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Constitutional History of Pakistan

Constitutional History of Pakistan
Written by CSS Times

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan covers nearly 804,000 square kilometres of the former Indus Valley. Today, it shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan on the west, China on the north, the Arabian Sea on the south, and India on the east. While Pakistan is ethnically diverse, it is overwhelmingly Muslim, which has led to tensions with India over the former British-Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the northeast boarder. Additionally, hyper urbanization has led to class tension. Out of 187 million citizens, 36 percent live in cities, with approximately 830,000 people in the capital city of Islamabad. The largest city, Karachi, contains 13 million people.

Constitutional history of Pakistan

Prior to its independence from Britain in 1947, Pakistan was originally governed under the Government of India Act of 1935. This act, drafted by the colonial master Britain, functioned as Pakistan’s constitution at the time and provided for a strong central government, a governor-general with unreviewable powers, and very limited representation which continued feudal-like politics. Following independence, a constituent assembly was elected and tasked with drafting a new Constitution. On 23 March 1956, after a difficult drafting process that included a replacement of the assembly by the governor-general, a new constitution was adopted. It abolished the office of the governor-general and replaced it with a president and prime minister who would share the executive functions. In addition, it created a unicameral legislature with equal seats for the East and West Pakistan, but it maintained the central power of the government by ensuring that the President remained powerful and the provinces never had more power than the national government.

Before the country’s first parliamentary elections were to be held, President Iskandar Mirza abrogated the constitution and established martial law. The President feared that the influence of East Pakistan would undermine his hold on power. He appointed army chief Ayub Khan as the martial administrator, which gave the military a strong hold on power, with Khan at its head. Khan was later elected president as the result of 1958 coup, and on 1 March 1962, he promulgated a new constitution. This document established a legislature whose sole purpose was to approve and legitimize government decisions. It abolished the office of the prime minister, giving sole executive authority to the President, who, it mandated, had to have held a rank higher than lieutenant-general in the military for at least 20 years. While Khan was re-elected in 1965, he was forced to resign in 1969. General Yahya Khan replaced him, martial law was declared, and the Constitution was suspended. After East Pakistan declared its independence in 1971, becoming the new state Bangladesh, Ali Bhutto took over the presidency and established a new constitution on 14 August 1973, current to date.

1973 Constitution |Constitutional history of Pakistan

The current Constitution of Pakistan contains more than 250 articles, and several important amendments. Imbedded in the document are certain key components of Islam, including the subservient status of women. The Constitution also establishes a federal state, dividing power between the local and national governments. The national power is divided between the President, the Prime Minister, the Legislature, and the Courts.

Executive branch |Constitutional history of Pakistan

The President of Pakistan is the Head of State. He is elected by an electoral college made up of representatives from both houses of the legislature and the provinces. The Presidential mandate is limited to two 5 year terms, but he may resign or be impeached by a two-thirds vote of Parliament. The President may grant pardons and appoint ministers, the provincial governors, and the chiefs of the armed forces. The President also may veto legislature, though this can be overridden by a majority vote in both houses of the Parliament. He may also suspend certain individual rights in cases of emergency. In 1985, the President was given the power to dissolve the National Assembly by amendment, but this power, along with the ability to appoint military chiefs, was removed by a 2010 amendment.

The Prime Minister is the Head of Government, and is appointed by the President from the lower house of Parliament. The Prime Minister in turn shares the power to appoint Cabinet members with the President. The Cabinet acts as an advisory body. In cases where the President must seek the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, he may ask them to reconsider only once, and if the advice does not change, the recommendation must be followed. As the Head of Government, it is also the Prime Minister’s role to oversee the execution of laws and the smooth functioning of government.

Legislative branch |Constitutional history of Pakistan

The Constitution creates a bicameral Parliament, consisting of an upper and lower house. The upper house is the Senate, which has 100 members. The Constitution provides that Senators are to be elected by the provincial assemblies, the tribes, and the capital. It also mandates that at least four women are to be elected from each province. The Chair and the Deputy Chair of the Senate are elected to three year terms. While the Senate may introduce and pass most legislation, it cannot pass finance bills or approve the federal budget. That is left to the lower house, or the National Assembly. The 272 members of the Assembly are elected for a maximum of 5 years by a direct vote. 60 seats are reserved for women, and 10 are reserved for non-Muslim minorities such as the Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs. The lower house may pass any kind of legislation, including financial legislation.

Judicial branch |Constitutional history of Pakistan

Pakistan’s Judiciary is comprised of a Supreme Court, a High Court for each province, and any other lower courts Parliament creates. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial body, with original and appellate jurisdiction over civil, criminal, and constitutional cases. It is the final arbiter in all constitutional disputes cases. It may also advise the other branches in the formation and passing of laws. The Supreme Court may also exercise judicial review that is binding on all courts. The Chief Justice is appointed by the President, and the other Justices are appointed by the President with the advice of the Chief Justice. These judges may remain in office until the age of 65. The Chief Justice also advises the President, the provincial governors, and the chief justices of the high courts, on appointment of judges to the provincial high courts. In addition to these constitutionally mandated courts, there is also the Federal Sharia Court of eight Muslim judges and a chief justice selected by the President. This court has jurisdiction over deciding whether laws are repugnant to Islam, and if a law is found to violate principles of Islamic law, the President or provincial governor must attempt to bring the law into conformity. It also has appellate jurisdiction over decisions from the criminal courts involving such offenses as intoxication, intercourse, or theft.

In addition to these three branches, the Constitution also provides for an Ombudsman, or the Mohtasib. The President appoints the Mohtasib to one four year term. The holder of this office is tasked with enforcing administrative accountability and investigating wrongs committed against citizens by members of the government. In rectifying injustices committed through maladministration. The Mohtasib may award compensatory damages in an effort to bridge the gap between citizens and their government, curb government abuses and misuse of powers, and to improve government administrative processes. However, the Mohtasib does not have jurisdiction over any cases involving personal grievances of government officials, foreign affairs, national defence, or the armed services.

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Provincial governments |Constitutional history of Pakistan

Because the Constitution establishes a federal system of government, it also created four provincial governments with considerable autonomy. Each of the provinces has a governor, a Council of Ministers appointed by the governor, and a provincial assembly. The assemblies are elected by a direct vote, with reserved seats for minorities.

Constitutional Challenges |Constitutional history of Pakistan

Since the implementation of the 1973 Constitution, Pakistan has continued to be plagued with political challenges. The Constitution provided for provincial autonomy in reaction to the loss of Bangladesh in 1971, which seceded because the Bengali minority felt marginalised. Despite these lessons and the inclusion of provincial autonomy in the Constitution, the national government has continued to maintain authority.

In addition to the federalism questions, questions remain about the role of the military in politics. The Constitution contained provisions declaring it treason not only to abrogate but to attempt, conspire, or plan to subvert the Constitution in an effort to prevent future military takeovers. However, in 1977, army chief Zia ul-Haq staged a coup, proclaimed martial law, suspended the Constitution, and established a Provisional Constitutional Order. The PCO gave the military not only the power to rule, but to amend the Constitution to remain in power. Although the 1973 Constitution was revived in 1985, it was amended to shift powers from the Prime Minister to the President and to give the President the power to dissolve the National Assembly. This amendment further weakened provincial autonomy, the legislature, and the judiciary. This amendment was also used by the President to dismiss the elected governments of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in the early 1990s in the wake of corruption charges. Sharif returned to power in 1997, but he was deposed by a coup led by army chief General Pervez Musharraf two years later.

These coups highlighted yet another problem under the 1973 Constitution: the weakness of the judiciary. Even though the Courts are meant to act as protectors of the Constitution and the separation of powers, they have often given way to Pakistani leaders on matters of constitutional law, either in the name of necessity or survival. When Musharraf took over the government in 1999, the Supreme Court validated his declaration of emergency and creation of another PCO as a state necessity. The PCO subsequently deprived them all of their authority to act as a check on the government by barring them from making decisions against the President or questioning the state of emergency. In fact, the Supreme Court expanded Musharraff’s authority by giving him the power to amend the Constitution. However, in 2007, Musharraf was elected in a second election. He again suspended the Constitution, declared a state of emergency, and established a PCO. The PCO passed a series of laws curbing the freedom of the press and establishing military courts with the power to try government critics. When the Supreme Court refused to sign off on this decision by the President and the PCO, Musharraf attempted to impeach the Chief Justice on corruption charges. This action led to a boycott of the judicial system led by the nation’s lawyers, who viewed the move as politically charged. By May 2007, the movement led to mass protests, and after Benazir Bhutto was assassinated upon return from exile later that year, Musharraf’s popular support was diminished. He was forced to resign amid impeachment proceedings begun by a new coalition government in 2008.

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The 2010 constitutional amendments were meant to prevent another military coup by limiting the powers of the President and restoring powers to the provinces. The 18th Amendment also removed from the President the power to dissolve the National Assembly and the power to appoint military chiefs. However, many remain concerned about the execution of these provisions, especially in regards to federalism and revenues. There also remains concern that, while the military still retains political power, military coups will continue to happen. Some see a strengthened judiciary that refuses to validate such coups as the solution, forcing leaders to stay within the guidelines of the rule of law and the military to remain out of the political sphere.

System of government under 1973 Constitution 

Branch

Hierarchy

Appointment

Powers

Removal

Executive

Constitutional history of Pakistan

President Elected by electoral college ·       Head of State and representative of the Republic, appoints cabinet, veto legislation, dissolve the National Assembly ·       Impeachment on grounds of physical or mental incapacity, gross misconduct, or violating the Constitution by two thirds of both houses of Parliament
Prime Minister Elected by National Assembly ·       Appoints cabinet, oversees execution of laws and ensures the “smooth functioning of the state” ·       Upon resignation or upon dissolution of the National Assembly by the President
Cabinet ·    Appointed by president and prime minister ·       Makes recommendations to the executives ·       Upon resignation or upon removal by President
Legislative

Constitutional history of Pakistan

Senate ·    100 members elected by provincial assemblies ·    Introduces and passes legislation except finance bills ·    Upon written resignation, if removed or leaves qualifying party, upon death
National Assembly ·    272 members by direct vote ·    Introduces and passes any legislation ·    Upon written resignation or upon dissolution of the National Assembly by the President
Judicial

Constitutional history of Pakistan

Supreme Court ·    Chief Justice appointed by President and Justices appointed by president under recommendation from Chief Justice ·    Judicial review, advise other branches on the drafting and passing of laws ·    Retirement at age 65, resignation or removal by legal proceedings as defined by the Constitution

 

Federal Shariat Court ·    Chief Justice and justices selected by the President

 

·    Decides whether laws are repugnant to Islam

 

·    Retirement at age 65, resignation or removal by legal proceedings as defined by the Constitution
Mohtasib ·    Appointed by the President for a single 4-year term ·    Enforces administrative accountability and investigates wrongs committed by the government against individuals ·    Term expires after four years, removal by the President

Timeline |Constitutional history of Pakistan

1947 British create independent Muslim nation of East and West Pakistan from Indian colony, Muhammad Ali Jinnah becomes first Governor General
1948 Jinnah dies, war with India over Kashmir erupts
1951 Governor General Liaquat Ali Khan assassinated
1956 New Constitution proclaims Pakistan an Islamic republic
1958 General Ayyub Khan takes power and declares martial law
1960 General Ayyub Khan becomes President
1969 General Yahya Khan takes over as President
1971 Civil War between East and West Pakistan begins over eastern attempts to secede, East Pakistan becomes Bangladesh with support of India
1973 Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto takes control of the country
1977 Amid riots protesting allegations of vote-rigging by Bhutto’s party, General Zia ul-Haq stages military coup
1978 General Zia becomes President
1979 Bhutto is executed by hanging
1985 Martial law and ban on political parties lifted
1988 General Ishaq Khan becomes acting President after General Zia dies in plane crash and later elected President
1990 Opposition leader and Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto dismissed for corruption
1991 Islamic Shariah law incorporated into legal code
1993 Benazir Bhutto takes over when President Khan and Prime Minister Sharif resign under pressure from the military
1996 Bhutto government dismissed under charges of corruption
1997 Sharif returns as Prime Minister
October 1999 General Pervez Musharraf oversees military coup that overthrows Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
20 June 2001 Musharraf names himself President
April 2002 President Musharraf wins referendum to have another 5 years in office as process is criticized as irregular, President given broad new powers over intense opposition |Constitutional history of Pakistan
April 2004 Nation Security Council approved by Parliament, cementing military role in civilian affairs Constitutional history of Pakistan
2007 Mass protests following President’s dismissal of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry leads President to expand media controls, Supreme Court reinstates the Chief Justice and refuses to declare President’s new election victory, President declares emergency rule and replaces the Supreme Court Justices who rule in his favour
27 December 2007 Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto assassinated at election rally
2008 Parliament agrees to begin impeachment of President, who soon resigns, widower of Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari, elected new President
2009 Mass protests force Parliament to reinstate the dismissed Supreme Court Justices |Constitutional history of Pakistan
January 2010 Constitutional reforms passed by Parliament transferring many presidential powers to the Prime Minister |Constitutional history of Pakistan

Source: www.constitutionnet.org

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