elections on the basis of population and direct adult franchise are included. Further, the Constitution must include the independence of judiciary, and the fundamental rights of the citizens.
The fourth basic principle of the new Constitution is that it must be a true federal one in which powers including legislative, administrative and financial shall be so distributed between the Federal Government and the provinces that the provinces shall have maximum autonomy, that is to say. Maximum legislative, administrative and financial powers and the Federal Government shall have adequate powers including legislative, administrative and financial powers to discharge its responsibilities in relation to external and internal affairs and to preserve the independence and territorial integrity of the country.
The fifth principle of the Constitution is that it must provide full opportunity to the people of all regions of Pakistan for participation in national affairs so that they can live together as equal and honorable partners and be moulded into a strong nation as visualized by the Father of the Nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
It is, therefore, laid down the Legal Framework Order that opportunities must be made available to the people of various regions of Pakistan for enabling them to participate in all branches of national activity, and to achieve this objective there must be statutory provision to remove all disparities in particular economic disparity, among the various provinces of Pakistan within a fixed period.
The dissatisfaction which has arisen in some regions of the country as a result of disparity in economic development has created a big challenge to our emerging nationalism. We must, therefore, concentrate our attention and energy to remove this sort of discontentment by eliminating its cause.
I hope, all of you will agree with me that while in the future National Government people of every region must have the fullest opportunity to play their part in national affairs, the unity and integrity of Pakistan must be preserved and must not be allowed to be adversely affected on regional and parochial grounds.
Pakistan was established on the basis of the idea of the homeland for the Muslims of this subcontinent. It was achieved at the cost of the lives of a million Muslims. We cannot allow that sacrifice to go in vain. The assertion of Quaid-i-Azam, that Pakistan has come to stay, must be upheld at any cost. This is an assumption over which there can never be any debate.
Before moving on to the next subject, I would like to offer my comments on a fear that has been expressed in certain quarters that it would not be possible for the National Assembly to make a Constitution within the stipulated period of 120 days. I must express my complete disagreement with this point of view. I believe that given the will and spirit of accommodation which the nation has a right to expect from its responsible representatives, the National Assembly will find no difficulty in completing its task within the given time.
