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Legal Framework Order

After abolishing the previous constitution, Yahya Khan established the Legal Framework Order of 1970 to provide structure for upcoming elections. The order dissolved the One Unit system and established a 313 member National Assembly including reserved seats for women. It outlined electoral qualifications and procedures. The order also acted as an interim constitution, outlining principles for the future constitution including establishing an Islamic republic, protecting fundamental rights and judicial independence, and ensuring provincial autonomy. The president was given powers to reject or amend the new constitution.

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488 views2 pages

Legal Framework Order

After abolishing the previous constitution, Yahya Khan established the Legal Framework Order of 1970 to provide structure for upcoming elections. The order dissolved the One Unit system and established a 313 member National Assembly including reserved seats for women. It outlined electoral qualifications and procedures. The order also acted as an interim constitution, outlining principles for the future constitution including establishing an Islamic republic, protecting fundamental rights and judicial independence, and ensuring provincial autonomy. The president was given powers to reject or amend the new constitution.

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Hassun Cheema
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LEGAL FRAMEWORK ORDER

https://storyofpakistan.com/legal-framework-order/

After the abrogation of the Constitution of 1962, Yahya Khan


needed a legal framework to hold elections. In April and July 1969,
he held discussions with prominent political party leaders to learn
their point of view. Most of them asked for the revival of the
Constitution of 1956 on the ground that its abrogation had been
unlawful, and the country should return to the constitutional
position prevailing on the eve of the 1958 coup. Yahya Khan
initially agreed with this opinion, but had to change his stance due
to opposition from the Awami League.

Not being well versed in constitutional affairs, he appointed a team


to draft a new constitutional formula. He voiced his ideas about the
constitutional issues in his broadcast address to the nation on
November 28, 1969. The formula was officially issued on March 30,
1970, and is known as the Legal Framework Order of 1970.
According to this order, One Unit was dissolved in West Pakistan
and direct ballot replaced the principle of parity.

The National Assembly was to consist of 313 seats, including 13


seats reserved for women. Women were also allowed to contest the
elections from general seats. The distribution of seats was to be as
follows:

 East Pakistan: 162 general and 7 reserved seats

 Punjab: 82 general and 3 reserved seats

 Sindh: 27 general and 1 reserved seat

 N. W. F. P.: 18 general and 1 reserved seat

 Baluchistan: 4 general and 1 reserved seat

 Centrally Administered Tribal Areas: 7 general seats


The L. F. O. also defined the qualifications of people who would be
allowed to contest in the elections. The Constituent Assembly was
to stand dissolved if it was unable to frame the Constitution within
120 days. Actually, the Legal Framework Order was to act as an
interim Constitution.

The primary function of the L. F. O. was to provide a setup on


which elections could be conducted. It was then the duty of the
elected Constituent Assembly to draft the Constitution of Pakistan.
However, the L. F. O. defined the directive principles of State policy
and made it clear that the future Constitution should not violate
these basic principles. The directive principles demanded an Islamic
way of life, observation of Islamic moral standards, and teaching of
the Quran and Sunnah to the Muslims.

The Legal Framework Order also urged the Constituent Assembly to


frame a Constitution in which Pakistan was to be a Federal
Republic and should be named Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It also
called for the preservation of Islamic Ideology and democratic
values. The Constituent Assembly was also supposed to frame a
Constitution in which all citizens of Pakistan were to enjoy
fundamental human rights. Judiciary should remain independent
from the Executive and provincial autonomy is protected.

The President was given the power to reject any Constitution framed
by the Constituent Assembly if the document did not fulfill the
above-mentioned requirements. The President also had the power to
interpret and amend the Constitution, and his decision could not be
challenged in a court of law.

This article was last updated on Sunday, June 01, 2003

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