Chaudhry Muhammad Ali

Chaudhri Muhammad Ali was a Pakistani statesman who served as the fourth prime minister of Pakistan from 1955 until 1956. He oversaw the transition of the nation from a dominion to an Islamic republic through the promulgation of the first Pakistani constitution.

Early life and education

Muhammad Ali was born in Jalandhar, Punjab, on 15 July 1905. He belonged to an Arain Punjabi family. After completing his matriculation, he demonstrated a strong aptitude for science. He moved to Lahore to attend Punjab University, where he graduated with a BSc degree in chemistry in 1925.

He continued his studies at the same institution to attain an MSc in chemistry in 1927. Following his academic success, he lectured at Islamia College until 1928.

Career

In 1928, Muhammad Ali joined the Indian Civil Service. He initially worked as an accountant for the Audit and Accounts Service and was deputed to audit the state of Bahawalpur. By 1936, he served as Private Secretary to James Grigg, the Finance Minister of India. When Grigg became the War Secretary in 1945, he appointed Muhammad Ali as the first Indian financial adviser.

He was selected as one of two secretaries to the Partition Council between 1946 and 1947. During this period, he worked alongside H.M. Patel and Walter Christir to prepare a document titled The Administrative Consequences of Partition. After opting for Pakistan during the partition in 1947, he served as Finance Secretary under Sir Ghulam Muhammad. This role lasted until 1948 when a cabinet reshuffle occurred. He later became the Federal Secretary at the Establishment Division and helped prepare the first federal budget in 1951.

Muhammad Ali was appointed Finance Minister by Prime Minister K. Nazimuddin in 1951. He remained in this position during the administration of Mohammad Ali Bogra in 1953. On 11 August 1955, Governor-General Iskandar Mirza appointed him as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. His administration implemented the One Unit scheme and favored French architect Michel Ecochard for capital planning in 1955.

The first Constitution of Pakistan was promulgated during his term on 23 March 1956. This document established a parliamentary form of government and declared the nation an Islamic republic. In July 1956, he met with Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru to discuss the issue of Kashmir. Although he held the presidency of the Muslim League in 1955, he struggled to maintain party control. He faced criticism for refusing to investigate allegations regarding vote rigging and secret defections to the Republican Party.

A motion of no confidence was successfully brought by Muslim League leaders under A.Q. Khan on 8 September 1956. This action removed him from his position as party president. He eventually resigned from the premiership when Huseyn S. Suhrawardy gained support for the role. After leaving office, he served as an advisor to the National Bank.

Personal life

Muhammad Ali wrote two books during his lifetime. He published his memoir, The Emergence of Pakistan, in 1967. He also authored a book titled Ataturk in 1969.

His son, Khalid Anwer, served as the law and justice minister under Nawaz Sharif. His younger son, Amjad Ahsan Ali, works as a medical doctor. Muhammad Ali died of a cardiac arrest on 2 December 1982 at his estate in Karachi.