Legal basis for direct democracy at the national level

Article 48(6) of the constitution provides foroptional referendum on subjects pertaining to ?national importance?. Thearticle is a substitution by the constitution (Eighteenth amendment) Act 2010,section 15(iii).

Constitutionof the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

(adoptedin February 1956,last amended in 2010 in Eighteenth Amendment Act 2010)

http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/

Article48(6).

Ifat any time the Prime Minister considers it necessary to hold a referendum onany matter of national importance, he may refer the matter to a joint sittingof the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) and if it is approved in a joint sitting,the Prime Minister may cause such matter in the form of a question that iscapable of being answered in the form by either 'Yes' or'No'.

EighteenthAmendment Act 2010

(adoptedin 2010)

http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/amendments/18amendment.html

article15(iii).

Forclause (6) the following shall be submitted, namely: -

?Ifat any time the Prime Minister considers it necessary to hold a referendum onany matter of national importance, he may refer the matter to a joint sittingof the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) and if it is approved in a joint sitting,the Prime Minister may cause such matter in the form of a question that iscapable of being answered in the form by either 'Yes' or'No'.?