ABSTRACT
This chapter surveys the different approaches the Pakistanis have taken to assemble a political system. The constituent assembly passed the Constitution Amendment Act of 1954 which gave all constitution-making authority to itself, prohibited federal courts from reviewing laws enacted by the Assembly, and withdrew the authority of the Governor General to dissolve the Constituent Assembly. The third constitution and especially the permutations added during the period of Zia ul-Haq's martial law regime, paid closer attention to Islam at least in form if not in substance. However, the First Amendment Act of 1963 gave the Council added responsibility for examining all laws extant before 1963 with the view of bringing them into conformity with Islam. The constitution required no ratification procedure, and it automatically came into effect on August 14, 1973. It is true that many constitutions do not require direct public involvement for their creation or amendment.
