elec-tion-ary [Election-in-1970]

Making of NA and new Constitution.

ISLAMABAD: On December 19, 1971, General Yahya Khan announced his resignation and, the next day, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took oath as president and the first civilian martial law administrator of the country.

President ZA Bhutto issued the National Assembly (Short Session) order on March 23, 1972. Under the order, the constituent assembly was formed by 138 members elected to the National Assembly from the western provinces, six elected to reserved seats for women and the two members from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) elected on tickets of parties other than the Awami League. The business of the assembly was restricted to ensuring a vote of confidence in the President of Pakistan and appointing a committee to prepare a draft for a permanent Constitution.

The National Assembly met for a short session on April 14, 1972, and elected ZA Bhutto as the president. It passed the interim Constitution on April 17.

The draft Constitution was introduced as a bill on December 31, 1972, and was finally passed on April 10, 1973. It was to take effect from August 14, 1973. The elections for the Senate were held from July 4 to 10, and Fazal Elahi was elected President of Pakistan under the new Constitution on August 10, 1973. Four days later ZA Bhutto was elected prime minister. (Courtesy: Free and Fair Election Network and other sources)

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2013.