- Chief Minister NWFP
- Chief Minister Sindh
- Chief Minister Punjab
- Chief Minister Balochistan
The Historical Context
The One Unit policy was a geopolitical initiative launched by the central government of Pakistan in 1954-1955. It aimed to merge the four provinces of West Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, and Balochistan) into a single administrative entity. The stated goal was to achieve parity with East Pakistan, but the underlying motivation was often seen as an attempt to dilute the ethnic identities and political influence of the smaller provinces.
The Dismissal of Pirzada Abdus Sattar
Pirzada Abdus Sattar, then Chief Minister of Sindh, was a staunch opponent of the merger. He argued that the One Unit scheme would lead to the domination of Punjab over the smaller provinces and result in the loss of Sindh’s cultural and economic autonomy.
When it became clear that Pirzada would not support the resolution in the Sindh Assembly, the central leadership—spearheaded by Governor-General Malik Ghulam Muhammad—took decisive action. In September 1954, Pirzada’s ministry was dismissed under the controversial PRODA (Public and Representative Offices Disqualification Act) or executive fiat. He was replaced by Muhammad Ayub Khuhro, who was installed specifically to ensure the passage of the One Unit bill through the Sindh Assembly, which he eventually achieved through significant political maneuvering.
Impact on Other Provinces
While other provinces also saw resistance, the dismissal in Sindh remains the primary example of the center using force to bypass provincial dissent regarding this specific policy.
- NWFP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa): Sardar Rashid Khan also initially opposed the plan but was eventually pressured out of office.
- Punjab: The leadership there generally supported One Unit as it consolidated their administrative influence.
- Balochistan: At the time, it did not have the same provincial status/assembly structure as the others, though tribal resistance was high.
The One Unit scheme remained in place until 1970, when it was finally abolished by General Yahya Khan, restoring the original four provinces.
