Constitution of 1956

The Second Constituent Assembly approved the Draft Bill for the Constitution of Pakistan on 29th February 1956. Governor-General Iskander Mirza ratified the Bill of the 1956 Constitution on 2nd March 1956.

The first Constitution of Pakistan was formally enforced in the country on 23rd March 1956. This written document consisted of a Preamble and 234 Articles. The official language provided in the Constitution of 1956 was Urdu and Bengali.

The Article of the Constitution of 1956 which allowed the President to establish an Islamic Research Institute was Article 197. The Constitution of 1956 was Federal in nature.

The Article which provided that the President of Pakistan should be a Muslim was Article 32. The Article which allowed citizens of Pakistan to profess and practice their religions was Article 18.

According to the Constitution of 1956, un-Islamic laws could not be enacted in Pakistan — this was provided by Article No. 198.

According to the 1956 Constitution, the President could be impeached by a three-fourth majority of members of Parliament.

The Constitution of 1956 set up a unicameral parliament in the country, called the National Assembly, comprising of 300 members. It also set up a National Economic Council, which consisted of Ten members.

The Constitution of 1956 was not allowed to function properly and was abrogated by Major-General Iskander Mirza. According to the 1956 Constitution, the authority of the central and provincial legislatures could not be challenged anywhere (Nowhere).