Monarchy of Pakistan explained

Royal Title:Monarchy
Realm:Pakistan
Coatofarms:Coat of arms of Pakistan.svg
Coatofarmssize:120px
Coatofarmscaption:Coat of arms of Pakistan
First Monarch:George VI
Last Monarch:Elizabeth II
Style:His Majesty
1947–1952
Her Majesty
1952–1956
Began:14 August 1947
Ended:23 March 1956

From 1947 to 1956, the Dominion of Pakistan was a self-governing country within the Commonwealth of Nations that shared a monarch with the United Kingdom and the other Dominions of the Commonwealth. The monarch's constitutional roles in Pakistan were mostly delegated to a vice-regal representative, the governor-general of Pakistan.

The dominion was created by the Indian Independence Act 1947, which divided British India into two independent sovereign states of India and Pakistan. The monarchy was abolished on 23 March 1956, when Pakistan became a republic within the Commonwealth with a president as its head of state.

History

Reign of George VI (1947–1952)

Under the Indian Independence Act 1947, British India was to be divided into the independent sovereign states of India and Pakistan. From 1947 to 1952, King George VI was the sovereign of Pakistan, with Pakistan sharing the sovereign with the United Kingdom and the other Dominions of the Commonwealth of Nations.[1]

To mark the independence of Pakistan, the King sent a message of congratulations to its people, which was read by Lord Mountbatten in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on 14 August 1947. In his message, the King said in "achieving your independence by agreement, you have set an example to all freedom-loving people throughout the world". He told the Pakistani people to be "assured always of my sympathy and support as I watch your continuing efforts to advance the cause of humanity".[2]

The King appointed Mohammad Ali Jinnah as the governor-general of Pakistan and authorised him to exercise and perform all the powers and duties as his representative in Pakistan. Mohammad Ali Jinnah took the following oath of office:

Jinnah died of tuberculosis on 11 September 1948, while in office.[3] The King confirmed the appointment of Sir Khwaja Nazimuddin as the next governor-general by a Royal decree which said:

In 1951, Sir Khwaja Nazimuddin resigned from the post of governor-general to become the new prime minister. The King appointed Sir Ghulam Mohammed as the third governor-general of Pakistan.

King George VI died in his sleep in the early hours of 6 February 1952. The King's death was deeply mourned in Pakistan. In view of the King's death, all government offices in Pakistan remained closed on 7 February. All places of amusement and business-houses closed, and the government cancelled all official engagements. Most Pakistani newspapers were issued with black borders on 7 February. On 15 February, the day of the funeral, a national two minutes' silence was observed throughout Pakistan, and a salute of 56 guns was fired, one for each year of the King's life. All Pakistani flags were flown at half-mast till the day of the funeral.

In the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, the Dominion's federal legislature, Prime Minister Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin said that the King's reign will always be remembered by Pakistanis as "the period during which the Muslims of the Indo-Pakistan Subcontinent carved out a homeland for themselves".

Reign of Elizabeth II (1952–1956)

Following George VI's death on 6 February 1952, his elder daughter Princess Elizabeth became the new monarch of Pakistan.[4] She was proclaimed Queen throughout her realms, including in Pakistan, where she was honoured with a 21-gun salute on 8 February.

Andrew Michie wrote in 1952 that "Elizabeth II embodies in her own person many monarchies", as she was Queen of the United Kingdom, but was also equally Queen of Pakistan. He added that it was "now possible for Elizabeth II to be, in practice as well as theory, equally Queen in all her realms".[5]

During her coronation in 1953, Elizabeth II was crowned as Queen of Pakistan and other independent Commonwealth realms.[6] In her Coronation Oath, the Queen promised "to govern the Peoples of … Pakistan … according to their respective laws and customs".[7] The Queen's coronation gown was embroidered with the floral emblems of each Commonwealth nation, and it featured the three emblems of Pakistan: wheat, in oat-shaped diamante and fronds of golden crystal; cotton, made in silver with leaves of green silk; and jute, embroidered in green silk and golden thread.[8]

The Standard of Pakistan at the Coronation was borne by Mirza Abol Hassan Ispahani. Major-General Mohd. Yusuf Khan served as the head of Pakistan's Coronation Contingent. Pakistani naval vessels HMPS Zulfiqar and HMPS Jhelum took part in the Coronation Review of the fleet at Spithead on 15 June 1953,[9] [10] which costed approximately 81,000 rupees.

Eighty seats were reserved for Pakistanis in the Abbey for the Coronation. Prime Minister Mohammad Ali Bogra, also attended the Coronation on 2 June, along with his wife and two sons, after which he attended the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference from 3 June to 9 June 1953, in London.[11]

The Government of Pakistan spent approximately 482,000 rupees for the Queen's Coronation. Prime Minister Bogra justified the expenditure by saying that Pakistan being a member of the Commonwealth "has to fall in line with other sister Dominions on such occasions".

In 1953, Governor-General Sir Ghulam Muhammad dismissed Prime Minister Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin for attempting to equalise the power of West and East Pakistan. The prime minister attempted to reverse this decision by pleading to the Queen, but she refused to intervene.[12]

At the 1955 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, the Prime Minister of Pakistan informed fellow Commonwealth leaders that Pakistan would be adopting a republican constitution, but desired Pakistan to remain a member of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth leaders issued a declaration on 4 February, in which it was said:

In 1955, the Pakistani Government recommended to the Queen that Major-General Iskander Mirza should succeed Sir Ghulam Muhammad as the next governor-general, the Queen's representative in Pakistan. On 19 September, it was officially announced that the Queen had appointed Iskander Mirza to be the governor-general, with effect from 6 October 1955. Mirza took office after the Royal sign-manual from the Queen was read out.

The Queen also congratulated the retiring governor-general, Sir Ghulam Mohammad, on the manner in which he carried out his duties as the governor-general.

Abolition

The Pakistani monarchy was abolished on the adoption of a republican constitution on 23 March 1956.[13] Pakistan became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations. The Queen sent a message to the new president Major-General Mirza, in which she said: "I have followed with close interest the progress of your country since its establishment ... It is a source of great satisfaction to me to know that your country intends to remain within the Commonwealth. I am confident that Pakistan and other countries of the Commonwealth will continue to thrive and to benefit from their mutual association".

The Queen visited Pakistan as Head of the Commonwealth in 1961 and 1997, accompanied by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[14]

Pakistan left the Commonwealth in 1972 over the issue of the former East Pakistan province becoming independent as Bangladesh. It rejoined in 1989, then was suspended from the Commonwealth twice: firstly from 18 October 1999 to 22 May 2004 and secondly from 22 November 2007 to 22 May 2008.[15]

Title

Before 1953, the monarch's title was same throughout all realms and territories. It was agreed at the Commonwealth Economic Conference in London in December 1952 that each of the Queen's realms, including Pakistan, could adopt its own royal titles for the monarch. The Queen's official title in Pakistan, per the official proclamation in The Gazette of Pakistan on 29 May 1953, was "Elizabeth the Second, Queen of the United Kingdom and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth".[16] [17]

As Pakistan was a Muslim-majority country, the phrases by the Grace of God and Defender of the Faith were omitted. The title "Defender of the Faith" reflected the Sovereign's position as the supreme governor of the Church of England, who is thus formally superior to the archbishop of Canterbury.[16]

Constitutional role

Pakistan was one of the realms of the Commonwealth of Nations that shared the same person as Sovereign and head of state.

Effective with the Indian Independence Act 1947, no British government minister could advise the sovereign on any matters pertaining to Pakistan, meaning that on all matters of the Dominion of Pakistan, the monarch was advised solely by Pakistani ministers of the Crown. All Pakistani bills required Royal assent.[18] The Pakistani monarch was represented in the Dominion by the governor-general of Pakistan, who was appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Pakistani Government.

The Crown and Government

The Pakistani monarch and the federal legislature constituted the Parliament of Pakistan. All executive powers of Pakistan rested with the sovereign. All laws in Pakistan were enacted only with the granting of Royal Assent, done by the governor-general on behalf of the sovereign. The governor-general was also responsible for summoning, proroguing, and dissolving the Federal Legislature. The governor-general had the power to choose and appoint the Council of Ministers and could dismiss them under his discretion. All Pakistani ministers of the Crown held office at the pleasure of the governor-general.

The Crown and Foreign affairs

Pakistani ambassadors and representatives to foreign countries were accredited by the monarch in his or her capacity as the Sovereign of Pakistan and Pakistani envoys sent abroad required royal approval. The letters of credence and letters of recall were formerly issued by the monarch.

The Crown and the Courts

Within the Commonwealth realms, the sovereign is responsible for rendering justice for all her subjects, and is thus traditionally deemed the fount of justice. In Pakistan, criminal offences were legally deemed to be offences against the sovereign and proceedings for indictable offences were brought in the sovereign's name in the form of The Crown versus [Name]. Hence, the common law held that the sovereign "can do no wrong"; the monarch cannot be prosecuted in his or her own courts for criminal offences. The governor-general of Pakistan was also exempted from any proceedings against him in any Pakistani court.

Vice-regal residences

The representative of the Pakistani monarch officially resided at Governor-General's House, in the city of Karachi. All four governors-general lived there until 1956, when the monarchy was abolished, and the residence was renamed President's House.

All oath taking ceremonies were held at the Darbar Hall of Governor-General's House. The Hall also contains a throne which was made for King Edward VII during his tour of India as Prince of Wales in 1876, and was also used by Queen Mary during the Delhi Durbar in 1911. All governors-general took salutes at the terrace of the house on national days as the contingents of guards marched past.[19]

Cultural role

The Crown and Honours

Within the Commonwealth realms, the monarch is deemed the fount of honour. Similarly, the monarch, as Sovereign of Pakistan, conferred awards and honours in Pakistan in his or her name. Most of them were awarded on the advice of "His Majesty's Pakistan Ministers" (or "Her Majesty's Pakistan Ministers").

See also:

The Crown and the Defence Force

The Crown sat at the pinnacle of the Pakistan Defence Force. It was reflected in Pakistan's naval vessels, which bore the prefix HMPS, i.e., Her Majesty's Pakistan Ship (or His Majesty's Pakistan Ship during the reign of George VI). The Pakistan Navy and the Pakistan Air Force were known as Royal Pakistan Navy and Royal Pakistan Air Force respectively. The prefix "Royal" was dropped when the Pakistani monarchy was abolished.[20] [21]

Pakistani royal symbols

List of Pakistani monarchs

No.PortraitRegnal name
(Birth–Death)
ReignFull nameConsortRoyal House
StartEnd
1George VI
(1895–1952)
14 August 19476 February 1952Albert Frederick Arthur GeorgeElizabeth Bowes-LyonWindsor
Governors-general: Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin, Sir Ghulam Muhammad
Prime ministers: Liaquat Ali Khan, Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin
2Elizabeth II
(1926–2022)
6 February 195223 March 1956Elizabeth Alexandra MaryPhilip MountbattenWindsor
Governors-general: Sir Ghulam Muhammad, Iskander Mirza
Prime ministers: Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin, Mohammad Ali Bogra, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. George VI. 20 April 2008. Matthew. H. C. G.. September 2004. 10.1093/ref:odnb/33370. India and Pakistan remained among the king's dominions but both were set on republican courses, becoming republics within the Commonwealth in 1950 and 1956 respectively..
  2. Web site: His Excellency The Governor-General's Address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. 14 August 1947. National Assembly of Pakistan. 26 June 2022.
  3. Web site: Mohammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948). BBC. 22 August 2021.
  4. Web site: Pillalamarri. Akhilesh. When Elizabeth II Was Queen of Pakistan. 2021-08-27. thediplomat.com. en-US.
  5. Book: Michie, Allan Andrew . The Crown and the People . 52. Secker & Warburg . London . 1952 . 14 September 2017 .
  6. Web site: The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. YouTube. 27 January 2008 . 16 May 2014.
  7. Web site: The Form and Order of Service that is to be performed and the Ceremonies that are to be observed in the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the Abbey Church of St. Peter, Westminster, on Tuesday, the second day of June, 1953 . Oremus.org . 2013-02-03.
  8. Web site: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Gown. Fashion Era. https://web.archive.org/web/20110606002208/https://fashion-era.com/coronation_dress.htm. 30 April 2011. 2011-06-06.
  9. Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
  10. Web site: Coronation Review of the Fleet. Day. A.. 22 May 1953. Cloud Observers Association. 3 May 2015.
  11. Book: Schofield. Victoria. Kashmir in Conflict: India, Pakistan and the Unending War. 2000. I.B.Tauris. 9781860648984. https://books.google.com/books?id=rkTetMfI6QkC . 85 . 9 July 2017. en . Special Status.
  12. Web site: When Elizabeth II Was Queen of Pakistan. The Diplomat . 17 March 2016 . 28 April 2021.
  13. Book: John Stewart Bowman. Columbia chronologies of Asian history and culture. registration. 22 March 2011. 2000. Columbia University Press. 978-0-231-11004-4. 372.
  14. Web site: Commonwealth visits since 1952. Official website of the British monarchy. 4 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412031035/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/RoyalVisits/Commonwealthvisitssince1952.aspx. 12 April 2015.
  15. Web site: Profile: Commonwealth of Nations - Timeline . BBC News. 26 September 2014. 20 August 2021.
  16. American Political Science Review . 47 . 4 . 1022 . 1953 . The Nature and Structure of the Commonwealth . K.C. . Wheare . K. C. Wheare . 1951122 . 10.2307/1951122. 147443295 .
  17. http://www.ndl.gov.in/document/Uzg1V0h1RVo2WjZqMTJmQXRybjB6alVpdXh1cXowcS9rRVA5TVp1dTBpYz0 The Gazette of Pakistan, Extraordinary, Karachi, Friday, May 29, 1953
  18. Web site: Transfer of power and Jinnah . DAWN. 4 February 2013. 20 August 2021.
  19. Web site: History of the Governor House. Governor of Sindh. https://web.archive.org/web/20110203232007/http://www.governorsindh.gov.pk/history/ . 3 February 2011.
  20. Web site: PN History . Pakistan Navy. 20 August 2021.
  21. Web site: Infancy to Independence . Pakistan Air Force. 20 August 2021.