The Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan contains certain apparent aberrations that are not in accordance with the teachings and requirements of Islam, as set out in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah as per Article 2A which is a substantive part of the Constitution. These aberrations are found in Article 45 and 248. The former article gives powers of granting pardon to the President for any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or other authority. The latter confers protection to the President, Governor, Minister, etc, to not to be answerable to any court for the exercise of powers and performance of functions of their respective offices or for any act done or purported to be done in the exercise of those powers and performance of those functions.
Both the above two articles are in conflict with Article 2 A of the Constitution under which no powers can be given to the President to grant pardon to the murderer, which lie with the nearest kin of the murdered person, in the form of ‘Qisas’. Similarly there is no concept of blanket immunity to the President, Prime Minister and Ministers for all actions taken in the performance of their duty.
It has now become vital that we revisit our constitution in the light of the Quran and oust old British laws which are in conflict with our religion. I have never heard such laws
DR MUHAMMAD YAQOOB BHATTI,
Lahore, February 25.