Historical Chronology of Pakistan
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Historical Chronology of Pakistan Pakistan has a rich history dating back nearly 5,000 years, 1947 to the Indus Valley Civilization (ca. 2500-1600 B.C.). Due to February its strategic location, the subcontinent has played host to a Lord Mountbatten is appointed viceroy of India. series of invaders—Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Turks, and others— each weaving a further layer of complexity into June the already intricate culture. Islam was introduced in the The assets of British India are divided in the ratio of seventeen early 8th century. A succession of Muslim dynasties ruled for India to five for Pakistan by decision of the Viceroy’s Council, from Delhi for the period from the early 13th century to the yet these divisions are difficult to implement, with Pakistan com- middle of the 19th century, when the subcontinent came to plaining of non-deliveries.1 From cash balances of undivided India be ruled by the British Crown. of Rupees 4,000 million, it is agreed that Pakistan would get Rupees 750 million as her share. Rupees 200 million are been already paid to Pakistan, yet the remaining amount is withheld under the pretext that Pakistan would use it in the war going on in Kashmir. However, given the intense global pressure, intensi- 1906 fied by Gandhi’s fast, the remaining amount is released in early A group of Muslim notables formed the All-India Muslim 1948. League. Initially, the League adopted the same objective as the Indian National Congress i.e. self-government for India within July the British Empire. However, with the Congress and League Passing of the India Independence Act, with two dominion states unable to reach an agreement on how to ensure the protec- created and the princely states provided with a set of guidelines tion of Muslim religious, economic, and political rights, the how to accede to either dominion. The 560 princely states ac- League adopted a more drastic approach, calling for political cede easily, yet four states, Hyderabad, Junagadh, Jodhpur, and independence from the Hindu-majority regions of British India. Jammu and Kashmir are unsure. After brief hesitation, Hydera- bad, Junagadh and Jodhpur, who each have Muslim rulers with 1930 majority Hindu populations, coaxed to accede to India. In his presidential address to the Muslim League, Dr. Mu- The accession of Jammu and Kashmir can not be resolved hammad Iqbal first introduced the concept of a Muslim state peacefully, and remains a source of contention between the two within the confederation of India. countries to this day. The maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir is reluctant to decide on accession to either dominion and signs 1940 agreements with both, allowing for the free movement of people March and goods to Kashmir. With reports of oppression of fellow Mus- During the annual session of the Muslim League, Moham- lims in Kashmir, armed groups from the North-West Frontier mad Ali Jinnah formally endorses the ‘Lahore Resolution’ Province enter Kashmir. calling for greater Muslim autonomy within British India. While Kashmir becomes a conflict zone, the partition of Bengal At the end of the Second World War, the United Kingdom and Punjab unleashes a flood of communal violence. Both Jinnah moved with increasing urgency to grant independence to and Nehru unsuccessfully attempts to quell the riots, yet parti- India. The Congress Party and the Muslim League could not tion see at what conservative estimates say, at least 250,000 reach an agreement, either on the terms for a Constitution deaths, and between 12 and 24 million refugees cross the newly or on the establishment of an interim government. established border. The territory of Pakistan is split between the Western wing consisted of the provinces of Punjab, Sindh, Bal- 1946 ochistan and NWFP, and the Eastern Wing of East Bengal, with Presidential elections are held. Congress and Muslim the two wings separated by 1,600 km of Indian territory. League emerge as the major parties in British India, with a major boost in popularity for the Muslim League, winning 14 August nearly 90% of the Muslim seats. At first both parties seem Pakistan becomes a State independent from British India. Mo- to accept the Cabinet Mission Plan, which suggest the es- hammad Ali Jinnah becomes the first Governor General of Paki- tablishment of a confederation in India. However, talks soon stan and Liaquat Ali Khan is chosen to be the first Prime Min- break down on the issue of representation of Muslims in the ister. With independence come immense challenges, not least central government. dealing with the seven million refugees that flood into the country, 1 while the most conservative estimates of the casualties were proscribes Line of Control remaining a de facto arrangement 250,000 dead (Library of Congress, 2005). For the subsequent separating Indian Administered Kashmir and Azad Jammu and 25 years, India was flanked by Pakistan on both sides; West Paki- Kashmir, which is effectively allied with Pakistan. stan, comprising of the provinces of Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, and the North-West Frontier Province (or NWFP, now Khyber- March Pakhtunkhwa), and East Pakistan (comprising what was formerly Liaquat Ali Khan passes the Objectives resolution, which is con- East Bengal). sidered to be the Magna Carta in Pakistan’s constitutional histo- The Hindu Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, with its’ majority ry.2 The resolution states that the future constitution of Pakistan Muslim population, was hesitant to accede to either Pakistan would not be modelled on Islamic principles, thus paving the way or India. However, armed incursions into the state by tribesmen for the establishment of a state where religion would play a key from North-west Pakistan led him to sign accession papers in role. The foreign policy of Pakistan is delineated as pro-West, 1947 and allow Indian troops into the state. The Government of while administration continued to be centralized. Pakistan: Country Profile Country Pakistan: Pakistan, however, refused to recognize the accession and cam- In response to the Objectives Resolution, the Constitution As- paigned to reverse the decision. The status of Kashmir remains sembly set up a number of committees, the most important of in dispute to this day, and has been the cause for three of the which is the Basic Principles Committee, mean to determine the four India-Pakistan conflicts - those of 1947, 1965 and 1999. basic principles of the future constitution of Pakistan. East Paki- stan raises two main issues with the first report, the first being September that East and West Pakistan are allocated the same number of Pakistan becomes member of United Nations. seats in the Senate, despite the East holding the majority of the population, and the second is that Urdu is being declared as the October sole national language of Pakistan. The final report of the Ba- The Maharaja of Kashmir requests military assistance from In- sic Principles Committee is severely criticised and raises many dia, which is given only after he signs an accession document. points of contention between East and West Pakistan, resulting The government of Pakistan refuses to recognize the accession in deadlock in constitution making. and denounces it as an act of coercion. This leads to the first war with India over disputed territory of Kashmir. The war lasts until 1950 Decade end of December 1948. Numerous changes in the civilian governments and protracted and largely fruitless attempts to agree on a formula for a con- 1948 stitution which would be acceptable to leaders of both East and The bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan on the free West Pakistan. movement of people, goods and capital, breaks down within a year after independence due to the trouble in Kashmir. 1951 October April Liaquat Ali Khan is assassinated. His assassin is also killed on the India cut off the supply of water to Pakistan from the two head spot, and his murder remains unresolved. works under her control. 1952 September Under the supervision of the International Bank for Reconstruc- Within the first year of independence, Jinnah’s health deterio- tion and Development, a temporary solution is developed on the rates substantially, resulting in his unfortunate death. Khawaja water conflict of 1948, which worked until the ‘Indus Water Nazimuddin, the former Chief Minister of the province of East Treaty’, which laid out a water sharing arrangement, is finalized Bengal, is declared the second Governor-General of Pakistan. in 1960. With the loss of morale felt in the country upon the early passing of Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan faces with the underlying challenges January of reconciling political leaders who have different ideas about the Pakistan joins the United Nations Security Council as a non-per- role of Islam in the country, and the distribution of power between manent member for a mandate of two years. the central and provincial governments, and also the direction of foreign policy. 1956 March 1949 The first constitution is approved by the Constituent Assembly; it January proclaims Pakistan an Islamic republic. The Constitution provides India takes the issue of Kashmir to the UN Security Council, who for a parliamentary form of government and a unicameral legisla- brings about a cease-fire in the state, and directs that a free ture. The One Unit concept3 wherein the four provinces of West and impartial plebiscite be held which would enable the people Pakistan are considered as a single unit, is recognized under the to decide which of the countries their state should accede to. 1956 Constitution. Nevertheless, the continuing disagreements The Council requires a withdrawal of armed forces from the on the parity of East and West Pakistan, a weakening economy state before the plebiscite would be held.