The Basic Principles Committee (BPC) was a specialised committee set up in March 1949 by Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din.
There were three sub-committees set up under the Basic Principles Committee.
The first committee was known as the sub-committee on federal and provincial constitution and distribution of powers.
The second committee was known as the sub-committee on franchise.
the third commttee was nown as sub-committee for judiciary.
On September 28, 1950 the BPC presented its interim report to the Constituent Assembly. The salient features of the first report presented by BPC were 17.
Objectives Resolution should be made part of the constitution and should serve as the directive principle of state policy.
The state of Pakistan was to be a federation.
The Central Legislature was to be bicameral. It would consist of a House of Unit (Upper House) with 100 members and a House of People (Lower House) with 400 members.
The Upper House was to be the representative institution of the provinces, elected by provincial legislature. While the Lower House was to be elected by the people on the basis of adult franchise.
The tenure of both the Houses was to be five years and both were to enjoy equal power.
The decisions regarding budget or monetary bills were to be decided in joint sessions of the two houses.
The head of state was to be elected by a joint session of the two houses for a term of five years and would work on the advice of the prime minister.
Federal legislature had the authority to remove the head of state.
Each province was to have its own legislature; elected on the basis of adult franchise for a term of five years.
Head of the provincial legislature was to be elected by the head of state for a term of five years and he was to work on the advice of chief minister.
Legislative power was to be divided in three lists: 1. The Federal list comprising of 67 subjects on which the central legislature would legislate. 2. The Provincial list comprising of 35 items, the provincial legislature would legislate on these subjects. 3. The Concurrent list of 37 items on which both the central and provincial legislatures had the authority to legislate. The residuary powers were vested in the centre.
In case of a dispute, the Supreme Court had the authority to interpret the constitution.
The procedure to amend the constitution was very rigid; it required a majority approval from the central and provincial legislatures.
Head of state was given added powers like the authority to abrogate the constitution and issue ordinances.
Urdu was to be the state language.
The Supreme Court was the head of judiciary. It would consist of the chief justice and two to six judges. High courts for each province were to be established.
A Board of Ulema would be appointed by the head of state and provincial governors to examine the process of law making and to ensure that laws were in accordance with the Quran and sunnah.
Second drafted was presented by Khwaja Nazim-ud-Din on December 22, 1952.
Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din was dismissed on April 17, 1953.
