LIABILITY OF THE STATE TO RIGHT TO FOOD: IN ISLAMIC Authors: Hafiz Ghulam Abbas and Naseem Razi
ABSTRACT
“There is no better right than that he would have a house wherein he may live, a piece of clothing
whereby he may hide his nakedness and a piece of bread and some water” (Tirmidhi, hadith,
2341). Considering this important hadith, this research is undertaken to discuss a hot, emerging
and critical issue of food in Pakistan. It evaluates the food laws of Pakistan focusing on
provisions related to liability of the state to give adequate food to its poor citizens. It highlights
the problems arising due to non-availability of food as well as shortcomings in related laws. It
finds that field of food is neglected by the state, resultantly; this situation leads to cause deaths
and suicides in some cases for which state liability law is silent, which has no conformity with
Islamic legal principle of liability. It concludes that there is sever need to incorporate the
principle of liability of Islam as well as international human rights instruments in food laws of
Pakistan for the protection and promotion of right to adequate food.
Keywords: State Liability, Right to food, Citizens, Availability of food, Islam, Pakistan.
