EVOLUTION OF THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE IN PAKISTAN SINCE 1956

Abstract

Pakistan adopted Government of India Act, 1935, as an interim constitution. This Act had rested some unprecedented powers in the Governor General. The framers of the first constitution rested similar powers in the office of the President. The constitution of 1962 adopted pure Presidential form of government. All the tectonic and executive powers were vested on the office of President under the constitution of 1962. This concentration of powers led to the disintegration of Pakistan in 1971. While keeping this historical incident in mind, the framers of 1973’s constitution declared President as a nominal head of the state and introduced parliamentary form of government. Nevertheless, in 1985, General Zia-ul-Haq introduced the Eighth Amendment which changed Pakistan’s system of government into a hybrid system where powers were shared by The President and Prime Minister. It changed the nature and shape of 1973’s constitution and enhanced the authority of the President. Furthermore, in 2010, the parliament introduced the Eighteenth Amendment and restored the constitution of 1973 to its original shape. All the executive powers were vested on the parliament and President was made a tutorial head of the state. This paper examines the evolution of the office of President under the three constitutions and the subsequent amendments made to the constitution of 1973.