Pakistan · Legislation
Legislation and primary sources
Where to find the authoritative text of the law in Pakistan, and how to confirm it is still in force.
Sources of law, ranked
- The Constitution of 1973
- Supreme; includes the repugnancy clause and the fundamental rights chapter.
- Federal and provincial statutes
- Including the surviving British Indian codes as amended.
- Injunctions of Islam
- A test of validity applied by the Federal Shariat Court, not a directly applied code.
- Judicial precedent
- Supreme Court decisions bind all courts under Article 189.
- Customary personal law
- Muslim, Hindu and Christian personal law govern marriage and succession by community.
The legislative process
Money bills originate in the National Assembly only. Other bills may start in either house and must pass both; disagreement is resolved in a joint sitting. The President may return a bill once, after which a joint sitting can override. Constitutional amendments need a two-thirds majority in both houses. Provincial assemblies legislate on all matters not on the Federal Legislative List.
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