A Fundamental Rights Perspective of Land Reforms in Pakistan
Abstract
This paper analyses whether the constitutional rights and freedoms available to the citizens of Pakistan can be realized for the agricultural tenants without introducing large scale land reforms including the fixation of a ceiling on individual land-holdings in Pakistan. The landlords owning large areas of land do not directly till the soil. Rather, the landless tenants and other seasonal labourers till such soil to get their livelihood. A critical and analytical study of the relationship between such landlords and tenants is made in this paper. This analysis reveals that the utter dependence of the tenants on landlords result in oppressive exploitation of the former by the latter. Consequently, it is found that the violation of a number of fundamental rights and freedoms provided to the citizens of Pakistan by the Constitution occur. There is urgent need of legislation to protect such rights and freedoms
Authors
Dr. Ghufran Ahmed
Visiting Faculty Member, Department of Law, Faculty of Shariah & Law, International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan
Dr. Ataullah Khan Mahmood
Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Faculty of Shariah & Law, International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan
Dr. Saqib Jawad
Civil Judge cum Judicial Magistrate, Islamabad, Pakistan
Keywords
Agricultural Tenants, Economic Well Being, Fundamental Rights, Land Reforms, Social Evils