Constitutional and Political History of Pakistan

It has been more than 75 years since the independent state of Pakistan was carved out of British India. Over this period of time, no other country has experimented with so many different constitutional forms, from parliamentary democracy to presidential form of government, hybrid to outright military regimes.

This book analyses constitutional development in Pakistan from its inception to the present times. It provides a case-by-case account of constitution-making in Pakistan, with the inclusion of all pertinent documentation. Constitutional developments have been explained in the context of social and political events that shaped them. The book focuses on constitutional and political history, and constitutional development concurrently. It includes a liberal humanitarian reading of the travails of lawmakers and the role of generals, judges, politicians, journalists, and bureaucrats in the implementation of the constitution and the law.

The fourth edition of the book has updated the narrative of constitutional and political developments until September 2018. The fourth edition includes a revised chapter on the breakup of Pakistan in 1971 based on new research on the subject and addresses the causes that led to this tragedy in 1971. In Part Eleven, ‘Constitutional and Political Issues in Pakistan’ has been thoroughly revised and covers the ongoing constitutional and political crises in Pakistan.

Students of law, political science, and history, as well as lawyers, judges, and faculty of law will find this book of particular value. Being grounded in a socio-political context, this book will also be of interest to the general reader.