Pakistan’s Constitution & Political System
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Pakistan’s Constitution & Political System — Key Facts for SPSC (Sindh)
- Pakistan has had three major constitutions: 1956, 1962, and 1973
- 1973 Constitution is the current, most democratic constitution
- Pakistan is a federal parliamentary republic with a bicameral legislature
- The National Assembly (lower house) and Senate (upper house) comprise Parliament
- ⚡ Exam tip: Federal structure, key constitutional articles, and amendments are high-yield for SPSC
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Pakistan’s Constitution & Political System — SPSC (Sindh) Study Guide
Evolution of Pakistan’s Constitutions
1. Pakistan’s First Constitution (1956)
- 23 March 1956 — Pakistan became an Islamic Republic (no longer a British Dominion)
- Basic Principles Committee drafted the constitution over 7 years
- Key features:
- Islam as state religion
- Bicameral legislature (National Assembly + Senate)
- President as head of state (ceremonial)
- Single-member constituencies
- Overthrown by Ayub Khan’s coup in 1958
2. Pakistan’s Second Constitution (1962)
- Enacted under Ayub Khan’s regime (8 June 1962)
- Presidential system — President elected by Basic Democrats
- National Assembly with 156 seats
- Aborted by Yahya Khan’s martial law (1969)
3. Pakistan’s Third Constitution (1973) — Current Constitution
- 12 April 1973 — enacted under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s PPP government
- Most democratic and liberal constitution in Pakistan’s history
- Restored parliamentary system; Prime Minister as chief executive
- Constitution of 1973 (Final) — the official name after 18th Amendment
Key Features of the 1973 Constitution
Federal Structure
- Provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan
- Tribal Areas (now merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as 7th division)
- Federal Capital Territory (Islamabad)
- Gilgit-Baltistan (self-governing region)
Bicameral Legislature (Parliament)
| House | Members | Term | Election |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Assembly (Lower) | 336 seats (directly elected) | 5 years | Universal adult franchise |
| Senate (Upper) | 100 seats | 6 years | Indirect elections by provincial assemblies |
Executive
Prime Minister (Chief Executive):
- Leader of the house (largest party in NA)
- Heads the Cabinet
- Most powerful position in the parliamentary system
President (Head of State):
- Ceremonial; represents nation internationally
- Elected by Electoral College (NA + Senate + Provincial Assemblies)
- Article 41: must be a Muslim, not less than 45 years old
Provincial Governments
- Chief Minister leads each province
- Provincial Assembly unicameral legislature
- Governor acts as President’s representative in each province
The Judiciary
- Supreme Court (headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan)
- High Courts (5: Lahore, Islamabad, Sindh, Peshawar/Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Quetta/Balochistan)
- Federal Shariat Court (Islamic legal review)
- Lower courts subordinate to High Courts
Fundamental Rights (Chapter 2, Articles 8–28)
| Right | Article |
|---|---|
| Equality before law | Article 25 |
| Freedom of movement | Article 15 |
| Freedom of speech & expression | Article 19 |
| Freedom of assembly | Article 16 |
| Freedom of association | Article 17 |
| Freedom to profess religion | Article 20 |
| Safeguard of property | Article 24 |
| Right to education | Article 25A (added by 18th Amendment) |
Federalism: 18th Amendment (2010)
- 18th Amendment (April 2010): “Democratization of Pakistan”
- Abolished the concurrent legislative list — provinces gained full legislative authority
- Devolved 17 ministries to provinces
- Nigerian-style rotation: Senate Chairman becomes Acting President when President is unavailable (after 14th Amendment)
- Strengthened provincial autonomy significantly
Other Major Amendments
| Amendment | Year | Key Change |
|---|---|---|
| 8th Amendment | 1985 | President gains power to dissolve assemblies; PM appointed by President |
| 17th Amendment | 2003 | Musharraf’s legal framework order made President more powerful |
| 18th Amendment | 2010 | Devolution; removal of President’s power to dissolve assemblies |
| 19th Amendment | 2011 | Judicial appointments: President appoints judges after consultation with Chief Justice |
| 25th Amendment | 2018 | FATA merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
Elections and Political Parties
Electoral System
- First Past the Post (FPTP): candidate with most votes wins (simple majority)
- Reserved seats: women and minorities get reserved seats allocated proportionally
- Election Commission of Pakistan: autonomous body under Article 213
Major Political Parties
- Pakistan People’s Party (PPP): founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto; socialist ideology; liberal
- Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N): conservative; mainstream right-wing
- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI): populist; founded 1996 by Imran Khan
- Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan: religious right
- Awami National Party (ANP): progressive; Pashtun politics
Key Constitutional Bodies
| Body | Function |
|---|---|
| Election Commission | Conducts elections; delimits constituencies |
| Supreme Judicial Council | Removes judges (if 2/3 of Parliament petitions) |
| National Finance Commission (NFC) | Distributes federal revenues between Centre and Provinces |
| Council of Common Interests | Handles federal-provincial disputes on concurrent list (now defunct) |
SPSC Exam Focus Areas
- Concurrent legislative list abolished by 18th Amendment — key fact
- Current Constitution adopted 1973 — enacted by Bhutto government
- Devolution: 17 ministries devolved to provinces by 18th Amendment
- Article 25A: Right to Education added by 18th Amendment — significant addition
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