QUIZ NO 4

Pakistan Studies
Topic: SALIENT FRATURES OF CONSTITUTION

Submitted to: Ma’am Quart ul

Ain Jalil
Submitted by: Syeda Ghanyan
Shahzadi
Registration no: BSP203006

Date: 20, DEC, 2020

Department of
Management and social
Sciences
Capital University
of Science and Technology
(C.U.S.T)

Salient Features of the Constitution

1. Islamic Constitution

The constitution of Pakistan 1973 is regarded as an Islamic constitution because in it Islam has
been declared. For this purpose an Islamic advisory council shall be appointed which will
provide guidance not only to the government but also to the parliament. The Islamic character of
the constitution is reinforced by the clause that the hand of the state, i.e., president must also be a
Muslim.

2. Federal constitution

The constitution of Pakistan is federal in nature. As Pakistan consist of four provinces, it became
indispensable to base its constitution on the principles of federation. Another feature of the
federal system of government is the two houses of legislature. Parse in Pakistan, the parliament
consist of two houses senate and National Assembly.

3. Inflexible constitution

The constitution of a country reflects the feelings of nation and safeguards the nation. Therefore,
it should not be so flexible that changes could made frequently. Generally, the condition of two-
third majority for constitutional amendment is maintained all over the world.

4. Parliamentary system

Contrary to the previous constitution is based on parliamentary system. The largest legislative
body of the country will be the parliament. The parliament will consist of National Assembly and
Senate. The previous constitution represented presidential system of government. The present
constitution has been enhanced on parliamentary system and according to it the prime minister
and his cabinet are answerable to the National Assembly.

5. Written constitution

For the federal states a written constitution is considered to be indispensable so that the power
and relations between the provinces and the center could be specified in it and the powers and
responsibilities of three organs of state i.e. executive, legislature and judiciary could be
stipulated. This constitution consist of 280 articles, it includes seven schedules and it has been
divided in to 12 parts.

6. Fundamental rights

The fundamental rights safeguard the liberty and rights of the people and without them no
society can claim to be independent. It has also been stipulated that the laws inconsistent with
fundamental rights will be annulled and made ineffective. The fundamental rights cannot be
suspended without applying constitutional method.

7. Direct elections

Contrary to constitution of 1962 in the present constitution direct election process has been
adopted. The elections of National Assemblies shall be held directly in which all the citizens of
Pakistan, not less than 21 years, shall be allowed to cast their votes.

8. Principles of policy

The principles of policy provide guidance to the state and the government is obliged to act upon
them. In accordance with these principles, the elimination of illiteracy, arrangements of free
secondary education, development of technical education, providing expensive justice and
prevention of prostitution are also states responsibility. Besides, the constitution also binds the
government to provide basic amenities like food, housing, medical facilities, clothing etc. and to
eliminate economic differential between individuals.

9. Free judiciary

For the survival of freedom of an nation, liberty of judiciary is indispensable because only the
judiciary safeguard the peoples fundamental rights and demarcates reasonable limits against
misuse of power of the executives.

10.High treason

The abrogation of constitution through unconstitutional means or by use of force is a high

treason under the present constitution. The insertion of this provision had been rooted in the past.
As such in the present constitution, any similar conspiracy or attempts has been described as high
treason and the parliament has been conferred upon the power to propose punishment for the
person involved in this crime. Therefore, when Zia-ul -Haq promulgated Martial law in1977, he
suspended the constitution instead of abrogating it keeping in view the above mentioned
background.

11.Equal rights for women

In the present constitution, the women have been given rights equal to men and restrictions
imposed against them earlier with regard to the central superior services have been failed. For
instance, earlier, the women were not allowed to join civil service of Foreign Service but this
restrictions has now been withdrawn. For the first time in Pakistan in the present constitution has
given rights to women.

12.National language

In Pakistan the issue of national language has always been very delicate and the provincial
prejudices have been encouraged to keep the issue alive. In accordance with article 251 of the
present constitution, URDU has been declared national language of Pakistan. At the same time,
the provincial assemblies have been authorized to prescribe measures for the teaching and use of
a provincial language. Under this article, the provincial assemblies of Punjab, N.W.F.P and
Baluchistan by passing resolutions, have been adopted Urdu language as a medium of education
while the Sindh has decided to adopt Sindhi in addition to Urdu.