[ADRN Issue Briefing] Executive powers of Ordinance versus Legislation
2020-06-29
Knowledge-Net for a Better World
June 2020
Executive powers of Ordinance versus Legislation:
The Case of Pakistan
Ahmed Bilal Mehboob
Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency
"Executive powers of Ordinance: Hindrance to the path to democracy"
In Pakistan, governments have promulgated a number of ordinances as a way to bypass legislative procedures in the Parliament. Over the years, governments, regardless of what type of the governments they are, have resorted to the practice of promulgating ordinances instead of engaging with oppositions and constructive debates, which is essential to retain the spirit of democracy. In this context, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob argues that the Constitution should be amended to omit the provision of ordinances so that the only legitimate route for legislations is one that should passes through the Parliament. Mr. Mehboob further stresses the importance of public awareness on the promulgation of ordinances as a highly undesirable practice in a democracy.
