Khan also explores the friction between the central government and the provinces. He argues that the failure to grant meaningful autonomy to East Pakistan was a primary factor in the secession of Bangladesh in 1971. His analysis of the 18th Amendment serves as a modern epilogue to this struggle, marking a significant—if fragile—shift toward decentralization. Conclusion
Throughout, Khan provides a case-by-case account of constitution-making, using a wealth of primary documentation to support his analysis. Khan also explores the friction between the central
The book begins with a harsh reality: Pakistan inherited the Government of India Act 1935, amended as the Indian Independence Act 1947. Jinnah’s goal of a modern democratic state clashed with the ground realities of a refugee crisis and the absence of a state apparatus. The book's most quoted section is on
The book's most quoted section is on . Khan explains how Zia used the "Doctrine of Necessity" (a jurisprudence originating in the infamous Dosso case of 1958) to legitimize his coup. He details the insertion of the 8th Amendment , which granted the President (a military proxy) the power to dissolve the National Assembly at will—a provision that wrecked three elected governments in the 1990s. Khan also explores the friction between the central