INTRODUCTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS IN NWFP (KP) AND THE ROLE OF QUAID-E-AZAM MUHAMMAD ALI JINNAH

Abstract

The NWFP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) has played a significant role in shaping Indian history. After the British occupation, the area got new dimensions of strategic importance under the new masters (British raj). Consequently, the British Government of India adopted a multipurpose policy to treat the area. Thus the British policy towards this region (NWFP) passed through different phases. Keeping in mind the importance and geostrategic considerations of the region, the British Indian government firstly separate this area from the Punjab administration by splitting the province of Punjab and thus created a new province called NWFP (KP) in 1901. Secondly, the same considerations compelled the British Indian government to keep NWFP (KP) away from all kinds of political reforms as were introduced in other parts of United India till 1932. Thus to bring NWFP (KP) at par with other provinces of United India was a challenge for the Muslim leadership. Consequently, the Muslim leadership of the province played a key role in introducing the constitutional reforms in NWFP (KP). Thus those were the hard-working and farsighted Muslim leaders who not only able to counter the anti-Muslim designs of the sister community but also forced the British government of India to bring the province at equal footing with the other provinces by introducing constitutional reforms in NWFP. Jinnah the founding father of Pakistan had a big role in the constitutional reforms in NWFP. This study aims to investigate his role in the constitutional reforms in NWFP current Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.