Chapter: 11 (Topic: The Problems of Partition)

Q why was the division of the armed forces and military assets a problem for Pakistan in 1947? (7)
Ans: [The Division of British Indian army] (1) at the time of Independence British decided to divide British Indian army in
ratio of 36:64 between Pakistan and India. (2) Army men were allowed to join Pakistan army or Indian army. (3) 150,000
Muslim soldiers and 2500 Muslim officers joined Pakistan army. No Muslim officer was at higher rank because British
Indian army had favoured Hindu officers. (4) 4000 Military officers were needed to organize Pakistan army so Quaid-e-
Azam requested Britain to provide 500 British officers to organize Pakistan army including first commander in chief of
Pakistan army. These British officers refused to take part in India Pakistan war on Kashmir in 1948 so Pakistan failed to
capture large part Kashmir.
[The Division of Military assets] (1) India did not want to see Pakistan became a strong army, especially as they were
fighting with Pakistan in Kashmir. (2) All 16 ordinance factories were located in India. India paid 60 million Rupees to
Pakistan instead of transferring machinery of any ordinance factory to Pakistan. Pakistan used 60 million Rupees to
setup ordinance factory at Wah. (3) All military stores were also located in India. India only transferred old and damaged
weapons to Pakistan. India also delayed the transfer of weapons to Pakistan. In charge of the division of military assets
Field Marshal General Auchenleck resigned due to Indian attitude and lack of corporation. (4) Defence of Pakistan was
very weak due to Indian actions.

Q What was the origin of Canal water dispute and how it was resolved? [7]
Ans: [wrong decision of Radcliffe commission] Canal water problem was created due to wrong division Punjab by
Radcliff Commission in 1947. Muslim majority districts Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and Jullander were given to India. Two
canal headworks were located in these districts. At the time of independence India had promised not to disturb canal
water supply of canals coming to Pakistan from these headworks but later India stopped the supply of canal water
supply to Pakistan. India claimed it had right to do so because these canals were coming from Indian area to Pakistan.
[Temporary solution] Pakistan argued (claimed) that it had a right to the water as its economy depended upon it. There
was danger of water shortage in many Pakistani areas especially due to closing of Bari doab canal. Pakistan government
demanded to settle the matter by the international court of justice, but India refused. After discussion in May 1948 a
temporary agreement was reached. India started canal water supply. Pakistan agreed to try to find alternative water
supplies. Water dispute was solved in 1959 with the help of World Bank.

Q Why Pakistan faced with a refugee problem in 1947? [7] (M-2013)

Ans: (1) [The Radcliffe Award] the wrong decision of Radcliffe commission in partition of Punjab was the major reason
of refugee problem. Radcliffe Award had given Muslim majority districts Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and Jullandar to India.
Muslim population of these areas was forced to move to Pakistan. [The Role of Sikh states] In East Punjab Sikhs were
killing Muslims in large number to take their property. Police and army of many Sikh princely states like Patiala and
Kapurthala were also taking part in killing of Muslims. Large number of Muslims migrated from India to Pakistan to save
their lives.
(2) [Religious tension] Partition was announced on the base of religion in order to reduce tensions between Hindu and
Muslim communities, but it made matters worse. Many Muslim Historians believed that that Hindus and Sikhs had an
organised programme for massacre of Muslim refugees. Hindus were killing Muslims in Delhi, Lucknow and Agra in large
number. Hindu extremist parties Hindu Maha Sabha and Arya Samaj were also involved in attacks on Muslim population.
India wanted to harm new born state of Pakistan by pushing millions of Muslims to Pakistan.
(4) [Role of refugees] Many refugees were so upset by their hardships that they started attacking local minorities. In Sep
1947 Indian authorities had to declare Martial law in Delhi because non-Muslim refugees had started killing local
Muslims in India. [Migration by will] Many Muslims also moved from India to Pakistan because they wanted to live in a
Muslim country. But most of Muslim came to Pakistan from India to save their lives. One million men, women, and
children were killed and 10 million people migrated.
(Topic: The achievements of Quaid-e-Azam)
Q How successful was the government of Pakistan in solving the problems of Partition during 1947 and 1948? Or how
successful was Quaid-e-Azam as Governor-General of Pakistan comment. [14]
Ans: [Political Problems] (1) Setting up Government of Pakistan was a major challenge; Quaid-e-Azam became first
Governor-General. (2) Liaquat Ali khan was appointed as first prime Minister and six ministers were chosen, National
Assembly was setup, Act of 1935 was adopted to run government with few changes. (3) Karachi was chosen as first
capital of Pakistan. (4) There was lack of government buildings, furniture and stationary so government offices were
setup in private building on rent. (5) Muslim officers were moved from India to Pakistan on special trains and aero
planes. (6) Foreign policy was setup to create friendly relations with other countries especially Muslim countries,
Pakistan was UNO in September 1947,
[Economic problems] (1) State bank of Pakistan was setup in Karachi by Quaid-e-Azam to help develop economy. (2)
Industrial policy was made to setup new industries in Pakistan. (3) 750 million Rupees was the share of Pakistan decided
by British, India paid 200 million Rupees but refused to pay remaining amount due to war over Kashmir broke out
between India and Pakistan, India claimed that Pakistan would use this money in buying weapons. Quaid convinced
India so it paid 500 million but 50 million were never paid.
[Refugee Problem] (1) Muslim population in Indian Punjab was attacked in organized manner by Sikhs and Hindus.
Millions of Muslims were force moved from India to Pakistan. The Pakistan government had little to provide food and
shelter to millions of refugees on urgent ground. Quaid appealed to the people to help the refugees. Quaid-e-Azam
relief fund and refugee camps were setup to help them. However, despite his best efforts millions of refugees continued
to suffer for many years. (2) Quaid-e-Azam declared himself ‘Protector- General’ of religious minorities. He took every
step to protect Non-Muslims (minorities) living in Pakistan. However, despite best efforts of Quaid millions of refugees
continued to suffer for many years.
[The Canal water dispute] At the time of Independence India had promised that it would not disturb the supply of water
in canals coming from India to Pakistan but in 1948 India had stopped supply of canal water to Pakistan. There was
danger of shortage of water for crops in Pakistan especially due to closure of Bari Doab Canal. Quaid-e-Azam was
successful in convincing India to supply canal water supply to Pakistan. (3) Canal Water Dispute was not resolved until
1960 when Indus water treaty was signed between India and Pakistan.
[Military assets] (1) All 16 ordinance (weapon manufacturing) factories were located in India. India refused to transfer
machinery of any factory to Pakistan and paid 60 million Rupees to Pakistan in return. (2) There was shortage of Military
officers in Pakistan army so Quaid-e-Azam asked Britain to provide 500 British Military officers to organize Pakistan
army. (3) Much of the military assets transferred to Pakistan by India were old damaged or out of order.
[The Accession of Princely states] The New government of Pakistan failed solve problem of accession of princely states.
Accession of three princely states Junagarh, Hyderabad and Kashmir spoiled Indo-Pak relation. Junagarh wanted to join
Pakistan, Hyderabad wanted to stay independent. India had captured Junagarh and Hyderabad by force and also large
area of Kashmir despite its Muslim majority wanted to join Pakistan. Kashmir problem is still unresolved.
[Comment] Quaid-e-Azam was successful in overcoming the most of early problems faced by Pakistan. Despite all
hurdles created by India Quaid was successful in providing firm economic and political base to a new born state
Pakistan. By Sir Bilal Sarwar.