Primary sources of law in legal research vocabulary are the texts of enactments by governments containing rules that govern a state jurisdiction.
Each branch of government, both at the federal and provincial level, produces law. Understanding the overall landscape of the legal sources, it is helpful before beginning research of one source or one area of law. The chart below is a simplified overview of federal law, listing the major types of law publications of each branch. Provincial governments produce laws in a similar set-up.
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The Constitution
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Branch of Govt.
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Judicial
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Legislative
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Executive
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Type of Law Produced
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Case Law
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Statutes
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Regulations
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↓
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Chronological Publication of Law
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Case Law Reporters
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Session Laws (Federal Laws)
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↓
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The Gazette of Pakistan
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↓
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Publication of Law By Subject
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PLD, SCMR etc.
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Pakistan Code
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Gazette Notifications
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Note that each government branch produces law that is published chronologically. The public laws and regulations are then published in Pakistan code by subject. Case law is not published by subject (thus, research case law requires a “finding tool” to locate cases by subject).
