Pakistan, Jan. 19 -- The constitution of a country isn't a perfect document. It is true for Pakistan as well. It is for this reason the theory of constitution being a "living document" was created. It allows the judges to interpret the document in accordance with the socio-political climate of an era. At times, judicial interpretation isn't what the framers had envisaged - but such a judicial construction upon the constitution becomes necessary to bring constitutional provisions in conformity with the values of a modern man.

There are several provisions in our constitutions that are relics of a by-gone era and have no space, or rather, should have no space, in today's democratic Pakistan. One such provision is disqualification of the mem...