The Dynamics of Legal Monarchy: Assessing the Impact of Pakistan’s Commonwealth Membership on Sovereignty

Abstract

Various scholarly works, such as Ahmed (2017) and Khan (2020) have extensively examined the political and legal ramifications of Pakistan’s membership in the Commonwealth, particularly concerning its relationship with the British Crown and the implications for national sovereignty. However, a comprehensive assessment of the specific impact of this membership on Pakistan’s sovereignty remains relatively underexplored. This paper addresses this gap by investigating the dynamics of legal monarchy within the context of Pakistan-UK relations and its broader implications for sovereignty. It seeks to answer key research questions regarding the extent to which Pakistan’s Commonwealth affiliation influences its legal and political autonomy, especially in matters such as the resolution of territorial disputes like Hyderabad Deccan and Kashmir. Through a multidisciplinary approach drawing from political and social sciences, this study aims to unravel the complexities of sovereignty in the context of Pakistan’s Commonwealth membership, shedding light on the evolving nature of international legal dependencies and their implications for state sovereignty in the modern world.