KARACHI: The Objectives Resolution was passed unamended by the … Constituent As­­sembly on … [March 12]. The House appoi­nted a 24-man committee to report on the main principles on which the Constitution of Pakistan is to be framed in accordance with the Resolution. Voting on an amendment seeking to delete the preamble of the Reso­lution led to a division — the second in the history of the Assembly. The amendment was defeated by 10 to 21 votes. The preamble envisages recognition of sovereignty of God and delegation of limited authority by Him “to the State of Pakistan through its people”.

The Prime Minister, Mr Liaquat Ali Khan, winding up the 5-day debate … declared that Pakistan would make a genuine contribution to the cause of peace by building up its polity on the basis of this Resolution. “It is a very big ambition; but Pakistan is a great nation also,” he declared.

What the world needed most were spiritual and moral values, he said. Pakistan would not make any contribution towards the advancement of peace if its constitution was framed just on the basis of the constitution of one country or the other.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2024