malik Ghulam Muhammad’s time around 1952–1953?

Answer 4

• Despite Pakistan having a positive Balance of Payment due to cotton and jute exports during the Korean War, serious food shortages hit East and West Pakistan due to droughts and violence caused by the anti-Qadiani movement.
• Ulemas demanded the removal of Ahmadis like Sir Zafar Ullah Khan from key positions.
• Using this unrest as a reason, Malik Ghulam Muhammad dismissed Prime Minister Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din in April 1953.

Question 6

What major political development took place during Liaquat Ali Khan’s time between 1948 and 1951?

Answer 6

• In March 1949, during Liaquat Ali Khan’s time, the Objectives Resolution was passed, laying down fundamental principles to create a constitution.
• It was reviewed by the Basic Principles Committee in September 1950, recommending a bicameral legislature with both houses having equal powers, keeping Urdu as the national language.
• However, religious parties criticized it as not Islamic enough, and East Pakistan objected because of demands for more parliamentary representation and recognition of Bengali.

Question 7

How did Liaquat Ali Khan tackle corruption and political instability before his assassination?

Answer 7

• Liaquat Ali Khan introduced the PRODA (Public Representatives and Officers Disqualification Act) to curb corruption and successfully foiled a coup attempt in 1951 known as the Rawalpindi Conspiracy case, arresting Major Akbar Khan and fourteen others.
• However, he was assassinated in October 1951 while addressing a rally in Rawalpindi.

Question 8

How did Malik Ghulam Muhammad come to power, and what economic steps did he take after 1951?

Answer 8

• After persuading Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din to step down, Malik Ghulam Muhammad became the third Governor-General in October 1951.
• He introduced a 6-year economic development plan aimed at the industry, power, and transport sectors, which later became a 5-year plan.
• During his time, a major jute processing plant was set up in East Pakistan in 1952, and natural gas was discovered at Sui in Balochistan.

Question 9

What were the economic and political challenges faced during Malik Ghulam Muhammad’s time around 1952–1953?

Answer 9

• Despite Pakistan having a positive Balance of Payment due to cotton and jute exports during the Korean War, serious food shortages hit East and West Pakistan due to droughts and violence caused by the anti-Qadiani movement.
• Ulemas demanded the removal of Ahmadis like Sir Zafar Ullah Khan from key positions.
• Using this unrest as a reason, Malik Ghulam Muhammad dismissed Prime Minister Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din in April 1953.

Question 10

What major political actions did Malik Ghulam Muhammad take during Muhammad Ali Bogra’s time as Prime Minister?

Answer 10

• Although the assembly passed a law restricting the Governor-General’s powers and abolished PRODA to stop misuse, Malik Ghulam Muhammad dismissed Muhammad Ali Bogra’s government in September 1954 and dissolved the Constituent Assembly.
• He reappointed Bogra as Prime Minister but included five non-elected ministers like Ayub Khan as Defence Minister.
• A new Constituent Assembly was later elected in June 1955.

Question 11

How did Iskander Mirza come to power, and what were his key contributions after 1955?

Answer 11

• After Malik Ghulam Muhammad fell ill in August 1955, Iskander Mirza became Governor General.
• He appointed Ch. Muhammad Ali as Prime Minister and introduced the One Unit Scheme in October 1955, merging all of West Pakistan’s provinces into a single province to balance with East Pakistan.
• Ch. Muhammad Ali drafted Pakistan’s first Constitution, which was implemented in March 1956, creating a federal, parliamentary government but giving the President powers to appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister

Question 12

What developments and challenges took place under Iskander Mirza from 1956 to 1958?

Answer 12

• Although Karachi airport was completed, railways were modernized, and the telephone network expanded under Iskander Mirza, he struggled to maintain stable relations with his Prime Ministers.
• Ch. Muhammad Ali was dismissed in 1957, followed by quick changes with Suharwardy, I.I. Chundrigar, and finally Feroz Khan Noon. Political instability grew and, eventually, Iskander Mirza abrogated the 1956 Constitution and declared Martial Law on 7 October 1958, appointing General Ayub Khan as Chief Martial Law Administrator.

Question 13

Who contributed the most to Pakistan’s domestic policies between 1948 and 1958, and why?

Answer 13

• Liaquat Ali Khan contributed the most because he laid the political and economic foundations of Pakistan by passing the Objectives Resolution, tackling corruption with PRODA, and maintaining political stability by foiling the Rawalpindi Conspiracy.
• His early leadership efforts remain significant today, with the Objectives Resolution still serving as the preamble to Pakistan’s 1973 Constitution.