Accession of States and Tribal Areas to Pakistan
There were about 600 semi-autonomous princely states in the subcontinent. After the announcement of the plan of June 3, 1947, these states were to join either Pakistan or India, depending on their geographical situation, population and religion. The description of some of these states is as under:-
1. State of Jammu and Kashmir
The state of Jammu and Kashmir is situated in the extreme north of the subcontinent which is considered to be the centre of the continent of Asia. Muslims in Kashmir were in a large majority and they wanted accession to Pakistan but Raja Hari Singh, the Hindu ruler of Kashmir, fled to India and announced accession to India against the wishes of the Kashmir people.
India sent its troops to Kashmir and tried to capture it illegally, but the Kashmiri Mujahideen liberated the area of Azad Jammu and Kashmir from India. India took the issue to the United Nations. The UN arranged ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The UN approved in its resolutions with majority vote that the issue of Kashmir would be decided according to the aspirations of the people of Kashmir by a plebiscite. The Kashmir issue is a central issue between India and Pakistan and without resolving it, the security and peace of this region is at risk. Although Pakistan invited India on numerous occasions to resolve the issue through dialogue yet India avoided it every time on one pretext or the other. Both Pakistan and India are now nuclear powers. If the war starts again on this issue, it can turn into a nuclear war.
2. Hyderabad Deccan State
At the time of partition, the ruler of the state was called the Nizam. The majority of population was Hindus. It was a separate state in British India and had an area of 86 thousand square miles. The Nizam wanted to keep his state autonomous but in 1948, Indian forces removed his government and occupied the state.
3. Junagarh State
At the time of partition of India, the ruler of Junagarh state, Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khan announced its accession to Pakistan. This accession was also approved by the government of Pakistan but Indian forces invaded the state of Junagarh in 1947 and occupied it.
4. Manavadar State
The ruler of this state was Muslim at the time of partition of India. He declared its accession to Pakistan. This state had borders with Junagarh and the Indian forces which had already occupied Junagarh took advantage of it and occupied the state of Manavadar.
5. Swat State, Khairpur State and Bahawalpur State
Swat State, Khairpur State and Bahawalpur State affiliated with Pakistan.
6. Tribal Areas
After the creation of Pakistan, these areas enjoyed a different status from the four provinces and were governed by the federal government. In 2018, these areas were merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
General Muhammad Ayub Khan Era, 1958-1969
The main causes of General Ayub Khan's martial law were as follows:
(i) Lack of Political Leadership
After one year of establishment of Pakistan, the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah died and in 1951, Quaid-e-Millat Liaqat Ali Khan was martyred. After the departure of these leaders, there was a crisis of competent political leadership in Pakistan. Thus, rein of the country fell into the hands of such leaders who could neither create the desired national unity nor overcome the provincial, linguistic and economic crises.
Diagram image pending upload by Admin.
(ii) Delay in Elections
One of the reasons for development of political crisis in Pakistan was the delay in the elections. After the Constitution of 1956 was passed, it was expected that elections would be held within a year but it could not happen.
(iii) Frequent Change in Governments
From August 14, 1947 to October 7, 1958, there was parliamentary system in Pakistan. This system had failed completely over these eleven years. The failure of the parliamentary system can be judged from the fact, that in these eleven years, seven ministries were formed under four governor generals.
(iv) Constant Hurdles in Making Constitution
Both Pakistan and India got their freedom at the same time. India developed its constitution within 2 1/2 Years but Pakistan could not do so. Eventually, the situation arose when martial law was imposed.
2. Basic Democracies System 1959
General Ayub Khan took charge of the country by imposing martial law in 1958. He himself was a supporter of the presidential system in which the president wields huge powers. In view of this sentiment, General Ayub Khan decided to introduce a four tiers Basic Democracies System in 1959.
(i) Union Council / Town Committee
Union Councils in large rural towns and Town Committees in small towns were the first tier of the Basic Democracies System.
(ii) Tehsil Council /Thana Council
The second tier of the Basic Democracies System was the Tehsil Council and Thana Council.
(iii) District Council
The District Council was the third major tier of the Basic Democracies System.
(iv) Divisional Council
The Divisional Council was the last tier of the Basic Democracies System.