Navigating Religious and Political Crossroads: The Evolution of Pakistan's Constitutional Landscape Toward an Islamic Republic

Abstract

This article delves to Pakistan's constitutional history, highlighting the 1956 constitution's making as a turning point in the incorporation of Islamic principles into the political system of Pakistan. The Objectives Resolution (1949) was incorporated into the constitution, which was proclaimed an Islamic Republic and had provisions that were in consonance with the Islamic principles. The constitution was adopted on March 23, 1956. However, the debates over the Islamic nature of the state uncovered persistent doctrinal disagreements between modernists and ulema. Even after the constitution was adopted, the unsolved differences persisted influencing the subsequent political discourse. This historical investigation sheds light on the sophisticated relationships between politics and religion in Pakistan and highlights the continued hurdles in creating a cohesive vision for an Islamic state