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Pakistan Studies · Topic 2

Constitution of Pakistan

The Objectives Resolution, the three constitutions and key articles and amendments.

Explanation 325 MCQs Free timed quizzes
Pakistan Studies

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Explanation

Expect questions on dates, on the main features of each constitution and on well-known articles and amendments of the 1973 Constitution.

Constitutional history

  • Pakistan was first governed under the Government of India Act 1935, as amended by the Indian Independence Act 1947.
  • Objectives Resolution: passed on 12 March 1949, moved by Liaquat Ali Khan; it is the preamble of every constitution since.
  • First constitution: enforced on 23 March 1956; Pakistan became an Islamic Republic and Iskander Mirza the first President.
  • Martial law was imposed on 7 October 1958 and the 1956 Constitution was abrogated.
  • Second constitution: 1962 (enforced 8 June 1962) under Ayub Khan, with a presidential system.
  • Third constitution: passed on 10 April 1973 and enforced on 14 August 1973; parliamentary system; Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became Prime Minister.

Key articles of the 1973 Constitution

  • Article 1: Pakistan is a Federal Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
  • Article 2: Islam is the state religion. Article 2A: the Objectives Resolution made a substantive part (added in 1985).
  • Article 6: high treason. Article 25A: free and compulsory education for children aged 5 to 16.
  • Article 41: the President; Article 91: the Cabinet and Prime Minister.
  • Article 213: Chief Election Commissioner. Article 251: Urdu is the national language.
  • Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora) has two houses: the National Assembly and the Senate.

Important amendments

  • 8th Amendment (1985): gave the President power to dissolve the National Assembly under Article 58(2)(b).
  • 13th Amendment (1997): removed Article 58(2)(b); the 17th (2003) restored it.
  • 18th Amendment (2010): removed 58(2)(b) again, abolished the Concurrent Legislative List, renamed NWFP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and added Article 25A.
  • 21st Amendment (2015): military courts for terrorism cases.
  • 25th Amendment (2018): merged FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
  • 26th Amendment (2024): changed how the Chief Justice of Pakistan is appointed and created constitutional benches.

Practise

Constitution of Pakistan MCQs

Try each question, then open the answer. MCQs 201–250 of 325.

201.Which article protects against taxation for the purposes of a particular religion?

  1. A. Article 22
  2. B. Article 24
  3. C. Article 21
  4. D. Article 20
Show answer

Answer: C. Article 21

No one can be forced to pay a tax for another religion.

202.Which article gives the right to acquire, hold and dispose of property?

  1. A. Article 18
  2. B. Article 24
  3. C. Article 26
  4. D. Article 23
Show answer

Answer: D. Article 23

Article 24 protects against taking property without compensation.

203.Which article lets the President proclaim emergency and suspend certain fundamental rights?

  1. A. Article 234
  2. B. Article 235
  3. C. Article 233
  4. D. Article 232
Show answer

Answer: C. Article 233

Article 233 deals with suspending rights during an emergency.

204.How many members does the Senate have after the end of FATA seats?

  1. A. 96
  2. B. 100
  3. C. 86
  4. D. 104
Show answer

Answer: A. 96

Each province has 23 seats and Islamabad has 4.

205.How many seats does each province have in the Senate?

  1. A. 14
  2. B. 22
  3. C. 25
  4. D. 23
Show answer

Answer: D. 23

14 general, 4 women, 4 technocrat/ulema and 1 non-Muslim.

206.How many Senate seats does the Islamabad Capital Territory have?

  1. A. Two
  2. B. Six
  3. C. Eight
  4. D. Four
Show answer

Answer: D. Four

Two general, one woman and one technocrat.

207.Senators from the provinces are elected by whom?

  1. A. The people directly
  2. B. The President
  3. C. Members of the provincial assemblies
  4. D. The National Assembly
Show answer

Answer: C. Members of the provincial assemblies

Voting uses the single transferable vote.

208.Who presides over a joint sitting of Parliament?

  1. A. The Speaker of the National Assembly
  2. B. The Prime Minister
  3. C. The President
  4. D. The Chairman Senate
Show answer

Answer: A. The Speaker of the National Assembly

Joint sittings are held under Article 54.

209.Which bills can only be introduced in the National Assembly?

  1. A. Private member bills
  2. B. Money bills
  3. C. Provincial bills
  4. D. Constitutional amendment bills
Show answer

Answer: B. Money bills

The Senate can only make recommendations on them.

210.How long does the Senate have to send recommendations on the Finance Bill?

  1. A. 14 days
  2. B. 30 days
  3. C. 60 days
  4. D. 7 days
Show answer

Answer: A. 14 days

The National Assembly may accept or reject them.

211.The Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly examines what?

  1. A. Government spending and audit reports
  2. B. Foreign policy
  3. C. Judicial appointments
  4. D. Election results
Show answer

Answer: A. Government spending and audit reports

By convention it is chaired by the opposition.

212.The Auditor-General's reports are first presented to whom?

  1. A. The Prime Minister only
  2. B. The President (and then Parliament)
  3. C. The Election Commission
  4. D. The Chief Justice
Show answer

Answer: B. The President (and then Parliament)

Provincial audit reports go to the Governor.

213.Who chairs the National Finance Commission?

  1. A. The President
  2. B. The Prime Minister
  3. C. The federal Finance Minister
  4. D. The Governor of the State Bank
Show answer

Answer: C. The federal Finance Minister

Provincial finance ministers are members.

214.Who chairs the National Economic Council?

  1. A. The Planning Minister
  2. B. The Prime Minister
  3. C. The President
  4. D. The Finance Minister
Show answer

Answer: B. The Prime Minister

It approves the annual development plan.

215.The federal government's annual development budget is called what?

  1. A. Annual Budget Statement
  2. B. Federal Consolidated Fund
  3. C. NFC Award
  4. D. PSDP (Public Sector Development Programme)
Show answer

Answer: D. PSDP (Public Sector Development Programme)

It funds projects such as roads and dams.

216.Revenue of the federal government goes into which fund?

  1. A. Federal Consolidated Fund
  2. B. Provincial Fund
  3. C. PSDP
  4. D. Public Account only
Show answer

Answer: A. Federal Consolidated Fund

Article 78 provides for it.

217.Expenditure "charged" on the Federal Consolidated Fund is what?

  1. A. Spending that needs Senate approval
  2. B. Spending that is not voted on by the National Assembly
  3. C. Spending that is illegal
  4. D. Spending on defence only
Show answer

Answer: B. Spending that is not voted on by the National Assembly

For example, salaries of judges and debt payments.

218.Which article provides for a supplementary budget?

  1. A. Article 84
  2. B. Article 86
  3. C. Article 82
  4. D. Article 80
Show answer

Answer: A. Article 84

It covers spending beyond the approved budget.

219.Which constitution first included the Objectives Resolution as a preamble?

  1. A. The 1962 Constitution
  2. B. The 1956 Constitution
  3. C. The 1947 interim order
  4. D. The 1973 Constitution
Show answer

Answer: B. The 1956 Constitution

Every constitution since has kept it.

220.Under the 1962 Constitution, how was the National Assembly elected?

  1. A. By provincial assemblies
  2. B. Indirectly by Basic Democrats
  3. C. Directly by all adults
  4. D. By nomination
Show answer

Answer: B. Indirectly by Basic Democrats

Direct elections came in 1970.

221.The 1962 Constitution set up how many provinces?

  1. A. Five
  2. B. Two (East and West Pakistan)
  3. C. Four
  4. D. One
Show answer

Answer: B. Two (East and West Pakistan)

One Unit had merged the western provinces.

222.Which constitution made Urdu and Bengali both national languages?

  1. A. 1973 Constitution
  2. B. None of them
  3. C. 1956 Constitution
  4. D. 1962 Constitution only
Show answer

Answer: C. 1956 Constitution

The 1962 Constitution also kept both.

223.Under the 1973 Constitution, what must a person be to become Prime Minister?

  1. A. A Muslim member of the National Assembly
  2. B. A former minister
  3. C. A member of the Senate
  4. D. Any citizen over 45
Show answer

Answer: A. A Muslim member of the National Assembly

The President must also be a Muslim.

224.The "doctrine of necessity" was used to validate which martial law in the Nusrat Bhutto case (1977)?

  1. A. General Musharraf's
  2. B. General Yahya Khan's
  3. C. General Ayub Khan's
  4. D. General Zia-ul-Haq's
Show answer

Answer: D. General Zia-ul-Haq's

The court allowed limited martial law.

225.Which case in 1972 declared Yahya Khan's martial law illegal after he left power?

  1. A. Dosso case
  2. B. Asma Jilani case
  3. C. Zafar Ali Shah case
  4. D. Nusrat Bhutto case
Show answer

Answer: B. Asma Jilani case

Yahya Khan was called a usurper.

226.The Dosso case of 1958 validated which takeover?

  1. A. Zia-ul-Haq's martial law
  2. B. Yahya Khan's martial law
  3. C. Ayub Khan's martial law
  4. D. Musharraf's coup
Show answer

Answer: C. Ayub Khan's martial law

It applied Kelsen's theory of revolutionary legality.

227.Which case in 2000 validated General Musharraf's takeover?

  1. A. Sindh High Court Bar case
  2. B. Zafar Ali Shah case
  3. C. Asma Jilani case
  4. D. Nusrat Bhutto case
Show answer

Answer: B. Zafar Ali Shah case

The court gave him three years to hold elections.

228.Which case of 2009 declared the emergency of 3 November 2007 unconstitutional?

  1. A. Panama Papers case
  2. B. Zafar Ali Shah case
  3. C. Asma Jilani case
  4. D. Sindh High Court Bar Association case
Show answer

Answer: D. Sindh High Court Bar Association case

It reversed the actions taken under the emergency.

229.The Panama Papers case (2017) led to the disqualification of whom?

  1. A. Yousaf Raza Gilani
  2. B. Imran Khan
  3. C. Nawaz Sharif
  4. D. Asif Ali Zardari
Show answer

Answer: C. Nawaz Sharif

He was disqualified under Article 62(1)(f).

230.Article 62(1)(f) requires members of Parliament to be what?

  1. A. Residents of the capital
  2. B. Sagacious, righteous, honest and "ameen"
  3. C. University graduates
  4. D. Over 35 years old
Show answer

Answer: B. Sagacious, righteous, honest and "ameen"

Disqualification under it was later limited by the courts.

231.How many schedules does the 1973 Constitution have?

  1. A. Nine
  2. B. Seven
  3. C. Five
  4. D. Six
Show answer

Answer: B. Seven

The Sixth Schedule was later omitted, but the numbering runs to the Seventh.

232.The Federal Legislative List is contained in which schedule?

  1. A. Fifth Schedule
  2. B. Second Schedule
  3. C. First Schedule
  4. D. Fourth Schedule
Show answer

Answer: D. Fourth Schedule

It has two parts; Part II subjects fall under the Council of Common Interests.

233.The oaths of office for the President, Prime Minister and others are in which schedule?

  1. A. Third Schedule
  2. B. First Schedule
  3. C. Seventh Schedule
  4. D. Fourth Schedule
Show answer

Answer: A. Third Schedule

Each office has its own prescribed oath.

234.The election of the President is described in which schedule?

  1. A. Fifth Schedule
  2. B. Third Schedule
  3. C. Second Schedule
  4. D. First Schedule
Show answer

Answer: C. Second Schedule

The President is elected by an electoral college of both houses and the provincial assemblies.

235.The remuneration of Supreme Court and High Court judges is in which schedule?

  1. A. Fourth Schedule
  2. B. Seventh Schedule
  3. C. Fifth Schedule
  4. D. Second Schedule
Show answer

Answer: C. Fifth Schedule

Parliament may change judges' salaries by law.

236.Laws exempt from the operation of fundamental rights are listed in which schedule?

  1. A. Third Schedule
  2. B. First Schedule
  3. C. Sixth Schedule
  4. D. Fourth Schedule
Show answer

Answer: B. First Schedule

Article 8(3)(b) protects laws listed in the First Schedule.

237.Which article deals with the national language and the use of English for official purposes?

  1. A. Article 28
  2. B. Article 31
  3. C. Article 25
  4. D. Article 251
Show answer

Answer: D. Article 251

It also allows provincial assemblies to promote provincial languages.

238.Which article forbids private armies?

  1. A. Article 245
  2. B. Article 243
  3. C. Article 256
  4. D. Article 6
Show answer

Answer: C. Article 256

No private organisation may function as a military organisation.

239.Which article deals with the relationship between Pakistan and the State of Jammu and Kashmir?

  1. A. Article 258
  2. B. Article 1
  3. C. Article 246
  4. D. Article 257
Show answer

Answer: D. Article 257

It says the people of Kashmir will decide the relationship after accession to Pakistan.

240.Which article empowers the President to make laws for areas not forming part of any province?

  1. A. Article 258
  2. B. Article 1
  3. C. Article 247
  4. D. Article 257
Show answer

Answer: A. Article 258

It applies to areas such as Gilgit-Baltistan under orders.

241.Which article deals with the conferment of titles and awards?

  1. A. Article 259
  2. B. Article 260
  3. C. Article 89
  4. D. Article 45
Show answer

Answer: A. Article 259

Awards for bravery and public service are conferred by the President.

242.Which article allows Parliament to fix the maximum limits of land ownership?

  1. A. Article 3
  2. B. Article 24
  3. C. Article 38
  4. D. Article 253
Show answer

Answer: D. Article 253

It permits laws limiting property and declaring certain trades state monopolies.

243.Which article gives the President and Governors immunity from court proceedings?

  1. A. Article 204
  2. B. Article 89
  3. C. Article 248
  4. D. Article 66
Show answer

Answer: C. Article 248

No criminal proceedings may be instituted against them while in office.

244.Which article provides for the Council of Islamic Ideology?

  1. A. Article 203C
  2. B. Article 227
  3. C. Article 228
  4. D. Article 31
Show answer

Answer: C. Article 228

The Council has between 8 and 20 members.

245.Which article says all existing laws shall be brought into conformity with Islam?

  1. A. Article 227
  2. B. Article 228
  3. C. Article 2
  4. D. Article 31
Show answer

Answer: A. Article 227

The Council of Islamic Ideology advises on this.

246.The Council of Islamic Ideology has how many members at most?

  1. A. 12
  2. B. 20
  3. C. 25
  4. D. 15
Show answer

Answer: B. 20

At least one member must be a woman.

247.Which article deals with the composition of the Supreme Court?

  1. A. Article 175
  2. B. Article 184
  3. C. Article 176
  4. D. Article 177
Show answer

Answer: C. Article 176

The number of judges is fixed by an Act of Parliament.

248.Which article deals with the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?

  1. A. Article 185
  2. B. Article 186
  3. C. Article 184
  4. D. Article 199
Show answer

Answer: A. Article 185

Appeals lie from High Court judgments in specified cases.

249.Which article makes decisions of the Supreme Court binding on all other courts?

  1. A. Article 201
  2. B. Article 190
  3. C. Article 189
  4. D. Article 187
Show answer

Answer: C. Article 189

Article 201 does the same for High Court decisions on subordinate courts.

250.Which article requires all executive and judicial authorities to act in aid of the Supreme Court?

  1. A. Article 189
  2. B. Article 190
  3. C. Article 204
  4. D. Article 187
Show answer

Answer: B. Article 190

It ensures enforcement of Supreme Court orders.

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