Project Overview
The 18th Constitutional Amendment was a major constitutional surgery under which many key areas of governance were devolved to the provinces in Pakistan in 2010. The dramatic decentralization of power led to a major realignment of roles and responsibilities across the country which created an air of uncertainty on the legislative competence between the provinces and Federation. The confusion is particularly acute in the subject of law & order, impacting reform efforts in relation to the police, counter-terrorism, probation, parole, custodial and non-custodial sentencing, preventive detention, countering violent extremism, rehabilitation etc.
In this context, RSIL in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation conducted a research exercise to provide legal clarity on this contentious and important area.
Project Outcomes
Our team developed a detailed legal policy brief on this highly technical subject area which was based on an exhaustive review of Constitutional law jurisprudence, statutory interpretation and case studies on recent legislative reform efforts. The development of this policy brief was welcomed by the federal Ministry of Law & Justice and Home Departments and Law Departments in the provinces. RSIL continues to receive legal queries relating to this subject matter from various government departments across the country.
