THE INTEGRATED LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM OF PAKISTAN

(Constitution • Supreme Court • PPC • CrPC • CPC • Islamic Jurisprudence • Judicial Review • Doctrine of Necessity • Criminal & Civil Justice Systems)

Authoritative Reference for LL.B/LL.M Students, Judges, Advocates, CSS Aspirants & Legal Researchers

📋 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART 1: CONSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS OF PAKISTAN

1.1 The 1973 Constitution as Supreme Law

The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 represents the supreme law of the land, adopted on April 12, 1973 after successive constitutional failures (1962 Constitution abrogated). It establishes a parliamentary democratic federal republic with Islamic foundations.

Constitutional FeatureExplanation
Parliamentary DemocracyBicameral Parliament (National Assembly + Senate); Prime Minister as executive head
Federal StructureFour provinces + Islamabad Capital Territory; concurrent legislative lists
Islamic ProvisionsArticle 2: Islam as State religion; Article 2A: Objectives Resolution substantive part
Independent JudiciaryArticle 175: Separate judicial organ; judicial independence guaranteed
Fundamental RightsArticles 8-28: Justiciable rights enforceable by courts
Constitutional SupremacyArticle 8: Laws inconsistent with Constitution void

1.2 The Objectives Resolution & Divine Sovereignty

The Objectives Resolution (1949), incorporated via Article 2A (1985), declares: "Sovereignty over the entire Universe belongs to Allah Almighty alone". This establishes Islamic constitutional theory where popular sovereignty operates within divine limits.

📌 KEY INSIGHT: Article 2A transformed the Objectives Resolution from preamble to enforceable constitutional provision, binding all state organs to Islamic principles (PLD 1989 SC 4).

1.3 Structure of Government

InstitutionConstitutional Role
LegislatureArticles 69-100: Law-making; fiscal powers
ExecutiveArticles 90-100: Policy implementation; President ceremonial head
JudiciaryArticles 175-212: Constitutional interpretation; rights enforcement

PART 2: THE SUPREME COURT & JUDICIAL STRUCTURE

2.1 Supreme Court of Pakistan

Established under Article 176 as the apex court with principal seat at Islamabad and benches in provincial capitals. Comprises Chief Justice and 16 judges.

2.2 Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

JurisdictionArticleExplanation
Original184(3)Public importance w/o adequate remedy
Appellate185High Court judgments; death sentences
Advisory186President reference on law questions
Review188Review own judgments
Suo Motu184(3)Public interest litigation

2.3 Judicial Hierarchy

SUPREME COURT OF PAKISTAN
↓
FEDERAL SHARIAT COURT
↓
HIGH COURTS (4)
↓
DISTRICT & SESSIONS COURTS
↓
CIVIL/MAGISTRATE COURTS

PART 3: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS & JUDICIAL REVIEW

3.1 Fundamental Rights

ArticleRight
Article 4Right to law, due process
Article 8Laws inconsistent void
Article 9Security of person
Article 10AFair trial (18th Amendment)
Article 14Dignity of man
Article 19Freedom of speech
Article 25Equality before law

3.2 Judicial Review

Power of courts to declare laws/actions unconstitutional (Article 8). Supreme Court & High Courts exercise this power.

3.3 Basic Structure Doctrine

CaseYearPrinciple
Dosso1958Doctrine of Necessity
Asma Jilani1972Buried Doctrine of Necessity
Sindh High Court Bar2009Basic structure protected

PART 4: PAKISTAN PENAL CODE (PPC) 1860

4.1 Nature of PPC

Substantive criminal law defining offenses and punishments. Colonial origin (1860) with Islamic amendments.

4.2 Important PPC Sections

SectionOffensePunishment
302Murder (Qatl-e-Amd)Death or life imprisonment
420Cheating7 years + fine
489-FDishonoured cheque3 years + fine
34Common intentionAs per main offense
149Unlawful assemblyAs per common object

PART 5: CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (CrPC) 1898

5.1 FIR to Trial Process

StageCrPC Section
FIR Registration154
Investigation156
Arrest54
Challan173
TrialChapter XXIV

PART 6: CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE (CPC) 1908

6.1 Civil Litigation Flow

INSTITUTION OF SUIT (Order IV)
↓
WRITTEN STATEMENT (Order VIII)
↓
FRAMING ISSUES (Order XIV)
↓
EVIDENCE (Order XVIII)
↓
JUDGMENT & DECREE (Order XX)
↓
APPEAL (Section 96)

PART 7: ISLAMIC CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE IN PAKISTAN

7.1 Qisas & Diyat

Qisas (retribution) & Diyat (blood money) under Section 299-338 PPC. Islamic principles integrated into secular criminal law.

PART 8: CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM & CASE FLOW

CRIME OCCURS → FIR (**§154 CrPC**) → POLICE INVESTIGATION (**§156**) →
ARREST (**§54**) → REMAND (**§167**) → CHALLAN (**§173**) → TRIAL COURT →
CONVICTION/ACQUITTAL → HIGH COURT APPEAL → SUPREME COURT

PART 9: CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM & PROPERTY LITIGATION

Property disputes governed by CPC 1908, Specific Relief Act 1877, and provincial revenue laws.

PART 10: DOCTRINE OF NECESSITY & CONSTITUTIONAL CRISES

Zafar Ali Shah (PLD 2000 SC 869): Validated Musharraf coup under doctrine of necessity (later criticized).

PART 11: LANDMARK CASES

CaseYearPrinciple
Maulvi Tamizuddin1955Governor-General powers
Asma Jilani1972End of Doctrine of Necessity
Sindh High Court Bar2009Basic structure doctrine

PART 12: COMPARATIVE COMMENTARY

CountryJudicial ReviewConstitutional Supremacy
PakistanStrong (Art 184/199)Absolute
IndiaBasic StructureAbsolute
USAMarbury v MadisonAbsolute

PART 13: QUICK REVISION GUIDE

TopicKey Point
Supreme CourtArt 176: Apex Court
PPC Murder§302: Death/life
FIR§154 CrPC

PART 14: FINAL CONCLUSION

The 1973 Constitution integrates Pakistan's legal system under constitutional supremacy. The Supreme Court safeguards this order through judicial review, while PPC/CrPC/CPC provide procedural frameworks. Islamic principles harmonize with statutory law through Federal Shariat Court. Judicial independence remains cornerstone of rule of law.

FINAL INSIGHT: Pakistan's legal system exemplifies constitutionalism where divine sovereignty (Art 2A) and popular sovereignty coexist under judicial oversight.

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