History of Pakistan’s constitution making begins with the Lahore Resolution of 1940, which first outlined the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of India, to be called Pakistan. It came to be called the Pakistan Resolution.

On June 3, 1947, the British Government accepted the principal of partition of India in order to create two independent dominions of Pakistan and India. In view of this, the British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act on July 18, 1947. Accordingly, the new state of Pakistan came into being on August 14, 1947, consisting of East Bengal, a part of Assam (Sylhet), West Punjab, Sind, NWFP and Baluchistan provinces of undivided India.

Under Section 8 of the Indian Independence Act, 1947, the Government of India Act, 1935, became with certain adaptations, the working constitution of Pakistan.

However, establishment of a truly Islamic society was the aim of Quaid. As a result, a Constituent Assembly was provided for the new dominion of Pakistan under the Independence Act. The Constituent Assembly had a dual purpose, to make a constitution for Pakistan and also to act as a legislative body till the new constitution is passed and enforced.

Objectives Resolution
On March 12, 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted a resolution moved by Liaquat Ali Khan, the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, called the Objectives Resolution. It proclaimed that the future constitution of Pakistan would not be modeled on European pattern, but on the ideology and democratic faith of Islam.

Objectives Resolution, which is considered to be the "Magna Carta" in Pakistan’s constitutional history, proclaimed the following principles:

1. Sovereignty belongs to Allah alone; but he has delegated it to the State of Pakistan through it’s people for being exercised within the limits prescribed by Him as a sacred trust;

2. The State shall exercise it’s powers and authority through the chosen representatives of the people;

3. The principles of Democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice as enunciated by Islam shall be fully observed;

4. The Muslims shall be enabled to order their lives in the individual and collective spheres in accordance with the teachings of Islam as set out in the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

5. Adequate provision shall be made for the minorities to freely profess and practice their religions and develop their cultures;

6. Pakistan shall be a Federation;

7. Fundamental Rights shall be guaranteed;

8. Judiciary shall be independent.

Objectives Resolution is one of the most important and illuminating documents in the constitutional history of Pakistan. At the time it was passed, Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan called it "the most important occasion in the life of this country, next in importance, only to the achievement of independence."