Editorial
A constitution is the moral and legal backbone of any state. It is not merely a book of laws but a living covenant between the rulers and the ruled — a social contract that guarantees equal opportunity and justice for every citizen. When constitutional law begins to favour some and exclude others, it ceases to be a constitution and becomes a tool of power politics. Unfortunately, this trend is visible across several democratic systems, including Pakistan’s, where constitutional interpretation often shifts with political winds rather than principles.
The essence of constitutional democracy lies in equality before law. The Constitution does not exist to open one door while slamming another shut. It is designed to protect every citizen, regardless of office, party, or social class. When certain individuals or institutions use constitutional amendments, executive powers, or judicial interpretations to protect their own interests, the state loses its moral credibility. No society can progress if its laws are written to secure privilege instead of justice.
True constitutionalism demands consistency, fairness, and inclusivity. Pakistan’s constitutional history, marked by repeated suspensions, selective amendments, and uneven enforcement, shows how easily the spirit of equality can be undermined. Political engineering, selective accountability, and institutional manipulation have all distorted the promise of constitutional governance.
It is time for national consensus that no article, amendment, or ordinance should be framed or interpreted to favour one political group or punish another. The Constitution should be the equalizer, not the divider. A state governed by selective law breeds resentment, not reform.
Our constitutional future must stand on one principle — equality before law. Only when every citizen, from the highest office to the humblest worker, feels protected by the same law, can Pakistan truly call itself a constitutional democracy.
