Law is defined in several ways according to different philosophies and perspectives. Generally, law consists of rules imposed by a governing authority to maintain order and justice in society. There are different types of law including private law, which governs relationships between individuals, and public law, which deals with state powers and authorities. Laws originate from various sources over time, such as customs, religion, judicial precedents, and more recently, legislation passed by governing bodies. The legislative process involves bills being introduced, debated, and voted on before becoming law.

1. What is Law
Meanings of the term “LAW”
 The word law is derived from a Latin word “LEX”
which means binding
 It may be define as;
“The collection of rules imposed by
authority.”

2.  Law is always by authority which has the
capability to impose or enforce it
 Because if law is not making by sovereignty
then it will not have its effect
 In fact law is command; a command by
superior to an inferior.

3. Different Philosophies of Law:
• The term Law is used in different senses.
• In Physical Sciences Law means
“A uniform behavior of things and
nature.”
• For example; It is Universal Principle that
water flows from higher level to lower
level.

4. • Different philosophers gave their views on
law differently
• There is no single definition of law
• Famous Writers and Jurists have defined the
term Law in different ways.

5. oDefinitions:
 Aquinas (a great Jurist) defines law as:
“A rule and measure of acts, whereby
man is induced to act or is restrained
from acting.“
 Advocate Austin define Law as:
“The command of Sovereign.”

6.  Law consists of rules regulating the conduct
of individuals, business, and other
organizations in a society.
 Intended to protect persons and property
against unwanted interferences from others.
 Body of rules issued by a controlling authority
to be obeyed and followed.

7.  Law is a system of rules normally enforced
through a set of Institutions. (Courts)
 All the laws of the entire world made for
Human
 Law effects everybody’s lives and society in
different ways.

8.  Law has a variety of meanings;
usually involving a fair method of resolving
disputes or following procedures that help
establish sureness as to ownership or right
to sure assets or advantages.
 Law also lays down penalties for failure to
hold on to definite social or economic rules.

9. According to these definitions; Law may be
define as:
“Rules established by a governing
authority to institute and maintain the
justice in society.”
OR
“General Rules enacted by the government
and enforced by its authorities.”

10.  Rule means:
“To bind individuals to certain actions.
The Speed Limit.”
 for example;
it is planned to hold drivers within a
definite acceptable speed. Drivers are
bound to this by police officers and the
warning of fines or arrest.

11. Functions of law
 Keep the Peace
 Promote Social Justice
 Facilitate Orderly Change
 Facilitate Planning
 Provide a Base for Compromise
 Maximum Individual Freedoms

12. Kinds of Law:
1. Private Law
2. Public Law
3. Constitutional Law
4. Case Law
5. International Law

13. Private Law
 The law which defines the rights and duties
of the citizens as private individual is called
Private Law.
 It deals with the relation between two more
individuals and with the activities of the
private citizens or group of citizens
 Private law can be further sub divided into;
Civil Law, Contract Law, Company Law, Law
of Sales of Goods, Partnership Law, Banking
Law etc.

14. Public Law
 It deals with the matters relating to the
functions, power and activities of the State
or Public Bodies (like OGDCL(Oil & Gas
Development Corporation Limited),
N.B.P(National Bank of Pakistan),
P.P.L(Pakistan Petroleum Limited),
P.S.O(Pakistan State Oil) etc

15. Constitutional Law
 In case of the conflict between Constitution
of 1973 and all the laws operating in
Pakistan or outside Pakistan
 Pakistan’s Constitution must be Superior
 In Pakistan, Constitution of 1973 is treated
as the supreme Law of the Land
 All other laws are sub ordinate to it
 And no law can be made in Pakistan against
this Constitution

16. Case Law
 Case Law consist of the Judgements and
decisions of Law Courts.
 It is therefore known as Judgement Laws or
Precedent (judgements of the courts)

17. International Law
 It is a body of general rules and conventions
which are observed by the state in their
relation and dealings with each other
 At present the laws made by U.N.O
 International Laws are enforceable in such
countries who are the signatory of such
international document
 As Pakistan is a signatory of universal
declaration on Human Rights in 1948 etc.

18. Sources of Law:
• Law originates from various sources.
• Some sources are very old such as religion and
customs While others are of quite recent time
such as Legislation
The sources of Law are;
1. Customs
2. Religion
3. Judicial Precedent
4. Legal Commentaries
5. Equity (fairness)
6. Legislation

19. Customs
 Customs are important and earliest sources
of Laws
 Customs means what the people have
been doing since long

20.  It is habit of the people and arises among
them unconsciously
 In the past, people behave in a definite way
or had some definite relations with regard to
something of their daily life

21. • The Law which is based on custom is
termed as Customary Laws
• Society life creates customs
• And when these customs become old and
popular or well established
• Then majority of the members of the society
assume the customs to be respectful and
matter of honor and prestige
• And customary principles become
Customary Laws

22.  In other words, rules of customary conduct
are framed which are recognized by the
majority of the community in general
 And they influence the judicial decisions as
well later they become Laws

23. Religion
 Religions is one of the most important
source of Law from very beginning
 As we are living in a Islamic State, teachings
of Holy Quran and Sunnah contains several
Laws
 Including Family Laws, Law of Inheritance,
Marriage Law, Law dealing with Divorce and
different types of relations, etc are clearly
defined in Holy Quran

24. d
o In Pakistan’s Constitution, it is clearly mention in
Islamic Provision’s of the Constitution of 1973;
Sovereignty over the entire world belongs to
Almighty Allah
No Law would be passed against the teaching
of Holy Quran & Sunnah
All existing Laws shall be brought in
conformity with the injunctions of Islam as
laid down in the Holy Quran & Sunnah
And no Law shall be enacted which is
distasteful (repugnant) to such injunctions

25.  Similarly Hindu Laws derived from Hindu
Dharam
 and so with other religions and their
followers

26. Judicial Precedent
 Laws are also made by the Judges with a sue
(claim)
 When a sue are disputed are presented to a
Judge, it may not be covered by the existing
law
 So the Judge is responsible at that time to
interpret the law through their decision
 This interpretation becomes a precedent

27.  So that similar case is presented to another
Judge, he decide it according to the previous
judgment
 This decision of Law Court become the
source of Law
 And such Law is also called Case Law or
Judgment Laws

28. Legal Commentaries
 Laws are studied by the Jurists (a legal
person who has scientific study of Law
and the commentator of Law)
 They discuss them
 And give their opinion about their validity
and correctness
 So the opinion of Jurists (who are well
known in the society) become the source of
Law

29. Equity
 Equity means Equality, Fairness
 The principle of equity developing in old
times in England
 To avoid roughness, unfairness and injustice
 Equity corrects the mistakes in the Law

30. Legislation
 In modern time Legislation has become
most important source of Law
 Modern Life is very complex and full of new
demands and development
 Which cannot be regulated by old customs,
religious teachings and principle

31.  Religion and customs cannot meet this need
 Because they are static, rigid and outdated
 The law making organ of the State is called
Legislature like Parliament in Pakistan is a
Federal Legislation

32. Process of Legislation
o Process of Legislation is as under;
1. Most legislation are initiated by the
government and introduced as Government
Bills
2. A bill may originate in National Assembly or
in Senate
3. A bill when Passed by the house where it was
originated is sent to the other house. If the
second house passes the bill without any
amendment the same is presented to the
president for assent to enact it as a Law

33. Some basic concepts of private law:
Legal Right:
Definition:
• an interest protected by the law, and enforceable
through the courts
• Which give the right one person to the
uninterrupted enjoyment of an asset or method
or means of living his life

34. together with the requirement;
 that those who deprive that person of the
interrupted enjoyment of the asset or
method, or means of living his life
 should be required to compensate him for
his loss

35.  abstain from depriving the person of the
uninterrupted enjoyment
 or carryout such acts as should enable him
to continue with his previous enjoyment.

36. Classification of Rights:
oThere are two basic categories of rights.
a) Personal Rights
b) Real Rights

37. oPersonal Rights:
• Enforceable against an individual person or
group of persons, or against an organization
or Government body, such as a right to sue
(bring a claim) someone if he injures you or
doesn’t pay your bill.

38. Real Rights:
an exclusive interest or benefit enjoyed
by a person in a thing (i.e. property or
assets), enforceable against the world
at large.

39. Legal Persons
Definition of a ‘person’ in the legal
sense:
 any being or individual which the law
recognizes as being capable of acquiring
rights and duties
 familiar examples being human beings,
companies, local authorities, partnerships,
universities, the Government etc

40.  Legal personality is determined by the law
 “things” never have legal personality

41. Legal Capacity
 This relates to the ability of legal subjects to
perform valid legal/juristic acts: for
example, children and the insane
(senseless) have limited legal capacity
 Local Authorities are not authorized to carry
out definite acts.

42. The End