Parliament in Pakistan 1971-77 and Chief Executive: An Analysis of Institutional Autonomy

Abstract

This paper intends to compare autonomy of the parliament and the executive which are two major political institutions of Pakistan during 1971 to 1977. The impact of executive, as chief executive and as the main ruler of the country, over the parliament has been studied in respect of whether it hindered the process that might make parliament a stronger institution. The paper also examines whether it was only the executive that would make such decisions which were in fact the jurisdiction of the parliament. The growth of parliament in the wake of such impact of the strong executive has been studied. Thus the executive’s influence over the parliament and vice versa has been evaluated.