ROLE OF PAKISTAN NATIONAL CONGRESS IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN, 1947-1958

Abstract

Opposition is an integral part of parliamentary system of government. After independence since Pakistan opted for parliamentary system, it was necessary to establish parliamentary norms for success of this system. Both ruling and opposition parties are equally responsible to set democratic traditions. Much has been written and scholars have examined the working of the governments but the role of opposition parties has been largely overlooked and not dealt sufficiently. Particularly, the role of Pakistan National Congress has not been exclusively pondered upon. Since the Indian National Congress was ideologically opposed to partition, and the Pakistan National Congress was founded contrary to the Instructions of the INC, therefore, this paper attempts to analyze the role of Pakistan National Congress during the first parliamentary decade. It focuses on the formation, structure and organization and program of the party. In addition, it assesses its contribution in the political development being the part of coalition governments at the center, as well as in the East Pakistan province. A large part of the discussion is about the PNC’s contribution in the framing of the first Constitution in 1956.