M.A. Jinnah in the Imperial Legislative Council ... 175 M.A. JINNAH IN THE IMPERIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF INDIA, 1910-13 AND 1916-19 SHEHLA GUL 1 and MADEHA NEELAM 2 1 Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, Islamia College Peshawar, 2 PhD Scholar, Pakistan Study Centre, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan. E-mail: shehlagul01@gmail.com The British gradually included Indians in the legislative process of India and with the passage of time the system of election was introduced. They also gradually increased the powers of the elected members. The time when Mohammad Ali Jinnah was for the first time elected as the member of the Imperial Legislative Council, it was the initial stage of the representative institutions in India but he as representative of the people of India participated in the legislative process very efficiently. Analyzing his speeches and work the impression one gets is that he was progressive in his moves and well aware of the law as well as the condition of his country. He was also aware of his limitations as non-official member of the Council and resigned when he felt that he as member of this house could not serve his people. The Gradual Inclusion of Indians in British Legislative and Decision Making Institutions The British Government took direct control of India after the War of Independence 1857, through the Government of India Act, 1858. Through this Act a council with the name of the Council of India was established. This Council had 15 members out of which 7 were to be elected by the Court of Directors of East India Company while 8 had to be appointed by the Government. The Secretary of State for India was