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Legal Framework Order 1970

General Yahya Khan introduced the Legal Framework Order of 1970 as a legal basis for holding elections after abolishing the 1962 constitution. The LFO distributed legislative seats among provinces and established qualifications for candidates. It also acted as an interim constitution and outlined directive principles for the future constitution, including establishing an Islamic republic, protecting fundamental rights and provincial autonomy, and maintaining an independent judiciary. The president was given powers to reject or amend the constitution if it did not fulfill the LFO's requirements.

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Mubashar Hussain
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3K views2 pages

Legal Framework Order 1970

General Yahya Khan introduced the Legal Framework Order of 1970 as a legal basis for holding elections after abolishing the 1962 constitution. The LFO distributed legislative seats among provinces and established qualifications for candidates. It also acted as an interim constitution and outlined directive principles for the future constitution, including establishing an Islamic republic, protecting fundamental rights and provincial autonomy, and maintaining an independent judiciary. The president was given powers to reject or amend the constitution if it did not fulfill the LFO's requirements.

Uploaded by

Mubashar Hussain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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  • Legal Framework Order 1970

LEGAL FRAMEWORK ORDER 1970

General Yahya Khan introduced the L. F. O. as a legal platform for holding


elections
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.

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