Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar
Encyclopedia
Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar was the sixth Prime Minister of Pakistan
for approximately 2 months from October 17, 1957 to December 16, 1957.
Chundrigar
community, and was born in 1897 in Ahmedabad, and educated at Bombay University.
, leader of the All-India Muslim League, was asked to nominate members of the Muslim League for the Interim Government of India at the time of the transfer of power from British rule to independence. He was one of the five men nominated on behalf of the League, the other four being Liaquat Ali Khan
, Ghazanfar Ali Khan
, Abdur Rab Nishtar
, and Jogindar Nath Mandal. In the Interim Government, Chundrigar took the portfolio of Commerce.
Chundrigar was appointed Minister for Trade and Commerce in the first cabinet of independent Pakistan
in 1947. He later served as ambassador to Afghanistan
, governor of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, governor of West Punjab
, and Minister for Law.
resigned from his Premiership in October 1957. His resignation came as a result of the President's refusal to convene a meeting of the Parliament to seek a vote of confidence. President Iskander Mirza appointed I. I. Chundrigar as the interim Prime Minister
. Being a nominated Prime Minister, Chundrigar held a weak position from the very beginning. He headed a coalition government including the Krishak Sramik Party
, Nizam-i-Islam Party, the Muslim League
and the Republican Party
. The Muslim League had agreed to form a coalition government with the Republican Party on the condition that by amending the Electoral Act, the principle of separate electorate would be implemented in the country.
After the formation of the Cabinet, Ministers from East Pakistan
and the Republican Party started opposing the proposed amendments. The Republican Party opposed the amendment as it wanted to gain advantage over its political opponent, the Muslim League.
's main business street, I I Chundrigar Road
, has been named after him.
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Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
for approximately 2 months from October 17, 1957 to December 16, 1957.
Early life
I.I Chundrigar belonged to the MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Chundrigar
Chundrigar
The Chundrigar are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. A few are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan.-History and origin:...
community, and was born in 1897 in Ahmedabad, and educated at Bombay University.
Political career
I.I. Chundrigar first came to prominence when the Muslim League was to give its response to the Government of India Act 1935. He shifted to Bombay at the request of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and became President of the Bombay Provincial Muslim League in 1937. He was re-elected every year up to October 1946. That was when Muhammad Ali JinnahMuhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
, leader of the All-India Muslim League, was asked to nominate members of the Muslim League for the Interim Government of India at the time of the transfer of power from British rule to independence. He was one of the five men nominated on behalf of the League, the other four being Liaquat Ali Khan
Liaquat Ali Khan
For other people with the same or similar name, see Liaqat Ali Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan was a Pakistani statesman who became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Defence minister and Commonwealth, Kashmir Affairs...
, Ghazanfar Ali Khan
Ghazanfar Ali Khan
Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan Khokhar was a leading member of the All India Muslim League who was a politician in British India, a trusted lieutenant of Muhammad Ali Jinnah who served in the Interim Government of India of 1946 and later became a minister in the government of Pakistan and finally a...
, Abdur Rab Nishtar
Abdur Rab Nishtar
Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar was a Muslim League stalwart, Pakistan movement activist and later Pakistani politician.-Education:...
, and Jogindar Nath Mandal. In the Interim Government, Chundrigar took the portfolio of Commerce.
Chundrigar was appointed Minister for Trade and Commerce in the first cabinet of independent Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in 1947. He later served as ambassador to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, governor of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, governor of West Punjab
West Punjab
West Punjab was a province of Pakistan from 1947 to 1955. The province covered an area of 160,622 km², including much of the current Punjab province and the Islamabad Capital Territory, but excluding the former princely state of Bahawalpur. The capital was the city of Lahore and the province...
, and Minister for Law.
Prime minister
After merely a year, Huseyn Shaheed SuhrawardyHuseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy
Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy was a Pakistani-Bengali politician and statesman who served as 5th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1956 till 1957, and a close associate of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan, first Prime minister of Pakistan...
resigned from his Premiership in October 1957. His resignation came as a result of the President's refusal to convene a meeting of the Parliament to seek a vote of confidence. President Iskander Mirza appointed I. I. Chundrigar as the interim Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
. Being a nominated Prime Minister, Chundrigar held a weak position from the very beginning. He headed a coalition government including the Krishak Sramik Party
Krishak Shramik Janata League
The Krishak Sramik Janata League is a political party in Bangladesh. Bangbir Kader Siddique is the president of the party, and Habibur Rahman Talukdar the general secretary. In the 2001 parliamentary election, the party won 1 out of 300 elected members....
, Nizam-i-Islam Party, the Muslim League
Muslim League (Pakistan)
Muslim League was the original successor of All India Muslim League that led the Pakistan Movement achieving an independent nation. After formation of Pakistan, the party was renamed to Muslim League which came to an end soon after Qaid-e-Azam's death on the first marshal law in 1958.-History:On...
and the Republican Party
Republican Party (Pakistan)
The Pakistani Republican Party was formed in October 1955, by a break away faction of the Muslim League and other politicians supporting the creation of the West Pakistan province, on the instigation of key leaders in the military and civil service....
. The Muslim League had agreed to form a coalition government with the Republican Party on the condition that by amending the Electoral Act, the principle of separate electorate would be implemented in the country.
After the formation of the Cabinet, Ministers from East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
and the Republican Party started opposing the proposed amendments. The Republican Party opposed the amendment as it wanted to gain advantage over its political opponent, the Muslim League.
Resignation
Iskander Mirza exploited the differences between the parties and thus made Chundrigar an easy victim as he remained Prime Minister for only two months and therefore could not give any practical shape to his program.See also
KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
's main business street, I I Chundrigar Road
Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar Road
Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar Road aka I. I. Chundrigar Road could be considered the financial headquarters of Pakistan and the center of Karachi's banking and financial institutions. Situated in the heart of Karachi, Sindh, it was known as McLeod Road during the Colonial rule but was later renamed...
, has been named after him.
External links
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