A Study of the Composition of Federal Cabinets in Pakistan: 1947-1977

Abstract

The present study highlights different appointment criteria to Cabinet, adopted by various heads of the State under different systems of Government from 1947 to 1977. This paper also examines the role and status of Inner or Kitchen Cabinet during the period of this research study. It further highlights what social groups were represented in the Cabinet and in what proportion? It challenges the general perception that mostly feudal lords got Cabinet seats. Socio-economic analysis in this regard has revealed that professionals rather than feudal lords mainly remained in majority and other groups including civil and military bureaucracy, industrialists and businessmen were also appointed on important portfolios. The period of research study has been divided into three phases to analyse the social background of the Ministers and appointment criteria to the Cabinet i.e. first parliamentary period from 1947 to 1958, military regime from 1958 to 1971 and Second Parliamentary era from 1971 to 1977.