THE CONSTITUTION OF 1973

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1.   The National Assembly formed a Constitution Committee on April 17, 1972, to prepare the first draft for framing a constitution.

2.   The Constitution Committee presented its report with a draft constitution on December 31, 1972.

3.   The National Assembly passed the constitution on April 10, 1973.

4.   President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto authenticated the constitution on April 12, 1973.

5.   The Constitution of 1973 was enforced on August 14, 1973.

6.   The Constitution of 1973 consists of 280 articles.

7.   It consists of 14 chapters.

8.   It consists of 9 schedules.

9.   The Constitution of 1973 provides a Parliamentary form of government.

10. Article 40 provides that the President is the “Head of the State”.

11. The tenure of the President will be 5 years.

12. The Constitution can be amended by a 2/3 majority.

13. The Constitution set up a Bicameral legislature.

14. The Upper House is the Senate.

15. The Senate consists of 96 members.

Breakdown of Seats of Senate

  1. 1973 Constitution (Original):
    1. Total seats: 63
    2. Provinces: 14 each (Punjab, Sindh, KPK/NWFP, Balochistan)
    3. Federal Capital: 2
    4. FATA: 5 (later increased to 8)
    5. Technocrats/Ulema: 5
    6. No reserved seats for women or minorities
  1. After 18th Amendment (2010):
    1. Total seats: 104
    2. Each Province: 23 (14 General, 4 Technocrats/Ulema, 4 Women, 1 Minority)
    3. FATA: 8
    4. Federal Capital (Islamabad): 4 (2 General, 1 Woman, 1 Technocrat)
  1. After 25th Amendment (2018):
    1. FATA seats abolished gradually
    2. Final total reduced to 96 seats

16. The term of the members of the Senate is 6 years.

17. The National Assembly consists of 372 members.

18. Articles 8 to 28 deal with Fundamental Rights.

19. Articles 41 to 49 deal with the President.

20. Articles 50 to 89 deal with Majlis-e-Shoora.

21. Articles 176 to 193 deal with the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

22. Articles 222 to 226 deal with elections.

23. Articles 227 to 233 deal with Islamic provisions.

24. Article 153 deals with the Council of Common Interests.

25. Article 158 deals with the National Economic Council.

26. Under Article 251, Urdu was declared as the National Language.