Pakistan resolution was passed on 23 March 1940 in Lahore, it was originally called ‘Lahore Resolution’ but later it got popular by the name of Pakistan Resolution. It was written and prepared by Muhammad Zafarullah Khan and was presented by A. K. Fazlul Huq at the three day general session of All India Muslim League at Lahore, which ran from 22nd to 24th of March 1940. It was adopted as the formal political of All India Muslim League.
Following was the original full text of Pakistan Resolution.
“THE LAHORE RESOLUTION”
Resolved at the Lahore Session of All-India Muslim League held on 22nd-24th March, 1940.
(1) While approving and endorsing the action taken by the Council and the Working Committee of the All Indian Muslim League as indicated in their resolutions dated the 10th of August, 17th and 18th of September and 22nd of October, 1939, and 3rd February 1940 on the constitutional issues, this Session of the All-Indian Muslim League emphatically reiterates that the scheme of federation embodied in the Government of India Act, 1935, is totally unsuited to, and unworkable in the peculiar conditions of this country and is altogether unacceptable to Muslim India.
(2) Resolved that it is the considered view of this Session of the All India Muslim League that no constitutional plan would be workable in this country or acceptable to Muslims unless it is designed on the following basic principle, namely that geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary, that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North-Western and Eastern Zones of India, should be grouped to constitute “Independent States” in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign.
(3) That adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards should be specifically provided in the constitution for minorities in these units and in these regions for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights and interests in consultation with them; and in other parts of India where the Mussalmans are in a minority, adequate, effective and mandatory safeguards shall be specially provided in the constitution for them and other minorities for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights and interests in consultation with them.
(4) This Session further authorizes the Working Committee to frame a scheme of constitution in accordance with these basic principles, providing for the assumption finally by the respective regions of all powers such as defense, external affairs, communications, customs and such other matters as may be necessary.
Overall the resolution demanded for the separate Independent region, which was to be formed by grouping the states of muslim majority. This session of All India Muslim League was the first time when Muhammad Ali Jinnah came forward as a leader who wanted a separate stated composed of states with muslim majority, after realizing the basic difference in beliefs of Hindus and Muslims. As otherwise, earlier, he was known as a symbol of Hindu Muslim unity in sub-continent.
Lahore Resolution or Pakistan Resolution played a important and vital role in the freedom struggle of Muslims of subcontinent in days to come. Passing of this resolution was one single event of highest importance, where it all started and eventually after struggle of seven years after that muslims of subcontinent achieved what they resoluted for.