i. Sovereignty of Allah Almighty
The Preamble of the Constitution was framed on the basis of the Objectives Resolution. The Preamble opens with "Bismillah-hir-Rahman-nir- Raheem" and continues with these words:
"Whereas sovereignty over the entire universe belongs to Almighty Allah alone, and the authority to be exercised by the people of Pakistan within the limits prescribed by Him, is a sacred trust..."
The Objectives Resolution did not form a justiciable part of the text of the Constitution. It pronounced just the moral responsibilities of the state of Pakistan and not its legal obligations. Under the 8th amendment (1985) the Resolution was made a justiciable part of the text of the Constitution, the amendment has, so for, failed to produce anything substantial because of a serious lacuna it had. It was not made clear that if the state fails to fulfill the obligation set out in the Objectives Resolution, what legal remedies shall be available to the people of Pakistan for seeking redress.
ii. The Islamic Republic
The State was proclaimed an Islamic Republic.
iii. State Religion
For the first time in the constitutional history of Pakistan, Islam was clearly proclaimed to be the religion of the state. Constitutions of 1956 and 1952 were silent on this point.
iv. Muslim Heads of the State and Government
Only a Muslim can be elected to the offices of the President and the Prime Minister. Under the 1956 Constitution this condition applied to the President only and not to the Prime Minister. In the 1962 presidential constitution office of the prime minister did not exist:
v. Definition of the Muslim
This was for the first time in Pakistan that a constitution defined "Muslim" in unambiguous terms. This definition was incorporated as a part of the oath of office to be administered to the President and the Prime Minister under third schedule of the Constitution. Under this definition a person who did not believe in the finality of Hazrat Muhammad Rasool- Ullah ceases to be a Muslim. This point was further clarified by the constitutional amendment declaring Lahori and Qadiani Sects of Mirzais as non-Muslim minorities.
vi. Establishment of an Islamic Society
The Preamble of the Constitution says that the people of Pakistan aspire to establish a system based on the Islamic principles of democracy, tolerance, freedom, equality and social justice. The Principles of Policy enunciate that steps will be taken to enable the people of Pakistan to order their lives in accordance with the Islamic injunctions. Article 227 of the Constitution further adds that all present laws shall be brought in conformity with the tenets of Islam through amendments, and no law, repugnant to the spirit of Islam, shall be passed in future.
The Principles of Policy further envisage that the state shall try to make the learning of the Holy Quran and Islamic education compulsory, encourage the learning of Arabic, and ensure error-free printing of the Holy Quran.
vii. Preservation of Islamic Institutions and values
Under the Principles of Policy the state has been held responsible for the proper organization of zakat, auqaf and masaajid, provision of the necessities of life to the destitute and the necdy, improvement of the working conditions of the laborers, and the elimination of vices like ignorance, usury, prostitution and gambling.
viii. Affirmation of the Pakistan Ideology
The Prime Minister by virtue of his oath (under schedule III), is duty bound to preserve the Islamic ideology, which, according to the Constitution, forms the basis of the creation of Pakistan.
ix. The Council of Islamic Ideology
The Constitution provides for the establishment of a Council of Islamic Ideology. The Council shall be constituted of the experts of Islamic Shari'ah and jurisprudence. In order to bring all laws, present and prospective, in conformity with Islam, the Council shall provide guidelines and make recommendations to the legislative assemblies, the President and the Prime Minister.
x. Solidarity with the Muslim World
Principles of Policy envisage that the state shall establish friendly relations with the Muslim countries of the world on the basis of Islamic fraternity.
