1973 Constitution remains central legal, political framework: President

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has said on Thursday that the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, adopted on April 10, 1973, remains the country’s central legal and political framework and continues to ensure institutional continuity despite decades of political and national challenges.

In his message on Constitution Day, the President noted that the 1973 Constitution marked the first time a directly elected Parliament, based on adult franchise, successfully established a consensual constitutional order after years of uncertainty and earlier failed attempts.

He said the process leading to its adoption was lengthy and required sustained negotiation, restraint, and consensus-building across political lines over more than a year. The result, he added, was a federal, parliamentary, and democratic Constitution unanimously endorsed by the political forces represented in Parliament at the time—an achievement that remains one of its defining strengths.

President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan has since faced repeated military interventions, periods of authoritarian rule, terrorism, natural disasters, economic challenges, and the loss of national leaders. Despite these disruptions, he said, the Constitution has continued to provide continuity to the state and a foundation for institutional recovery.

He paid tribute to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, describing him as the principal architect of the 1973 Constitution, and acknowledged the role of democratic political parties that defended the constitutional order during times of stress.

The President also remembered Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, saying she carried forward the struggle for democratic governance under difficult circumstances and contributed to the Charter of Democracy in 2006, which later helped restore democratic rule. He added that after her martyrdom, he chose to serve in a ceremonial capacity as Head of State and supported the restoration of parliamentary supremacy.

Describing the Constitution as a “living document,” the President said it directly affects citizens’ daily lives — from courts and hospitals to schools and district administrations. He emphasized that it also governs relations between federating units and the federal government, ensuring fair service delivery, protection of rights, and accountability in governance.

He said the Constitution is not merely an abstract framework but a creation of Parliament representing the will of the people, who remain the true custodians of the country’s destiny.

President Asif Ali Zardari concluded that the enduring relevance of the Constitution depends on its faithful implementation in institutions and everyday governance across Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026