National Democratic Front (Pakistan)

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National Democratic Front
AbbreviationNDF
Leader Nurul Amin
Founder Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy
Founded4 October 1962 (1962-10-04)
DissolvedJune 1969
Succeeded by Pakistan Democratic Party
Ideology Parliamentary democracy
Progressivism
Anti-Ayub Khan
Political position Big tent

National Democratic Front was a Pakistani coalition founded in 4 October 1962. [1] It was the first political alliance to oppose the military regime of Ayub Khan in Pakistan. [2]

Contents

History

In 8 June 1962, the second constitution of Pakistan was promulgated by president Ayub Khan. In 4 October 1962, politician Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy formed a political alliance with opposition leaders from several political parties of Pakistan named National Democratic Front. The front stated that their goal was to bring democracy in the country as the constitution neglected democratic values. [3] As of the Political Parties Act, politicians disqualified under Public Office Disqualification Order and Election Bodies Disqualification Order were barred from joining any political party. Howerver, the act didn’t mention political alliance and disqualified politicians started to join National Democratic Front. Later the government had to clarify the term "political party" in the act. [4] But after the death of Suhrawardy in 5 December 1963, the alliance became inactive. [3] In 22 January 1964, National Awami Party, All-Pakistan Awami League and Council Muslim League reformed the political alliance. [5] However, the revival of political parties and differences among them was the reason of the alliance's failure. [2] In 1969, the alliance ceased to exist [3] and three major political group of the alliance, Nasrullah faction of All-Pakistan Awami League, Nizam-e-Islam Party and Justice Party merged with Pakistan Democratic Party. [2]

Notable members

  1. All-Pakistan Awami League
  2. Council Muslim League
  3. Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan
  4. Krishak Sramik Party
  5. National Awami Party
  6. Nizam-e-Islam Party

Elections

Six members from the front won the general election. [6] [7]

Pakistan National Assembly election

ElectionParty leaderVotes%Seats+/–PositionGovernment
1965 Nurul Amin 4%
6 / 150
Increase2.svg 6Increase2.svg 3rdOpposition
ConstituencyPartyMember
NE-35 Faridpur-II Nizam-e-Islam Party Abul Hafez Mohsenuddin Ahmed II
NE-44 Dacca-VI Krishak Sramik Party ASM Solomon
NE-56 Sylhet-I Independent Mahmud Ali
NE-20 Bakerganj-II Independent Khan Fazle Rub Chowdhury

East Pakistan Provincial Assembly election

ElectionParty leaderVotes%Seats+/–PositionGovernment
1965 Nurul Amin 6.45%
10 / 155
Increase2.svg 10Increase2.svg 5thOpposition

References

  1. S Aminul Islam (2012). "Political Party". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN   984-32-0576-6. OCLC   52727562. OL   30677644M . Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Hussain, Akhtar (2020). "Historical Account of the National Democratic Front (1962) in the Framework of Structural Functionalism". Asian Journal of International Peace & Security. 4 (1). FAIRLIPS: 309–315.
  3. 1 2 3 Khan, Iltaf; Safina; Quresh, Attia (2022). "The Politics of Alliances During Ayub's Era of Controlled Democracy (1958-1969)". Global Social Sciences Review. VII (II). Humanity Publications: 247–248. doi: 10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-II).25 . ISSN   2616-793X.
  4. Mamun, Muntassir; Rahman, Md. Mahbubar (2015) [2013]. "ভাষা আন্দোলন ও বাঙালির আত্মপরিচয় প্রতিষ্ঠা". স্বাধীন বাংলাদেশের অভ্যুদয়ের ইতিহাস (in Bengali). Subarna. p. 99. ISBN   9789849069447.
  5. "3 Opposition Parties Form National Front in Pakistan". The New York Times . 23 January 1964. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  6. Sharif al-Mujahid (November 1965). "The Assembly Elections in Pakistan" (PDF). Asian Survey. 5 (11): 538–551. doi:10.2307/2642133. JSTOR   2642133.
  7. "যথানিয়মে সরকারী দলের বিপুল সংখ্যাগরিষ্ঠতা". The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 22 March 1965. p. 1.