Prerequisites of Federalism: A Case of Pakistan (A Critical Analysis)

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the characteristics necessary for a successful federal structure, especially with reference to Pakistan. The federal system is basically designed for the states having social diversity. In this regard the important factors responsible for uniting or dividing a nation for example, language, religion, political ideology, territorial equality, communication, are taken in account. Moreover, this research will also help to analyze the present political system of Pakistan and examine its validity and utility in accordance with the celebrated federal canons and structure. The establishment of a centralized government in a federal state is highly incompatible with each other. Pakistan is an example of such incompatibility, where a federal state was attempted to establish in presence of a centralized government. A federal state cannot accommodate and sustain centralized governmental system, since both have opposite tendencies. The success of federal system is only guaranteed in presence of equality and separation of powers, on the other hand the success of a centralized system of government is guaranteed only with the maintenance of total control on all the units.