Pakistan Constitutional History & 1973 Constitution MCQs with Explanations

Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan introduced the Objectives Resolution on March 7, 1949, and it was adopted on March 12, 1949. It laid the foundational moral and constitutional philosophy for all subsequent constitutions.

Both the 1956 and 1962 constitutions provided for a unicameral legislature. The 1973 Constitution introduced a bicameral parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora), consisting of the National Assembly (lower house based on population) and the Senate (upper house ensuring equal provincial representation).

Article 6 defines High Treason: Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate, subvert, suspend or hold in abeyance, the Constitution by use of force or show of force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason.

The 18th Constitutional Amendment Act was signed into law by President Asif Ali Zardari on April 19, 2010. It abolished the Concurrent Legislative List, devolving 17 federal ministries to the provinces and removing Article 58(2)(b).

Under Article 41(2) of the Constitution, a person is not qualified for election as President unless he is a Muslim and is not less than forty-five (45) years of age and is qualified to be elected as a member of the National Assembly.

The 25th Constitutional Amendment (passed in May 2018) abolished the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) and formally integrated the seven tribal agencies of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Inserted via the 18th Amendment in 2010, Article 25A mandates: 'The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such manner as may be determined by law.'

Article 160 of the Constitution provides for the constitution of the National Finance Commission by the President every five years to formulate recommendations on revenue sharing from the Federal Divisible Pool.

The Council of Common Interests (CCI) consists of 8 members: The Prime Minister (Chairman), the four Provincial Chief Ministers, and three members nominated by the Prime Minister from the Federal Government.

The Senate is a permanent legislative body not subject to dissolution. Senators serve six-year terms, with one-half (50%) retiring every three years, ensuring institutional continuity.

The Objectives Resolution was presented by Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan on 7 March 1949 and passed on 12 March 1949. It laid down the principles for the future constitution of Pakistan based on Islamic ideology and democracy.

Pakistan's first constitution was enforced on 23 March 1956, declaring Pakistan an Islamic Republic. It remained in force until the imposition of martial law by Iskander Mirza on 7 October 1958.

The first martial law in Pakistan was imposed by President Iskander Mirza on 7 October 1958. However, he was soon ousted by General Ayub Khan who took over as the Chief Martial Law Administrator.

Major General Iskander Mirza became the first President of Pakistan when Pakistan was declared an Islamic Republic on 23 March 1956 under the 1956 Constitution.

The National Assembly of Pakistan passed the 1973 Constitution on 10 April 1973. It was authenticated by the President of the Assembly on 12 April 1973 and came into full effect on 14 August 1973.

Justice Mian Sir Abdur Rashid was appointed as the first Chief Justice of Pakistan on 27 June 1949 and served until 22 June 1954.

The 18th Amendment was passed by the National Assembly on 8 April 2010 and by the Senate on 15 April 2010. It restored parliamentary democracy by reducing presidential powers and devolving more authority to provinces.

Iskander Mirza was the last Governor-General of Pakistan from 1955 to 1956. When Pakistan became an Islamic Republic on 23 March 1956, he became its first President.

The Objectives Resolution was made a substantive part of the Constitution through the First Amendment in 1954 during the tenure of Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad.

The Doctrine of Necessity was first invoked by Chief Justice Muhammad Munir in 1954 to validate Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad's dissolution of the Constituent Assembly, setting a controversial precedent for judicial validation of martial law.

Martial Law Regulation 115 was used by General Zia-ul-Haq to try and subsequently execute former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on 4 April 1979.

The merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was completed through the 25th Constitutional Amendment passed in May 2018.