Declaration
Independence of Pakistan, 1947
The Indian Independence Act, 1947 established Pakistan as an independent dominion with effect from 15 August 1947; Pakistan's own transfer-of-power ceremony was held in Karachi on 14 August 1947, ahead of India's, for scheduling reasons.
What happened
The Indian Independence Act, 1947 received Royal Assent on 18 July 1947. Section 1(1) provided: "As from the fifteenth day of August, nineteen hundred and forty-seven, two independent Dominions shall be set up in India, to be known respectively as India and Pakistan."[1] Although the Act set 15 August 1947 as "the appointed day" for both dominions, Pakistan's own transfer-of-power ceremony was held in Karachi on 14 August 1947; according to The National, this was because the last Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, needed to attend ceremonies in both Karachi and Delhi and could not be in both cities on the same day, so his visit to Karachi was brought forward a day.[2]
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: The Indian Independence Act, 1947, given Royal Assent on 18 July 1947, provided in Section 1(1): "As from the fifteenth day of August, nineteen hundred and forty-seven, two independent Dominions shall be set up in India, to be known respectively as India and Pakistan." Section 1(2) designated that date "the appointed day."
- Parliament of the United Kingdom, Indian Independence Act, 1947 (10 & 11 Geo. 6, c. 30) (18 July 1947) link, Section 1. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
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2.
Claim: Pakistan's own transfer-of-power ceremony was held in Karachi on 14 August 1947, a day before India's equivalent ceremony in Delhi, because Lord Mountbatten needed to attend both and could not be present in both cities on the same day, so his visit to Karachi was brought forward.
- The National, Why do Pakistan and India celebrate Independence Day one day apart? (The National) link, article text. Source record