Monarchy of Pakistan: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Pakistan's head of state from 1947 to 1956}}
{{short description|Pakistan's head of state from 1947 to 1956}}
{{Distinguish|Princely states of Pakistan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox former monarchy
{{Infobox former monarchy
| royal_title      = Monarchy
| royal_title      = Monarchy
| realm            = Pakistan
| realm            = Pakistan
| border            = federal{{citation needed|reason=unlike Canada and Australia there is no evidence that the Crown had a separate legal existence in each province separately, creating a federal monarchy|date=August 2021}}
| coatofarms        = Pakistan Emblem (1947-1954).svg
| coatofarms        = Coat of arms of Pakistan.svg
| coatofarmssize    = 120px
| coatofarmssize    = 120px
| coatofarmscaption = [[Coat of arms of Pakistan]]
| coatofarmscaption = [[Coat of arms of Pakistan|Emblem]] of the [[Dominion of Pakistan]]<br>(1947–1954)
| image              = Queen Elizabeth II 1959.jpg
| image              = Queen Elizabeth II official portrait for 1959 tour (retouched) (cropped) (3-to-4 aspect ratio).jpg
| image_size        =
| image_size        =
| alt                =
| alt                =
| caption            = '''Last to reign'''<br>'''[[Elizabeth II]]'''<br>6 February 1952 – 23 March 1956
| caption            = '''Last to reign'''<br>'''[[Elizabeth II]]'''<br>6 February 1952 – 23 March 1956
| first_monarch    = [[George VI|King George VI]]
| first_monarch    = [[George VI]]
| last_monarch      = [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]]
| last_monarch      = [[Elizabeth II]]
| style            = [[Majesty|His Majesty]]<br><small>1947–1952</small><br>[[Majesty|Her Majesty]]<br><small>1952–1956</small>
| style            = [[Majesty|His Majesty]]<br>1947–1952<br>[[Majesty|Her Majesty]]<br>1952–1956
| began            = 14 August 1947
| began            = 14 August 1947
| ended            = 23 March 1956
| ended            = 23 March 1956
| appointer        = [[Succession to the British throne|Hereditary]]
}}
}}
The '''Monarchy of Pakistan''' was the form of government of the [[Dominion of Pakistan]] from 1947 to 1956. Under this system, Pakistan was an [[Independence|independent]] [[Commonwealth realm]] with a [[Hereditary monarchy|hereditary]], [[Constitutional monarchy|constitutional monarch]] as the [[head of state]].<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/438805/Pakistan Pakistan, Britannica Online Encyclopedia]</ref> The monarch was the monarch of the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]], and was also shared with a number of other countries. The role of the monarch was defined under the [[Constitution of Pakistan|Constitution]]. Most of the monarch's duties were carried out by the [[Governor-General of Pakistan]].


The monarchy of Pakistan was created by the [[Indian Independence Act 1947|Indian Independence Act]] of 1947. This act, made by the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]], [[Partition of India|divided]] its [[British Raj|British India]] into two new countries: [[India]] and Pakistan, each of which became an independent constitutional monarchy. [[Line of succession to the British throne|Succession]] to the throne of Pakistan was, like that of the United Kingdom, governed by the [[Act of Settlement 1701]].
From 1947 to 1956, the [[Dominion of Pakistan]] was a self-governing country within the British [[Commonwealth of Nations]] that shared a monarch with the [[United Kingdom]] and the other [[Dominion]]s of the Commonwealth. The monarch's constitutional roles in Pakistan were mostly delegated to a vice-regal representative, the [[governor-general of Pakistan]].


Pakistan Adopted a [[Constitution of Pakistan|New constitution]] on the 23rd of March in 1956. This constitution [[wikt:abolish|abolished]] the monarchy, making Pakistan a [[Republic]] in the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]. Pakistan left the Commonwealth on the 30th of January in 1972 over the Rebellious issue of the former [[East Pakistan]] province becoming a separate Independent Bangladesh. It re-joined on the 1st of October in 1989, then was [[Suspension from the Commonwealth of Nations|Suspended from the Commonwealth]] twice: firstly from the 18th of October in 1999 to the 22nd of May in 2004 and secondly from the 22nd of November in 2007 to the 22nd of May in 2008-present.
The dominion was created by the [[Indian Independence Act 1947]], which [[Partition of India|divided]] [[British Raj|British India]] into two independent sovereign states of [[Dominion of India|India]] and Pakistan. The monarchy was abolished on 23 March 1956, when Pakistan became a [[Republics in the Commonwealth of Nations|republic within the Commonwealth]] with a [[President of Pakistan|president]] as its [[head of state]].
 
==History==
 
===Reign of George VI (1947–1952)===
 
[[File:RBI 10 Rupees, King George VI, GoP, obverse.jpg|thumb|George VI, King of Pakistan, on a Pakistani 10-rupee banknote of 1947]]
 
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 [[Dominion]]s of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]].<ref>{{cite ODNB|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/33370|title=George VI|access-date=20 April 2008|last=Matthew|first=H. C. G.|date=September 2004|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/33370|quote=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.}}</ref><ref name=harshan>{{citation|last1=Kumarasingham|first1=Harshan|title=THE 'TROPICAL DOMINIONS': THE APPEAL OF DOMINION STATUS IN THE DECOLONISATION OF INDIA, PAKISTAN AND CEYLON, vol. 23| url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23726109 |year=2013|publisher=Transactions of the Royal Historical Society|pages=223|jstor=23726109}}</ref><ref name=aman>{{citation|page=184|title=Unravelling the Kashmir Knot|year=2016|author=Aman M. Hingorani|isbn=9789351509721}}</ref>
 
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".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://na.gov.pk/uploads/documents/1434523887_782.pdf|title=His Excellency The Governor-General's Address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan|date=14 August 1947|work=National Assembly of Pakistan|access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref>
 
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:<ref name=dawn/>
 
{{blockquote|"I, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, do solemnly affirm true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan as by law established and that I will be faithful to His Majesty King George VI, in the office of governor general of Pakistan."}}
 
[[File:Commonwealth Prime Ministers in London 1949.jpg|thumb|[[Liaquat Ali Khan]], the [[Prime Minister of Pakistan]], with [[George VI]], King of Pakistan, and other Commonwealth Prime Ministers in London for the [[1949 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference]]]]
 
Jinnah died of [[tuberculosis]] on 11 September 1948, while in office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/jinnah_mohammad_ali.shtml|title=Mohammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948)|work=BBC|access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref> The King confirmed the appointment of [[Khwaja Nazimuddin|Sir Khwaja Nazimuddin]] as the next governor-general by a Royal decree which said:<ref>{{citation|title=Three Presidents, Three Prime Ministers: Fragmentary Recollections of the Author's Days with Chaudhry Muhammad Ali ...|year=1996|isbn=9789694960074|publisher=Dost Publications|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gf5tAAAAMAAJ|page=15}}</ref>
 
{{blockquote|"On the advice of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, His Majesty the King is pleased to appoint Khwaja Nazimuddin as acting governor-general of Pakistan in the vacancy occasioned by the sad demise of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah."}}
 
In 1951, Sir Khwaja Nazimuddin resigned from the post of governor-general to become the new prime minister. The King appointed [[Ghulam Muhammad (governor-general)|Sir Ghulam Mohammed]] as the third governor-general of Pakistan.<ref>{{citation|title=Current Biography Yearbook|year=1954|publisher=H. W. Wilson Company|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PQgaAAAAYAAJ|page=466}}</ref>
 
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.<ref name="The Table: Volumes 20-23">{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K4SIAAAAMAAJ|title=The Table: Volumes 20-23|year=1952|publisher=Butterworth. |pages=112}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=George VI|author=Denis Judd|year=2012|isbn=9780857730411|publisher=I.B.Tauris|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yJ6LDwAAQBAJ|page=LV}}</ref><ref name=islam>{{citation|title=Islam: 1950-1952|year=2004|publisher=Archive Editions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=79UkAQAAMAAJ|page=513| isbn=9781840970708 }}</ref>
 
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".<ref>{{citation|title=The Constituent Assembly (Legislature) of Pakistan Debate: Official Report · Volume 1|year=1952|publisher=Manager of Publications|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2hCQBuEd4x4C|volume=1|page=2}}</ref>
 
===Reign of Elizabeth II (1952–1956)===
 
[[File:Queen Elizabeth II in 1952 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Economic Conference.jpg|thumb|Queen [[Elizabeth II]] with the Commonwealth prime ministers during [[1952 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Economic Conference|their conference]] in December 1952. Pakistani Prime Minister [[Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin]] is second from the right.]]
 
Following George VI's death on 6 February 1952, his elder daughter [[Elizabeth II|Princess Elizabeth]] became the new monarch of Pakistan.<ref name=aman/><ref name=Pillalamarriwhenqueen>{{Cite magazine|last=Pillalamarri|first=Akhilesh|title=When Elizabeth II Was Queen of Pakistan|url=https://thediplomat.com/2016/03/when-elizabeth-ii-was-queen-of-pakistan/|access-date=2021-08-27|magazine=[[The Diplomat (magazine)|The Diplomat]]|language=en-US}}</ref> She was [[Proclamation of accession of Elizabeth II|proclaimed Queen]] throughout her realms, including in Pakistan, where she was honoured with a [[21-gun salute]] on 8 February.<ref>{{citation|first1=Brian|last1=Barker|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CGdnAAAAMAAJ|title=When the Queen was crowned|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul|year=1976|pages=29|isbn=9780710083975}}</ref><ref name=islam/><ref>{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g2lKAQAAIAAJ|title=Select Documents on the Constitutional History of the British Empire and Commonwealth: The dominions and India since 1900|year=1985|publisher=Greenwood Press|pages=183| isbn=9780313273261 }}</ref><ref name="The Table: Volumes 20-23"/>
 
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".<ref>{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lXwzAAAAIAAJ&q=%22equally+queen%22+%22elizabeth+II%22 |last = Michie |first = Allan Andrew |title = The Crown and the People |page = 52|publisher = Secker & Warburg |location = London |year = 1952 |access-date = 14 September 2017 }}</ref>
 
[[File:Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day.jpg|thumb|[[Coronation gown of Elizabeth II|The Queen's coronation gown]] was embroidered with 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.]]
 
During [[Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II|her coronation]] in 1953, [[Elizabeth II]] was crowned as Queen of Pakistan and other independent Commonwealth realms.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II|website = [[YouTube]]| date=27 January 2008 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGLN1kREJ2Q&t=280s|access-date=16 May 2014}}</ref> In her [[coronation]] oath, the Queen promised "to govern the Peoples of&nbsp;… Pakistan&nbsp;… according to their respective laws and customs".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oremus.org/liturgy/coronation/cor1953b.html |title=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 |publisher=Oremus.org |access-date=2013-02-03}}</ref> The [[Coronation gown of Elizabeth II|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fashion-era.com/coronation_dress.htm|title=Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Gown|publisher=Fashion Era|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606002208/https://fashion-era.com/coronation_dress.htm|access-date=30 April 2011|archive-date=2011-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Queen of the World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5y9LDwAAQBAJ|date=2018|first1=Robert|last1=Hardman|publisher=Random House|isbn=9781473549647}}</ref>
 
The Standard of Pakistan at the Coronation was borne by [[Mirza Abol Hassan Ispahani]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=40020 |date=17 November 1953 |page=6240 |supp=1 }}</ref> Major-General Mohd. Yusuf Khan served as the head of Pakistan's Coronation Contingent.<ref name=pakcoro/> Pakistani naval vessels [[PNS Zulfiqar (K265)|HMPS ''Zulfiqar'']] and [[PNS Jhelum|HMPS ''Jhelum'']] took part in the [[Fleet review (Commonwealth realms)|Coronation Review of the fleet]] at [[Spithead]] on 15 June 1953,<ref>Souvenir Programme, ''Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953'', HMSO, Gale and Polden</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://cloudobservers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2013/05/07.-Jul-Spithead-Review-1953.pdf| title=Coronation Review of the Fleet| last=Day| first=A.| date=22 May 1953| publisher=Cloud Observers Association| access-date=3 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{citation|page=167|title=Pakistan| year=1952 |publisher=Pakistan Publications|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ad8TAAAAIAAJ}}</ref> which cost approximately 81,000 rupees.<ref>{{citation|title=The Constituent Assembly (Legislature) of Pakistan Debate: Official Report · Volume 2 |page=18 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ng3Ap3gOD8wC|author=Pakistan. Constituent Assembly (1947-1954). Legislature|year=1953}}</ref>
 
Eighty seats were reserved for Pakistanis in the Abbey for the Coronation.<ref name=pakcoro>{{citation|title=The Constituent Assembly (Legislature) of Pakistan Debate: Official Report · Volume 2|page=469|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ng3Ap3gOD8wC|author=Pakistan. Constituent Assembly (1947-1954). Legislature|year=1953}}</ref> Prime Minister [[Mohammad Ali Bogra]], also attended the Coronation on 2 June, along with his wife and two sons,<ref>{{citation|title=Pakistan Affairs: Volumes 5-6|year=1951|publisher=Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ElY8AQAAIAAJ|page=1|volume=6}}</ref> after which he attended the [[1953 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference|Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference]] from 3 June to 9 June 1953, in London.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Schofield|first1=Victoria|title=Kashmir in Conflict: India, Pakistan and the Unending War|date=2000|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=9781860648984|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rkTetMfI6QkC |page=85 |access-date=9 July 2017|language=en |chapter=Special Status}}</ref>
 
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".<ref>{{citation|page=890|title=Debates. Official Report|year=1953|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oHodAAAAIAAJ|author=Pakistan. Constituent Assembly (1947-1954). Legislature}}</ref>
 
In 1953, [[Governor-General of Pakistan|Governor-General]] [[Ghulam Muhammad (governor-general)|Sir Ghulam Muhammad]] dismissed Prime Minister [[Khawaja Nazimuddin|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. Citing this incident, Akhilesh Pillalamarri of ''[[The Diplomat (magazine)|The Diplomat]]'' wrote that "She deliberately kept from interfering in the country and her governors-general were presidents of Pakistan in all but name."<ref name=Pillalamarriwhenqueen/>
 
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:<ref>{{citation|page=44|title=The Commonwealth at the Summit: Communiqués of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings, 1944-1986|year=1987|isbn=9780850923179|author=Commonwealth Secretariat|publisher=Commonwealth Secretariat}}</ref><ref>{{citation|page=115|title=Commonwealth Survey: Volume 1|year=1955|publisher=Central Office of Information|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MeMDAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>
 
{{blockquote|The Government of Pakistan have informed the other Governments of the Commonwealth of the intention of the Pakistan people that under the new Constitution which is about to be adopted, Pakistan shall become a sovereign independent Republic. The Government of Pakistan, have, however, declared and affirmed Pakistan's desire to continue her full membership of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] and her acceptance of the Queen as the symbol of the free association of its independent member nations, and as such the Head of the Commonwealth.}}
 
In 1955, the Pakistani Government recommended to the Queen that [[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 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.<ref>{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sCNuAAAAMAAJ|pages=220, 225|title=Iskander Mirza, Rise and Fall of a President|year=1997|author=Aḥmad Salīm|publisher=Gora Publishers}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=From Martial Law To Martial Law: Politics In The Punjab, 1919-1958|author=Syed Nur Ahmad|year=2019|isbn=9780429716560|publisher=Taylor & Francis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=51SsDwAAQBAJ|quote=Then Muhammad Ali presented the letter to the cabinet and proposed that the cabinet recommend to the Queen that the application for leave be accepted and that General Iskandar Mirza be appointed acting governor-general. The cabinet agreed and the decision was announced immediately. The next day the Queen gave her sanction and Iskandar Mirza took the oath of office.}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Iskander Mirza, Rise and Fall of a President|author=Aḥmad Salīm|year=1997|publisher=Gora Publishers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sCNuAAAAMAAJ|pages=220}}</ref>
 
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.<ref>{{citation|page=294|title=Iskander Mirza Speaks: Speeches, Statements and Private Papers|year=1997|publisher=Gora Publishers|author=Iskandar Mirzā|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LXjjAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>
{{Clear}}
 
===Abolition===
 
The Pakistani monarchy was abolished on the adoption of a [[Constitution of Pakistan of 1956|republican constitution]] on [[Republic Day (Pakistan)|23 March 1956]].<ref name="Bowman2000">{{cite book|author=John Stewart Bowman|title=Columbia chronologies of Asian history and culture|url=https://archive.org/details/columbiachronolo00john|url-access=registration|access-date=22 March 2011|year=2000|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-11004-4|page=[https://archive.org/details/columbiachronolo00john/page/372 372]}}</ref> Pakistan became a [[Republics in the Commonwealth of Nations|republic within the Commonwealth of Nations]]. The Queen sent a message to the [[President of Pakistan|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".<ref>{{citation|title=Queen Elizabeth Sends Message |date=9 April 1956|work=Pakistan Affairs |volume=9 |issue=6|publisher=Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gVEdAQAAMAAJ|page=7}}</ref>
 
The Queen visited Pakistan as [[Head of the Commonwealth]] in 1961 and 1997, accompanied by [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/RoyalVisits/Commonwealthvisitssince1952.aspx|title=Commonwealth visits since 1952|website=Official website of the British monarchy|access-date=4 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412031035/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/RoyalVisits/Commonwealthvisitssince1952.aspx|archive-date=12 April 2015}}</ref>
 
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 [[Suspension from the Commonwealth of Nations|suspended from the Commonwealth]] twice: firstly from 18 October 1999 to 22 May 2004 and secondly from 22 November 2007 to 22 May 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-16908628|title=Profile: Commonwealth of Nations - Timeline |work=BBC News|date=26 September 2014|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref>
 
<gallery class="center" widths="200px">
Nazir-Ahmed-Queen-Elizabeth.jpg|The Queen with [[Nazir Ahmed (physicist)|Nazir Ahmed]], chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Queenelizabeth-chittagongG1.jpg|Queen Elizabeth II visiting [[Chittagong]], [[East Pakistan]], in 1961
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Pakistan 2019.png|The [[William, Prince of Wales|Duke]] and [[Catherine, Princess of Wales|Duchess of Cambridge]] during their tour of Pakistan in 2019
</gallery>
 
==Title==
 
[[File:Gazette of Pakistan.jpg|thumb|The proclamation of the Queen's title published in ''The Gazette of Pakistan'', 29 May 1953]]
 
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 [[Commonwealth realm|Queen's realms]], including Pakistan, could adopt its own royal titles for the monarch.<ref name=kc/><ref>{{citation|title=Queen & Commonwealth: 90 Glorious Years|year=2016|publisher=Henley Media Group|pages=61|url=https://commonwealthbc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/QC_90_Glorious_Years_LR.pdf|isbn=9780992802066}}</ref> 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".<ref name=kc>{{cite journal |journal=American Political Science Review |volume=47 |issue=4 |page=1022 |year=1953 |title=The Nature and Structure of the Commonwealth |first=K.C. |last=Wheare |author-link=K. C. Wheare |jstor=1951122 |doi=10.2307/1951122|s2cid=147443295 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.ndl.gov.in/document/Uzg1V0h1RVo2WjZqMTJmQXRybjB6alVpdXh1cXowcS9rRVA5TVp1dTBpYz0 The Gazette of Pakistan, Extraordinary, Karachi, Friday, May 29, 1953]</ref>
 
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]].<ref name=kc/>
 
== Constitutional role ==
 
Pakistan was one of the [[Commonwealth realm|realms]] of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] that shared the same person as [[Sovereign#Head of State|Sovereign]] and head of state.<ref name=harshan/>
 
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 [[Minister of the Crown|ministers of the Crown]].<ref>{{citation|title=From Martial Law To Martial Law: Politics In The Punjab, 1919-1958|author=Syed Nur Ahmad|year=2019|isbn=9780429716560|publisher=Taylor & Francis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=51SsDwAAQBAJ|quote=The British High Commissioner treated Nazimuddin with the utmost respect and after hearing his plea agreed that Queen Elizabeth was monarch of both Britain and Pakistan. However, it was necessary to make a distinction between the two. If Nazimuddin wished to put his case before the Queen of Pakistan he was free to do so, but the High Commissioner was a representative of the Queen of Great Britain only and was in Pakistan in that capacity alone. He was not the representative of the Queen of Pakistan and could not be an intermediary for talks between Nazimuddin and his Queen.}}</ref> All Pakistani bills required [[Royal assent]].<ref name=dawn>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/783530/transfer-of-power-and-jinnah|title=Transfer of power and Jinnah |work=DAWN|date=4 February 2013|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{citation|title=Political development in Pakistan|isbn=9781400876389|year=1965|author=Karl Von Vorys|publisher=Princeton University Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1h_WCgAAQBAJ|page=272}}</ref>
 
===The Crown and Government===
 
[[File:Muhammad Ali Jinnah sitting on the Chair of Governer General wearing a Sherwani.jpg|thumb|left|[[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]], seated on the throne of Pakistan, carrying out official duties as the monarch's representative]]
 
The Pakistani monarch and the federal legislature constituted the Parliament of Pakistan. All executive powers of Pakistan rested with the sovereign.<ref>{{citation|title=The Destruction of Pakistan's Democracy|author=Allen McGrath|year=1996|isbn=9780195775839|publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a0FuAAAAMAAJ|page=270}}</ref> All laws in Pakistan were enacted only with the granting of [[Royal Assent]], done by the governor-general on behalf of the sovereign.<ref name=ggp/> The governor-general was also responsible for summoning, [[Legislative session|proroguing]], and [[dissolution of Parliament|dissolving]] the Federal Legislature.<ref name=ggp/> 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.<ref name=ggp/>
 
===The Crown and Foreign affairs===
 
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Queen of Pakistan letter to King of Iraq.jpg|thumb|[[Letter of credence]] for the Pakistani Ambassador to the [[Kingdom of Iraq|Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq]], from [[Queen Elizabeth II]] to [[Faisal II of Iraq|King Faisal II of Iraq]], 24 January 1955]] -->
 
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.<ref>{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=68NDXmv4Wd8C|page=510|title=Digest of International Law: Volume 1|year=1963|author=Marjorie Millace Whiteman|publisher=U.S. Department of State}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KyAOAQAAMAAJ|page=70|title=Department of State Publication: Issue 8512|year=1970|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office}}</ref>
 
===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''.<ref>{{citation|last1=Davis|first1=Reginald|title=Elizabeth, our Queen|year=1976|publisher=Collins|isbn=9780002112338|pages=36}}</ref> In Pakistan, criminal offences were legally deemed to be offences against the sovereign and proceedings for [[indictment|indictable]] offences were brought in the sovereign's name in the form of ''The Crown versus [Name]''.<ref>{{citation|title=The Constituent Assembly (Legislature) of Pakistan Debate: Official Report · Volume 1|year=1952|publisher=Manager of Publications|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2hCQBuEd4x4C|pages=535}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Pakistan Law Reports: Lahore series · Volume 9, Part 2|year=1956|publisher=Government Book Depot.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RUXWfDF3bIwC|pages=1159, 1161}}</ref> Hence, the [[common law]] held that the sovereign "can do no wrong"; the [[Sovereign immunity|monarch cannot be prosecuted]] in his or her own courts for criminal offences.<ref>{{Halsbury|12(1)|Crown Proceedings and Crown Practice|101}}</ref> The governor-general of Pakistan was also exempted from any proceedings against him in any Pakistani court.<ref name=ggp>{{citation|last1=Bin Sayeed|first1=Khalid|title=The Governor-General of Pakistan|journal=Pakistan Horizon| url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41392177 |year=1955|volume=8|issue=2|publisher=Pakistan Institute of International Affairs|pages=330–339|jstor=41392177}}</ref>
 
==Vice-regal residences==
 
The representative of the Pakistani monarch officially resided at [[Governor's House (Karachi)|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.<ref name=gghouse/>
 
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 [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]] during the [[Delhi Durbar#Durbar of 1911|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.<ref name=gghouse>{{cite web|url=http://www.governorsindh.gov.pk/history/|title=History of the Governor House|work=Governor of Sindh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203232007/http://www.governorsindh.gov.pk/history/ |archive-date=3 February 2011}}</ref>
 
==Cultural role==
 
===The Crown and Honours===
 
Within the Commonwealth realms, the monarch is deemed the [[fount of honour]].<ref>{{citation|title=Commonwealth Journal: The Journal of the Royal Commonwealth Society · Volumes 12-14|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=inArAQAAMAAJ|pages=99|year=1969|publisher=Royal Commonwealth Society}}</ref> 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").<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=39737 |date=30 December 1952 |page=49 |supp=6 }}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=40057 |date=29 December 1953 |page=49 |supp=5 }}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=40673 |date=30 December 1955 |page=49 |supp=5 }}</ref>
 
;See also:
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*[[1951 New Year Honours#Pakistan|1951 New Year Honours]]
*[[1951 Birthday Honours#Pakistan|1951 Birthday Honours]]
*[[1952 New Year Honours#Pakistan|1952 New Year Honours]]
*[[1952 Birthday Honours#Pakistan|1952 Birthday Honours]]
*[[1953 New Year Honours#Pakistan|1953 New Year Honours]]
*[[1953 Coronation Honours (Pakistan)|1953 Coronation Honours]]
*[[1954 New Year Honours#Pakistan|1954 New Year Honours]]
*[[1954 Birthday Honours#Pakistan|1954 Birthday Honours]]
*[[1955 New Year Honours#Pakistan|1955 New Year Honours]]
*[[1955 Birthday Honours#Pakistan|1955 Birthday Honours]]
*[[1956 New Year Honours#Pakistan|1956 New Year Honours]]
}}
 
===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).<ref>{{citation|last1=Shukal|first1=Om Prakash|title=Excellence In Life|year=2007|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|isbn=9788121209632|pages=332}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paknavy.gov.pk/history.html|title=PN History |work=Pakistan Navy|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paf.gov.pk/#/history|title=Infancy to Independence |work=Pakistan Air Force|access-date=20 August 2021}}</ref>
 
===Pakistani royal symbols===
 
<gallery class="center" widths="200px">
Flag of the Governor-General of Pakistan (1952–1956).svg|The flag of the [[governor-general of Pakistan]] featuring [[St Edward's Crown]]
Pakistan stamp.jpg|A Pakistani stamp featuring [[King George VI]]
Royal Pakistan Air Force flying badge.jpeg|Flying badge of the [[Royal Pakistan Air Force]] (RPAF) featuring the [[Tudor Crown]]
Pakistan Independence Medal 1947 (Obverse).jpg|The obverse of the 1949 [[Pakistan Medal]] bearing the [[royal cypher]] of King George VI
Badge of Baluch Regiment 1945-56.jpg|The badge of [[10th Baluch Regiment|Baluch Regiment]], [[Pakistan Army]], featuring the Tudor Crown
</gallery>


==List of Pakistani monarchs==
==List of Pakistani monarchs==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:75%; text-align:center%"
 
! width=9%  | Portrait
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! width=15% | Name
|-
! width=9% | Birth
! rowspan="2" | No.
! width=9%  | Death
! rowspan="2" | Portrait
! width=9%  | Monarch From
! rowspan="2" style="width:20%;" |Regnal name<br /><small>(Birth–Death)</small>
! width=9%  | Monarch Until
! colspan=2  |Reign
! width=15% | Relationship with predecessor
! rowspan="2" | Full name
! rowspan="2" | Consort
! rowspan="2" |Royal House
|-
|-
|align="center"|[[File:King George VI.jpg|80px]]
!Start
|align="center"|[[George VI of the United Kingdom|King George VI]]
!End
|align="center"|14 December 1895
|- style="background:#eee;"
|align="center"|6 February 1952
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|'''1'''
|align="center"|14 August 1947
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|[[File:King George VI.jpg|120px]]
|align="center"|6 February 1952
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|'''[[George VI]]'''<br /><small>(1895–1952)</small>
|align="center"|None (position created by law)
|14 August 1947
|6 February 1952
|Albert Frederick Arthur George
|[[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon]]
|[[House of Windsor|Windsor]]
|-
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Elizabeth II greets NASA GSFC employees, May 8, 2007 edit.jpg|80px]]
| colspan="5" |<u>Governors-general:</u> [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]], [[Khawaja Nazimuddin|Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin]], [[Malik Ghulam Muhammad|Sir Ghulam Muhammad]]<br /><u>Prime ministers:</u> [[Liaquat Ali Khan]], [[Khawaja Nazimuddin|Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin]]
|align="center"|[[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]]
|- style="background:#eee;"
|align="center"|21 April 1926
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|'''2'''
|align="center"|&mdash;
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|[[File:Queen Elizabeth II in Coronation Robes.jpg|120px]]
|align="center"|6 February 1952
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|'''[[Elizabeth II]]'''<br /><small>(1926–2022)</small>
|align="center"|23 March 1956
|6 February 1952
|align="center"|Daughter of George VI
|23 March 1956
|Elizabeth Alexandra Mary
|[[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Philip Mountbatten]]
|[[House of Windsor|Windsor]]
|-
|-
| colspan="5" |<u>Governors-general:</u> [[Malik Ghulam Muhammad|Sir Ghulam Muhammad]], [[Iskander Mirza]]<br /><u>Prime ministers:</u> [[Khawaja Nazimuddin|Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin]], [[Mohammad Ali Bogra]], [[Chaudhry Muhammad Ali]]
|}
|}


==List of Pakistani consorts==
==See also==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:75%; text-align:center"
* [[List of heads of state of Pakistan]]
! width=9%  | Portrait
* [[List of sovereign states headed by Elizabeth II]]
! width=15% | Name
* [[List of prime ministers of George VI]]
! width=9%  | Birth
* [[List of prime ministers of Elizabeth II]]
! width=9%  | Death
* [[List of Commonwealth visits made by Elizabeth II]]
! width=9%  | Consort From
* [[List of the last monarchs in Asia]]
! width=9%  | Consort Until
! width=15% | Relationship with monarch
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.jpg|80px]]
|align="center"|[[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Queen Elizabeth]]
|align="center"|4 August 1900
|align="center"|30 March 2002
|align="center"|14 August 1947
|align="center"|6 February 1952
|align="center"|Wife of King George VI
|-
|align="center"|[[File:Prince Philip NASA cropped.jpg|80px]]
|align="center"|[[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip,<br>Duke of Edinburgh]]
|align="center"|10 June 1921
|align="center"|9 April 2021
|align="center"|6 February 1952 
|align="center"|23 March 1956
|align="center"|Husband of Queen Elizabeth II
|-
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{commonwealth nations|nocategory=true}}
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20240316204121/https://natedsanders.com/queen_elizabeth_ii_typed_letter_signed____sent_to_-lot36567.aspx Letter of credence for the Pakistani Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq, from Queen Elizabeth II to King Faisal II of Iraq, 24 January 1955]
 
{{Heads of State of Pakistan}}
{{Commonwealth realms}}
{{Pakistan topics}}
{{George VI}}
{{Elizabeth II}}


[[Category:Government of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Government of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Politics of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Politics of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Former monarchies of Asia|Pakistan]]
[[Category:Commonwealth realms|Pakistan]]
[[Category:Heads of state of Pakistan]]
[[Category:1947 establishments in Pakistan]]
[[Category:1956 disestablishments in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Former Commonwealth monarchies|Pakistan]]
[[Category:Former monarchies of Asia]]
[[Category:Political history of Pakistan]]

Latest revision as of 09:00, 17 March 2026


Not to be confused with Princely states of Pakistan.

Template:Infobox former monarchy

From 1947 to 1956, the Dominion of Pakistan was a self-governing country within the British 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[edit | edit source]

Reign of George VI (1947–1952)[edit | edit source]

George VI, King of Pakistan, on a Pakistani 10-rupee banknote of 1947

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][2][3]

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".[4]

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:[5]

"I, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, do solemnly affirm true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan as by law established and that I will be faithful to His Majesty King George VI, in the office of governor general of Pakistan."

Liaquat Ali Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, with George VI, King of Pakistan, and other Commonwealth Prime Ministers in London for the 1949 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference

Jinnah died of tuberculosis on 11 September 1948, while in office.[6] The King confirmed the appointment of Sir Khwaja Nazimuddin as the next governor-general by a Royal decree which said:[7]

"On the advice of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, His Majesty the King is pleased to appoint Khwaja Nazimuddin as acting governor-general of Pakistan in the vacancy occasioned by the sad demise of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah."

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.[8]

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.[9][10][11]

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".[12]

Reign of Elizabeth II (1952–1956)[edit | edit source]

Queen Elizabeth II with the Commonwealth prime ministers during their conference in December 1952. Pakistani Prime Minister Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin is second from the right.

Following George VI's death on 6 February 1952, his elder daughter Princess Elizabeth became the new monarch of Pakistan.[3][13] She was proclaimed Queen throughout her realms, including in Pakistan, where she was honoured with a 21-gun salute on 8 February.[14][11][15][9]

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".[16]

The Queen's coronation gown was embroidered with 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.

During her coronation in 1953, Elizabeth II was crowned as Queen of Pakistan and other independent Commonwealth realms.[17] In her coronation oath, the Queen promised "to govern the Peoples of … Pakistan … according to their respective laws and customs".[18] 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.[19][20]

The Standard of Pakistan at the Coronation was borne by Mirza Abol Hassan Ispahani.[21] Major-General Mohd. Yusuf Khan served as the head of Pakistan's Coronation Contingent.[22] Pakistani naval vessels HMPS Zulfiqar and HMPS Jhelum took part in the Coronation Review of the fleet at Spithead on 15 June 1953,[23][24][25] which cost approximately 81,000 rupees.[26]

Eighty seats were reserved for Pakistanis in the Abbey for the Coronation.[22] Prime Minister Mohammad Ali Bogra, also attended the Coronation on 2 June, along with his wife and two sons,[27] after which he attended the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference from 3 June to 9 June 1953, in London.[28]

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".[29]

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. Citing this incident, Akhilesh Pillalamarri of The Diplomat wrote that "She deliberately kept from interfering in the country and her governors-general were presidents of Pakistan in all but name."[13]

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:[30][31]

The Government of Pakistan have informed the other Governments of the Commonwealth of the intention of the Pakistan people that under the new Constitution which is about to be adopted, Pakistan shall become a sovereign independent Republic. The Government of Pakistan, have, however, declared and affirmed Pakistan's desire to continue her full membership of the Commonwealth of Nations and her acceptance of the Queen as the symbol of the free association of its independent member nations, and as such the Head of the Commonwealth.

In 1955, the Pakistani Government recommended to the Queen that 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 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.[32][33][34]

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.[35]

Abolition[edit | edit source]

The Pakistani monarchy was abolished on the adoption of a republican constitution on 23 March 1956.[36] 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".[37]

The Queen visited Pakistan as Head of the Commonwealth in 1961 and 1997, accompanied by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[38]

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.[39]

Title[edit | edit source]

The proclamation of the Queen's title published in The Gazette of Pakistan, 29 May 1953

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.[40][41] 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".[40][42]

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.[40]

Constitutional role[edit | edit source]

Pakistan was one of the realms of the Commonwealth of Nations that shared the same person as Sovereign and head of state.[2]

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.[43] All Pakistani bills required Royal assent.[5] 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.[44]

The Crown and Government[edit | edit source]

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, seated on the throne of Pakistan, carrying out official duties as the monarch's representative

The Pakistani monarch and the federal legislature constituted the Parliament of Pakistan. All executive powers of Pakistan rested with the sovereign.[45] All laws in Pakistan were enacted only with the granting of Royal Assent, done by the governor-general on behalf of the sovereign.[46] The governor-general was also responsible for summoning, proroguing, and dissolving the Federal Legislature.[46] 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.[46]

The Crown and Foreign affairs[edit | edit source]

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.[47][48]

The Crown and the Courts[edit | edit source]

Within the Commonwealth realms, the sovereign is responsible for rendering justice for all her subjects, and is thus traditionally deemed the fount of justice.[49] 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].[50][51] 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.[52] The governor-general of Pakistan was also exempted from any proceedings against him in any Pakistani court.[46]

Vice-regal residences[edit | edit source]

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.[53]

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.[53]

Cultural role[edit | edit source]

The Crown and Honours[edit | edit source]

Within the Commonwealth realms, the monarch is deemed the fount of honour.[54] 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").[55][56][57]

See also

The Crown and the Defence Force[edit | edit source]

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).[58] 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.[59][60]

Pakistani royal symbols[edit | edit source]

List of Pakistani monarchs[edit | edit source]

No. Portrait Regnal name
(Birth–Death) 		Reign Full name Consort Royal House
Start End
1 George VI
(1895–1952) 		14 August 1947 6 February 1952 Albert Frederick Arthur George Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Windsor
Governors-general: Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin, Sir Ghulam Muhammad
Prime ministers: Liaquat Ali Khan, Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin
2 Elizabeth II
(1926–2022) 		6 February 1952 23 March 1956 Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Philip Mountbatten Windsor
Governors-general: Sir Ghulam Muhammad, Iskander Mirza
Prime ministers: Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin, Mohammad Ali Bogra, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Matthew, H. C. G. (September 2004). "George VI". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/33370. Retrieved 20 April 2008. 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. Template:ODNBsub
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kumarasingham, Harshan (2013), THE 'TROPICAL DOMINIONS': THE APPEAL OF DOMINION STATUS IN THE DECOLONISATION OF INDIA, PAKISTAN AND CEYLON, vol. 23, Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, p. 223, JSTOR 23726109
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Aman M. Hingorani (2016), Unravelling the Kashmir Knot, p. 184, ISBN 9789351509721
  4. ↑ "His Excellency The Governor-General's Address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan" (PDF). National Assembly of Pakistan. 14 August 1947. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Transfer of power and Jinnah". DAWN. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  6. ↑ "Mohammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948)". BBC. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  7. ↑ Three Presidents, Three Prime Ministers: Fragmentary Recollections of the Author's Days with Chaudhry Muhammad Ali ..., Dost Publications, 1996, p. 15, ISBN 9789694960074
  8. ↑ Current Biography Yearbook, H. W. Wilson Company, 1954, p. 466
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Table: Volumes 20-23, Butterworth., 1952, p. 112
  10. ↑ Denis Judd (2012), George VI, I.B.Tauris, p. LV, ISBN 9780857730411
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Islam: 1950-1952, Archive Editions, 2004, p. 513, ISBN 9781840970708
  12. ↑ The Constituent Assembly (Legislature) of Pakistan Debate: Official Report · Volume 1, vol. 1, Manager of Publications, 1952, p. 2
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Pillalamarri, Akhilesh. "When Elizabeth II Was Queen of Pakistan". The Diplomat. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  14. ↑ Barker, Brian (1976), When the Queen was crowned, Routledge & Kegan Paul, p. 29, ISBN 9780710083975
  15. ↑ Select Documents on the Constitutional History of the British Empire and Commonwealth: The dominions and India since 1900, Greenwood Press, 1985, p. 183, ISBN 9780313273261
  16. ↑ Michie, Allan Andrew (1952). The Crown and the People. London: Secker & Warburg. p. 52. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  17. ↑ "The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II". YouTube. 27 January 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  18. ↑ "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. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  19. ↑ "Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Gown". Fashion Era. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  20. ↑ Hardman, Robert (2018), Queen of the World, Random House, ISBN 9781473549647
  21. ↑ "No. 40020". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 17 November 1953. p. 6240.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Pakistan. Constituent Assembly (1947-1954). Legislature (1953), The Constituent Assembly (Legislature) of Pakistan Debate: Official Report · Volume 2, p. 469{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ↑ Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
  24. ↑ Day, A. (22 May 1953). "Coronation Review of the Fleet" (PDF). Cloud Observers Association. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  25. ↑ Pakistan, Pakistan Publications, 1952, p. 167
  26. ↑ Pakistan. Constituent Assembly (1947-1954). Legislature (1953), The Constituent Assembly (Legislature) of Pakistan Debate: Official Report · Volume 2, p. 18{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. ↑ Pakistan Affairs: Volumes 5-6, vol. 6, Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan, 1951, p. 1
  28. ↑ Schofield, Victoria (2000). "Special Status". Kashmir in Conflict: India, Pakistan and the Unending War. I.B.Tauris. p. 85. ISBN 9781860648984. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  29. ↑ Pakistan. Constituent Assembly (1947-1954). Legislature (1953), Debates. Official Report, p. 890{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ↑ Commonwealth Secretariat (1987), The Commonwealth at the Summit: Communiqués of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings, 1944-1986, Commonwealth Secretariat, p. 44, ISBN 9780850923179
  31. ↑ Commonwealth Survey: Volume 1, Central Office of Information, 1955, p. 115
  32. ↑ Aḥmad Salīm (1997), Iskander Mirza, Rise and Fall of a President, Gora Publishers, pp. 220, 225
  33. ↑ Syed Nur Ahmad (2019), From Martial Law To Martial Law: Politics In The Punjab, 1919-1958, Taylor & Francis, ISBN 9780429716560, Then Muhammad Ali presented the letter to the cabinet and proposed that the cabinet recommend to the Queen that the application for leave be accepted and that General Iskandar Mirza be appointed acting governor-general. The cabinet agreed and the decision was announced immediately. The next day the Queen gave her sanction and Iskandar Mirza took the oath of office.
  34. ↑ Aḥmad Salīm (1997), Iskander Mirza, Rise and Fall of a President, Gora Publishers, p. 220
  35. ↑ Iskandar Mirzā (1997), Iskander Mirza Speaks: Speeches, Statements and Private Papers, Gora Publishers, p. 294
  36. ↑ John Stewart Bowman (2000). Columbia chronologies of Asian history and culture. Columbia University Press. p. 372. ISBN 978-0-231-11004-4. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  37. ↑ "Queen Elizabeth Sends Message", Pakistan Affairs, vol. 9, no. 6, Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan, p. 7, 9 April 1956
  38. ↑ "Commonwealth visits since 1952". Official website of the British monarchy. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  39. ↑ "Profile: Commonwealth of Nations - Timeline". BBC News. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 Wheare, K.C. (1953). "The Nature and Structure of the Commonwealth". American Political Science Review. 47 (4): 1022. doi:10.2307/1951122. JSTOR 1951122. S2CID 147443295.
  41. ↑ Queen & Commonwealth: 90 Glorious Years (PDF), Henley Media Group, 2016, p. 61, ISBN 9780992802066
  42. ↑ The Gazette of Pakistan, Extraordinary, Karachi, Friday, May 29, 1953
  43. ↑ Syed Nur Ahmad (2019), From Martial Law To Martial Law: Politics In The Punjab, 1919-1958, Taylor & Francis, ISBN 9780429716560, The British High Commissioner treated Nazimuddin with the utmost respect and after hearing his plea agreed that Queen Elizabeth was monarch of both Britain and Pakistan. However, it was necessary to make a distinction between the two. If Nazimuddin wished to put his case before the Queen of Pakistan he was free to do so, but the High Commissioner was a representative of the Queen of Great Britain only and was in Pakistan in that capacity alone. He was not the representative of the Queen of Pakistan and could not be an intermediary for talks between Nazimuddin and his Queen.
  44. ↑ Karl Von Vorys (1965), Political development in Pakistan, Princeton University Press, p. 272, ISBN 9781400876389
  45. ↑ Allen McGrath (1996), The Destruction of Pakistan's Democracy, Oxford University Press, p. 270, ISBN 9780195775839
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 Bin Sayeed, Khalid (1955), "The Governor-General of Pakistan", Pakistan Horizon, 8 (2), Pakistan Institute of International Affairs: 330–339, JSTOR 41392177
  47. ↑ Marjorie Millace Whiteman (1963), Digest of International Law: Volume 1, U.S. Department of State, p. 510
  48. ↑ Department of State Publication: Issue 8512, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1970, p. 70
  49. ↑ Davis, Reginald (1976), Elizabeth, our Queen, Collins, p. 36, ISBN 9780002112338
  50. ↑ The Constituent Assembly (Legislature) of Pakistan Debate: Official Report · Volume 1, Manager of Publications, 1952, p. 535
  51. ↑ Pakistan Law Reports: Lahore series · Volume 9, Part 2, Government Book Depot., 1956, pp. 1159, 1161
  52. ↑ Template:Halsbury
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 "History of the Governor House". Governor of Sindh. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011.
  54. ↑ Commonwealth Journal: The Journal of the Royal Commonwealth Society · Volumes 12-14, Royal Commonwealth Society, 1969, p. 99
  55. ↑ "No. 39737". The London Gazette (6th supplement). 30 December 1952. p. 49.
  56. ↑ "No. 40057". The London Gazette (5th supplement). 29 December 1953. p. 49.
  57. ↑ "No. 40673". The London Gazette (5th supplement). 30 December 1955. p. 49.
  58. ↑ Shukal, Om Prakash (2007), Excellence In Life, Gyan Publishing House, p. 332, ISBN 9788121209632
  59. ↑ "PN History". Pakistan Navy. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  60. ↑ "Infancy to Independence". Pakistan Air Force. Retrieved 20 August 2021.

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