Respecting the constitution.

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is perhaps the only country on the globe that had to formulate not one but four constitutions (1956, 1962, 1972, 1973). Ayub Khan's 1962 version was centred around him which was imposed on the nation. It died with his exit in March 1969 to be replaced by a new Legal FrameAwork Order (LFO). To move out of the martial law setup, the 1972 interim document was enAacted. The journey of constitutional rule can be reviewed in three phases, The initial struggle (1947 to 1956), the era of derailment (1958 to 1972), and the struggle for implementation (1973 but ongoing). Despite being a consensual agreement between the rulers and the ruled, there are elements within the state who refuse to accept it. Despite promises of much-needed change, the ground realities remain unAchanged. The inertia is mind-boggling. In the words of my friend Dr Moeed Yousaf the former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) we come up with the required plans which get stalled during implementation for reaAsons unknown. Theoretical frameworks exist but the apAplication is missing. The Asian Tigers emerged once they were able to remove these roadblocks.

Recently the Police refused to register a First InformaAtion Report (FIR) as desired by Imran Khan the Ex-Prime Minister (PM). Under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Station House Officer (SHO) is duty-bound to record and register complaints of the aggrieved person, but not in the land of the pure. In Israel, even the sitting PM was being investigated by the Police. Benjamin NetanAyahu had to appear before investigators to answer quesAtions. The current PM of Pakistan's legal counsel appeared before Justice Mathew Nicklin in London with a request for adjournment due to his official duties. The remarks of JusAtice Nicklin were, 'Everyone is equal before the law'. The proceeding of the case must be published to provide lesAsons for our flawed legal system. No one is above the law.

There are around twenty articles covering fundamental human rights in the 1973 constitution. Unfortunately, not one of them has been debated or delivered to the people of Pakistan. No man-made system or document is flawless, there is always room for...