Why Was There No Tranfer Of Population?

[Guest]

Posting from Kuala Lumpur airport



There definitely was discussion about an exchange of populations. But the then PM of Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan forestalled it by signing something called the Nehru-Liaquat pact. Liaquat knew that if there was a complete exchange of populations, TSP would have no leverage over India, as it seems to think it has now. Of course Pakistan flouted the terms of the agreement from day one , while India adhered to it to the letter. so what else is new. Regardless of whether or not this issue of exchange of populations was discussed , I do not believe India would ever have gone through with this. we are not like this onlee ...



[url="http://www.storyofpakistan.com/articletext.asp?artid=A096"]http://www.storyofpakistan.com/articletext....asp?artid=A096[/url]

The two Prime Ministers met in Delhi on April 2, 1950, and discussed the matter in detail. The meeting lasted for six long days. On April 8, the two leaders signed an agreement, which was later entitled as Liaquat-Nehru Pact. This pact provided a 'bill of rights' for the minorities of India and Pakistan. Its aim was to address the following three issues:



1. To alleviate the fears of the religious minorities on both sides.



2. To elevate communal peace.



3. To create an atmosphere in which the two countries could resolve their other differences.



According to the agreement, the governments of India and Pakistan solemnly agreed that each shall ensure, to the minorities throughout its territories, complete equality of citizenship, irrespective of religion; a full sense of security in respect of life, culture, property and personal honor.



It also guaranteed fundamental human rights of the minorities, such as freedom of movement, speech, occupation and worship. The pact also provided for the minorities to participate in the public life of their country, to hold political or other offices and to serve in their country's civil and armed forces.



The Liaquat-Nehru Pact provided for the mechanism to deal with oppressive elements with an iron hand. Both the governments decided to set up minority commissions in their countries with the aim of observing and reporting on the implementation of the pact, to ensure that no one breaches the pact and to make recommendations to guarantee its enforcement. Both Minority Commissions were to be headed by a provincial minister and were to have Hindu and Muslim members among its ranks. India and Pakistan also agreed to include representatives of the minority community in the cabinet of the two Bengals, and decided to depute two central ministers, one from each government, to remain in the affected areas for such period as might be necessary. Both the leaders emphasized that the loyalty of the minorities should be reserved for the state in which they were living and for the solution of their problems they should look forward to the government of the country they were living in.



This pact was broadly acknowledged as an optimistic beginning to improve relations between India and Pakistan.