Solved MCQs on major amendments to the 1973 Constitution: the 1st, 2nd, 8th, 13th, 14th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 21st, 25th and 26th amendments and what each changed.
This set explains the most important amendments to the 1973 Constitution, from the First Amendment of 1974 to the 18th Amendment's devolution of powers and the merger of FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Articles such as 58(2)(b) and 63A.
Amendment questions usually ask what a particular amendment changed. Learn the amendment number with its main effect and year; this is the detail examiners swap in the options.
Correct answer: D. Recognition of Bangladesh
The First Amendment (1974) amended the description of Pakistan's territories to reflect the recognition of Bangladesh as a separate country.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. 1974
The Second Amendment was passed in September 1974 under Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It defined the term "Muslim" for the purposes of the Constitution and law.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. Shifted significant power to the President
The Eighth Amendment gave the President wide powers, including the power under Article 58(2)(b) to dissolve the National Assembly.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. Dissolve the National Assembly
Article 58(2)(b) let the President dissolve the National Assembly at his discretion in certain circumstances. It was removed in 1997, restored in 2003, and removed again by the 18th Amendment in 2010.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. Removing the President's power to dissolve the National Assembly
Passed under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1997, it removed the President's discretionary power under Article 58(2)(b) to dissolve the National Assembly.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. Defection of members of parliament
It inserted Article 63A, under which members who defect from their party can be disqualified, strengthening party discipline.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. Disqualification on grounds of defection
Article 63A, inserted by the 14th Amendment, provides for disqualifying members who defect from their parliamentary party on key votes.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. 2003
Passed on 31 December 2003, it restored the President's power to dissolve the National Assembly, subject to certain conditions.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. 18th Amendment
The 18th Amendment (April 2010) renamed NWFP as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with major changes such as abolishing the concurrent legislative list.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. Concurrent Legislative List
Abolishing the Concurrent List gave the provinces control over many subjects, such as education and health, and greatly expanded provincial autonomy.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. Appointing judges of the superior courts
Passed soon after the 18th Amendment, the 19th Amendment revised the judicial appointment process involving the Judicial Commission and the parliamentary committee.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. Military courts to try terrorism cases
Passed in January 2015 after the December 2014 APS attack, it allowed military courts to try terrorism-related cases for a limited period.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. 25th Amendment
The 25th Amendment (2018) merged FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and ended its separate constitutional status.
Correct answer: D. 2018
The 25th Amendment was passed in May 2018, merging the tribal districts into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Correct answer: B. October 2024
Parliament passed the 26th Amendment in October 2024. It changed how the Chief Justice of Pakistan is appointed and created constitutional benches.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. A special parliamentary committee, from the three most senior Supreme Court judges
A 12-member special parliamentary committee (8 MNAs and 4 senators) chooses from the three most senior judges, replacing the old automatic seniority rule.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. 3 years
The amendment to Article 179 capped the Chief Justice's tenure at three years, subject to the retirement age.
Correct answer: C. Constitutional benches
It required constitutional benches in the Supreme Court and high courts to hear constitutional cases. The 27th Amendment (2025) later moved original constitutional jurisdiction to the new Federal Constitutional Court.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. 17th Amendment
The 17th Amendment (2003) restored the power. The 18th Amendment (2010) removed it again, returning to a parliamentary balance of power.
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