The Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) organized a session of the Kazim Bacchus Research Seminar (KBRS) featuring Dr. Syed Jaffar Ahmed, a distinguished scholar and author of From Jinnah to Ayub: Constitutionalism in Post-Colonial Pakistan. Attended by teachers, education students, and researchers, the seminar was designed to help participants transform constitutional concepts into their professional practices. Dr. Ahmed underscored the critical responsibility of the academic community, asserting, “We, the people who are in the business of teaching, should have a copy of the Constitution with us all the time".
The lecture was systematically divided into four key segments: the philosophy behind a constitution, the concept of constitutionalism, the importance of a constitution, and the constitutional history of Pakistan. Dr. Ahmed described the constitution as one of the greatest accomplishments of human civilization, essential for a "civilized life" where individuals coexist in a peaceful and harmonious manner. This philosophy is rooted in a system of duties and obligations, necessitating rules that are binding for all. He explained that the sovereign state functions through a tripartite institutional framework: the legislature for law-making, the executive for implementation, and the judiciary to ensure that those who do not follow the laws are brought within the legal framework.
Central to the discussion was the social contract, which Dr. Ahmed characterized as a "genuine contract" occurring at multiple levels between members of society, and between society and the state. He highlighted the Fundamental Rights (Articles 8 to 28) as the most crucial chapter of the constitution of Pakistan, serving as the link between the state and the individual. A key theme was the distinction between a "Constitution" the legal document and “Constitutionalism", which refers to the functional culture, attitude, and practice of respecting the law. Dr. Ahmed argued that while making a constitution is a complex exercise that "should not be made an adventure," its true value lies in its operational reception within society.
In the final segment, Dr. Ahmed provided a detailed analysis of Pakistan's constitutional history, from the Objective Resolution of 1949 to the 1973 Constitution. He reflected on the recurring derailment of constitutional governance, noting how various military interventions used legal maneuvers to "suspend" the constitution to avoid the high treason penalties associated with "abrogation". He concluded by reminding the audience that constitutions do not defend themselves; their survival depends on the public and an educational core that understands and protects the spirit of the law. Educators were encouraged to move beyond teaching the exact words of clauses and instead inculcate the values and culture of constitutionalism in their students.
Rapporteur - Anjum Hussain Khan - MPhil 2027
The Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) organized a session of the Kazim Bacchus Research Seminar (KBRS) featuring Dr. Syed Jaffar Ahmed, a distinguished scholar and author of From Jinnah to Ayub: Constitutionalism in Post-Colonial Pakistan. Attended by teachers, education students, and researchers, the seminar was designed to help participants transform constitutional concepts into their professional practices. Dr. Ahmed underscored the critical responsibility of the academic community, asserting, “We, the people who are in the business of teaching, should have a copy of the Constitution with us all the time".
The lecture was systematically divided into four key segments: the philosophy behind a constitution, the concept of constitutionalism, the importance of a constitution, and the constitutional history of Pakistan. Dr. Ahmed described the constitution as one of the greatest accomplishments of human civilization, essential for a "civilized life" where individuals coexist in a peaceful and harmonious manner. This philosophy is rooted in a system of duties and obligations, necessitating rules that are binding for all. He explained that the sovereign state functions through a tripartite institutional framework: the legislature for law-making, the executive for implementation, and the judiciary to ensure that those who do not follow the laws are brought within the legal framework.
Central to the discussion was the social contract, which Dr. Ahmed characterized as a "genuine contract" occurring at multiple levels between members of society, and between society and the state. He highlighted the Fundamental Rights (Articles 8 to 28) as the most crucial chapter of the constitution of Pakistan, serving as the link between the state and the individual. A key theme was the distinction between a "Constitution" the legal document and “Constitutionalism", which refers to the functional culture, attitude, and practice of respecting the law. Dr. Ahmed argued that while making a constitution is a complex exercise that "should not be made an adventure," its true value lies in its operational reception within society.
In the final segment, Dr. Ahmed provided a detailed analysis of Pakistan's constitutional history, from the Objective Resolution of 1949 to the 1973 Constitution. He reflected on the recurring derailment of constitutional governance, noting how various military interventions used legal maneuvers to "suspend" the constitution to avoid the high treason penalties associated with "abrogation". He concluded by reminding the audience that constitutions do not defend themselves; their survival depends on the public and an educational core that understands and protects the spirit of the law. Educators were encouraged to move beyond teaching the exact words of clauses and instead inculcate the values and culture of constitutionalism in their students.
Rapporteur - Anjum Hussain Khan - MPhil 2027
