A Critically Analysis of Distribution of Powers between Centre and Provinces under the 18th Amendment of Constitution of 1973
Keywords:
Power allocation, devolution, Pakistan’s constitutional past, and the 18th AmendmentAbstract
This article explores the constitutional evolution throughout history that culminated in the ratification The 18th Amendment of Pakistan was enacted in April 2010. The objective of the study is to provide a clear understanding of the development of the Constitution, elaborate on the features of the 18th Amendment, and analyse the distribution of power between the federal government and the provinces following the implementation of the amendment. The 18th Amendment aimed to decentralize power by revaluating the relationship between the Parliament and the court, granting more authority to provincial governments, and restoring the parliamentary nature of the Constitution. The historical background section sheds light on Pakistani federalism, following its origins from the 1935 Government of India Act to the 1956 and 1962 constitutions. It draws attention to the effects of military operations as well as the centralising elements of these constitutions. The 18th and 17th Amendments, in particular, caused distortions to the 1973 Constitution, which established a federal parliamentary governance framework.