Title: How Does the Constitution of Pakistan Define Its Identity and Ensure That It Advances as a Democratic, Tolerant, and Progressive Society? A Critical Discourse Analysis of Justice Qazi Faiz Isa's Speech
Abstract:
This study uses critical discourse analysis to examine Judge Qazi Faez Isa's address marking the Pakistani Constitution's golden jubilee. The study looks at how Pakistan's constitution determines its identity and supports the country's progression as a democratic, tolerant, and forward-thinking society. The Van Dijk model, which aids in the analysis of the power dynamics and ideologies present in the speech, serves as the theoretical basis for this study. The voice data are subjected to a theme analysis using a qualitative research approach. According to the study, Justice Qazi Faez Isa's statement emphasized the value of the Constitution as Pakistan's identity and the necessity to safeguard it as a cornerstone of democracy, unification, and the rule of law.
Keywords: Pakistan, constitution, identity, tolerance, democracy, Van Dijk, critical discourse analysis( CDA)
Introduction:
The Constitution of Pakistan is a fundamental law that establishes the foundation for its democratic, tolerant, and progressive society. In his statement marking the Constitution of Pakistan's golden jubilee, Judge Qazi Faez Isa emphasized the Constitution's importance in defining Pakistan's identity. In his remarks, Justice Isa emphasized the necessity to defend the Constitution as a sign of national cohesion and adherence to the rule of law, as well as its significance in assuring the protection of the people's fundamental rights and liberties. The speech provides insightful information about the ideas and power structures that influence the debate over Pakistan's Constitution.
Background:
The constitution of Pakistan was adopted in 1973, authenticated by the president on April 10, and proclaimed on August 14 of that same year. The Constitution preserves the fundamental liberties and rights of the populace and establishes the foundation for a democratic, tolerant, and progressive society. Since its adoption, the Constitution has undergone numerous amendments to reflect Pakistan's shifting political climate.
Thesis Statement:
This study attempts to investigate how Pakistan's constitution influences its identity and promotes the country's development as a democratic, tolerant, and forward-thinking society. Using critical discourse analysis to evaluate the power relations and ideologies present in Judge Qazi Faez Isa's speech marking the golden anniversary of the Pakistani Constitution, the study looks at the speech.
Research Objective:
The study's goal is to determine how Pakistan's constitution influences national identity and promotes the country's development as a democratic, tolerant, and forward-thinking society.
Research Question:
The study will answer the following research question:
How does Judge Qazi Faez Isa underline the significance of the Constitution in forming Pakistan's identity as a democratic, tolerant, and progressive nation in his speech on the golden jubilee of the Constitution of Pakistan?
Theoretical Framework:
Van Dijk's model, which focuses on the investigation of power relations and ideologies in speech, serves as the theoretical foundation for this study. The social context of discourse and the manner in which power is wielded through language can be examined using the framework provided by this paradigm.
Research Methodology:
The analysis of the speech data is done using thematic analysis, which is a qualitative research methodology. Finding patterns and themes in the data and deciphering their significance are tasks of thematic analysis. The study looks at how Justice Qazi Faez Isa's speech shapes the conversation on Pakistan's Constitution and how important it is to the country's development as a democratic, tolerant, and progressive society.
Significance and Rationale:
This study is essential because it sheds light on how Pakistan's Constitution is discussed and how it contributes to the country's perception of itself as a democratic, tolerant, and forward-thinking society. The research advances knowledge of the ideologies and power structures that influence the debate over Pakistan's Constitution.
Delimitation:
The study is constrained by the fact that it can only analyze one speech by Justice Qazi Faiz Isa. The conclusions cannot be applied to Pakistan's constitutional debate as a whole.
Data:
"This book is our identity, Pakistan’s identity. The elected representatives of the time unanimously voted on it, there was no negative vote. There were four abstentions I think."
"Our job is to make decisions swiftly according to the law and the Constitution. Your job is to make laws which are beneficial for the people. And the job of the executive is to implement the laws and the policies made by the government of the time."
"Perhaps, tomorrow cases of these people will [be heard] and decisions will be taken against them and maybe they will talk against me so I just want to make it clear that I came [for the] golden jubilee of the Constitution. This is a celebration."
"And in the whole world, the whole world, the biggest country for Muslims came into being. But now I am ashamed to say that Pakistan no longer has this privilege, it is now with Indonesia."
"Not because my salary is guaranteed in it but because it talks about the people’s basic rights. The most important thing the Constitution talks about is people’s basic rights."
"The Constitution is the only thing that binds us all, and if we do not have it, we are not Pakistan."
"We must remain true to our Constitution, which guarantees our rights and freedoms, and we must ensure that these rights and freedoms are not trampled upon."
"Our Constitution provides us with a framework for a democratic, tolerant, and progressive society. We must uphold this framework and make sure that all Pakistanis can enjoy the benefits of our Constitution."
"The Constitution is not a mere document, it is a living and breathing entity that has the power to transform our society for the better."
"The Constitution is the cornerstone of our democracy, and it is our duty to protect and defend it at all times."
"The Constitution is a symbol of our unity and our commitment to the rule of law. Let us celebrate it and work to make it stronger."
Analysis:
Van Dijk's model of Critical Discourse Analysis will be used to analyze Justice Qazi Faiz Isa's speech. With his discourse on the Constitution, Judge Isa develops the image of Pakistan as a democratic, tolerant, and progressive country. This model will be used to examine these constructions.
The text itself is the first component of Van Dijk's model. Speech by Judge Isa makes apparent how crucial the Constitution is to create Pakistan's identity. He claims that "if we don't have it, we are not Pakistan" and that "the Constitution is our identity, Pakistan's identity." This underlines the Constitution's importance in defining what it means to be a Pakistani.
The discourse practice, or how language is utilized in social interaction, is the second component of Van Dijk's approach. In his speech, Judge Isa emphasized the importance of each arm of government in defending the Constitution. He points out that the legislative branch's job is to create laws that benefit the people, while the judiciary's duty is to act expeditiously and in accordance with the law and the Constitution. The executive branch is in charge of carrying out laws and policies, he adds.
The socio-cultural context, which refers to the larger social, cultural, and political setting in which speech takes place, is the third component of Van Dijk's paradigm. The address of Judge Isa is delivered at a national constitutional conference commemorating the Pakistani Constitution's golden anniversary. The Constitution's significance as a representation of Pakistani identity and unity is highlighted by this background.
Discussion:
The analysis of Judge Isa's speech emphasises the manner in which Pakistan's character as a democratic, tolerant, and progressive nation is defined in large part by the Constitution. Judge Isa underlines the significance of the Constitution in preserving Pakistanis' fundamental liberties and rights. He also underlines the importance of the various governmental branches in respecting the Constitution.
This perspective also emphasizes the larger sociocultural setting in which constitutional dialogue occurs. The importance of the Constitution as a representation of Pakistani identity and unity is shown by the fact that Judge Isa's address was delivered before a national constitutional convention to commemorate the Constitution's golden jubilee.
Introduction:
The Constitution of Pakistan is a fundamental law that establishes the foundation for its democratic, tolerant, and progressive society. In his statement marking the Constitution of Pakistan's golden jubilee, Judge Qazi Faez Isa emphasized the Constitution's importance in defining Pakistan's identity. In his remarks, Justice Isa emphasized the necessity to defend the Constitution as a sign of national cohesion and adherence to the rule of law, as well as its significance in assuring the protection of the people's fundamental rights and liberties. The speech provides insightful information about the ideas and power structures that influence the debate over Pakistan's Constitution.
Background:
The constitution of Pakistan was adopted in 1973, authenticated by the president on April 10, and proclaimed on August 14 of that same year. The Constitution preserves the fundamental liberties and rights of the populace and establishes the foundation for a democratic, tolerant, and progressive society. Since its adoption, the Constitution has undergone numerous amendments to reflect Pakistan's shifting political climate.
Thesis Statement:
This study attempts to investigate how Pakistan's constitution influences its identity and promotes the country's development as a democratic, tolerant, and forward-thinking society. Using critical discourse analysis to evaluate the power relations and ideologies present in Judge Qazi Faez Isa's speech marking the golden anniversary of the Pakistani Constitution, the study looks at the speech.
Research Objective:
The study's goal is to determine how Pakistan's constitution influences national identity and promotes the country's development as a democratic, tolerant, and forward-thinking society.
Research Question:
The study will answer the following research question:
How does Judge Qazi Faez Isa underline the significance of the Constitution in forming Pakistan's identity as a democratic, tolerant, and progressive nation in his speech on the golden jubilee of the Constitution of Pakistan?
Theoretical Framework:
Van Dijk's model, which focuses on the investigation of power relations and ideologies in speech, serves as the theoretical foundation for this study. The social context of discourse and the manner in which power is wielded through language can be examined using the framework provided by this paradigm.
Research Methodology:
The analysis of the speech data is done using thematic analysis, which is a qualitative research methodology. Finding patterns and themes in the data and deciphering their significance are tasks of thematic analysis. The study looks at how Justice Qazi Faez Isa's speech shapes the conversation on Pakistan's Constitution and how important it is to the country's development as a democratic, tolerant, and progressive society.
Significance and Rationale:
This study is essential because it sheds light on how Pakistan's Constitution is discussed and how it contributes to the country's perception of itself as a democratic, tolerant, and forward-thinking society. The research advances knowledge of the ideologies and power structures that influence the debate over Pakistan's Constitution.
Delimitation:
The study is constrained by the fact that it can only analyze one speech by Justice Qazi Faiz Isa. The conclusions cannot be applied to Pakistan's constitutional debate as a whole.
Data:
"This book is our identity, Pakistan’s identity. The elected representatives of the time unanimously voted on it, there was no negative vote. There were four abstentions I think."
"Our job is to make decisions swiftly according to the law and the Constitution. Your job is to make laws which are beneficial for the people. And the job of the executive is to implement the laws and the policies made by the government of the time."
"Perhaps, tomorrow cases of these people will [be heard] and decisions will be taken against them and maybe they will talk against me so I just want to make it clear that I came [for the] golden jubilee of the Constitution. This is a celebration."
"And in the whole world, the whole world, the biggest country for Muslims came into being. But now I am ashamed to say that Pakistan no longer has this privilege, it is now with Indonesia."
"Not because my salary is guaranteed in it but because it talks about the people’s basic rights. The most important thing the Constitution talks about is people’s basic rights."
"The Constitution is the only thing that binds us all, and if we do not have it, we are not Pakistan."
"We must remain true to our Constitution, which guarantees our rights and freedoms, and we must ensure that these rights and freedoms are not trampled upon."
"Our Constitution provides us with a framework for a democratic, tolerant, and progressive society. We must uphold this framework and make sure that all Pakistanis can enjoy the benefits of our Constitution."
"The Constitution is not a mere document, it is a living and breathing entity that has the power to transform our society for the better."
"The Constitution is the cornerstone of our democracy, and it is our duty to protect and defend it at all times."
"The Constitution is a symbol of our unity and our commitment to the rule of law. Let us celebrate it and work to make it stronger."
Analysis:
Van Dijk's model of Critical Discourse Analysis will be used to analyze Justice Qazi Faiz Isa's speech. With his discourse on the Constitution, Judge Isa develops the image of Pakistan as a democratic, tolerant, and progressive country. This model will be used to examine these constructions.
The text itself is the first component of Van Dijk's model. Speech by Judge Isa makes apparent how crucial the Constitution is to create Pakistan's identity. He claims that "if we don't have it, we are not Pakistan" and that "the Constitution is our identity, Pakistan's identity." This underlines the Constitution's importance in defining what it means to be a Pakistani.
The discourse practice, or how language is utilized in social interaction, is the second component of Van Dijk's approach. In his speech, Judge Isa emphasized the importance of each arm of government in defending the Constitution. He points out that the legislative branch's job is to create laws that benefit the people, while the judiciary's duty is to act expeditiously and in accordance with the law and the Constitution. The executive branch is in charge of carrying out laws and policies, he adds.
The socio-cultural context, which refers to the larger social, cultural, and political setting in which speech takes place, is the third component of Van Dijk's paradigm. The address of Judge Isa is delivered at a national constitutional conference commemorating the Pakistani Constitution's golden anniversary. The Constitution's significance as a representation of Pakistani identity and unity is highlighted by this background.
Discussion:
The analysis of Judge Isa's speech emphasises the manner in which Pakistan's character as a democratic, tolerant, and progressive nation is defined in large part by the Constitution. Judge Isa underlines the significance of the Constitution in preserving Pakistanis' fundamental liberties and rights. He also underlines the importance of the various governmental branches in respecting the Constitution.
This perspective also emphasizes the larger sociocultural setting in which constitutional dialogue occurs. The importance of the Constitution as a representation of Pakistani identity and unity is shown by the fact that Judge Isa's address was delivered before a national constitutional convention to commemorate the Constitution's golden jubilee.
Conclusion:
The speech of Justice Qazi Faiz Isa was analyzed, and it became clear how important the Constitution is to Pakistan's character as a democratic, tolerant, and forward-thinking nation. The study also emphasizes the larger sociocultural setting in which constitutional dialogue occurs. The results of this study have significant ramifications for understanding how Pakistani identity is shaped by the Constitution, which also secures Pakistan's advancement as a democratic, tolerant, and progressive country.
References (APA):
Dawn. (2023, April 10). Justice Qazi Faez Isa addresses NA convention, says SC stands with Constitution. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/1746928/justice-qazi-faez-isa-says-sc-judges-stand-with-constitution
Government of Pakistan. (1973). The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Retrieved from https://na.gov.pk/uploads/documents/1333523681_951.pdf
Dijk, T. (2008). Discourse and Context: A Sociocognitive Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511481499
Van Dijk, T. A. (2008). Discourse and context: A sociocognitive approach. Cambridge University Press.
The speech of Justice Qazi Faiz Isa was analyzed, and it became clear how important the Constitution is to Pakistan's character as a democratic, tolerant, and forward-thinking nation. The study also emphasizes the larger sociocultural setting in which constitutional dialogue occurs. The results of this study have significant ramifications for understanding how Pakistani identity is shaped by the Constitution, which also secures Pakistan's advancement as a democratic, tolerant, and progressive country.
References (APA):
Dawn. (2023, April 10). Justice Qazi Faez Isa addresses NA convention, says SC stands with Constitution. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/1746928/justice-qazi-faez-isa-says-sc-judges-stand-with-constitution
Government of Pakistan. (1973). The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Retrieved from https://na.gov.pk/uploads/documents/1333523681_951.pdf
Dijk, T. (2008). Discourse and Context: A Sociocognitive Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511481499
Van Dijk, T. A. (2008). Discourse and context: A sociocognitive approach. Cambridge University Press.
