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Why Pakistan needs a Constitutional Court

Given the timing of the proposed constitutional amendment and our traditional rhetorical approach to constitutional discourse, it is certainly easy to look past the legitimate benefits of establishing a Constitutional…

Criminalised rights

TO be a member of a political party and taking part in politics is a fundamental right the Constitution confers on all citizens. However, there are legal restrictions on the…

Suicide decriminalisation

IN August, a 16-year-old girl from Rahim Yar Khan died by suicide. After battling with depression, and fearing criticism from her family, she took her life after locking herself in…

Another court

ARE constitutional courts an idea whose time has come in Pakistan? The proposal to constitute one was seriously presented in the Charter of Democracy signed by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz…

Is a Constitutional Court the answer?

After the government failed to have its Constitution Amendment Bill secretly rubber-stamped at midnight by oblivious parliamentarians; some in the ruling coalition rushed to disassociate themselves. They admitted to mistakes…

In defence of a new court

Constitutional courts exist in both common law and civil law countries, though they take different forms. In civil law countries, these courts are typically separate, specialized institutions, while in common…

The case for a constitutional court

Parliamentary legislative competence is the authority of a parliament to amend or repeal laws and the constitution. Under Article 239, Pakistan’s parliament can alter the constitution with a two-thirds majority.…

Justice beyond the courtroom

A father plays with his two children in one of the two freshly mowed lawns between the grey structures of the main building and the Chief Justice Complex of the…

Courts and historical wrongs

This March, the Supreme Court (SC) held in a reference filed by the president of Pakistan that the proceedings of the trial by the Lahore High Court, and of the…