SALIENTS FEATURES OF THE

CONSTITUTIONS 1956, 1962 & 1973

 Written Constitution
 Rigid Constitution
 Islamic Provisions
 Federal System
 Parliamentary Form of Government
 Provincial Autonomy
 Unicameral Legislature System
 Electorate
 Fundamental Rights
 Free Judiciary
 National Language
 Powers of President
No. 1956 1962 1973
1. Written Written Written
Constitution Constitution Constitution
234 Articles, 250 Articles, 280 Articles,
divided in 13 Parts divided in 12 Parts divided in 7 Parts
& 6 Schedules & 3 Schedules & 7 Schedules

2. Rigid Rigid Constitution Rigid

Constitution 3/4 majority & Constitution
2/3 majority & authentication of 2/3 majority in NA
authentication of President & simple majority
President in Senate
No. 1956 1962 1973
3. Islamic
Constitution
Islamic
Constitution
Islamic
Constitution
Constitution
Preamble is Preamble is Preamble is
Objectives Objectives Objectives
Resolution, Resolution, Resolution, Islamic
Islamic Republic Republic of Republic
Pakistan
4. Parliamentary Presidential Parliamentary
Government Government Government
Executive Powers All Executive All Executive
lies with the P.M. authority lies with Powers lies with the
but President also the President Prime Minister
enjoys important
powers
No. 1956 1962 1973
5. Federal System Federal System Federal System
Was adopted with Was adopted with Was adopted on
principle of parity principle of parity the pattern of
b/w East & West b/w East & West British Parliament
Pakistan Pakistan division of powers
Strong Centre Strong Centre Strong Centre
6. Provincial Provincial Provincial
Autonomy Autonomy Autonomy
Was recognized Was recognized Was recognized
except in defence single list of central Three lists of
& matter of subjects, residuary subjects, residuary
national interest powers vested with powers vested with
provinces provinces
No. 1956 1962 1973
7. Uni-cameral Uni-cameral Bi-cameral
Legislature Legislature Legislature
Was provided. NA Was provided. NA Was provided. NA
consisted of 300 consisted of 150 consisted of 207
members, 150 to members, 75 to members directly
each wing, each wing, elected & Senate
Directly elected Indirectly elected 63 indirectly
elected
8. Electorate Electorate Electorate
Initially both joint Indirect election NA directly
& Separate, then through Basic elected through
joint electorate Democrats separate electorate
& Senate
indirectly elected
No. 1956 1962 1973
9. Fundamental Fundamental
Rights of speech, Rights of speech,
Fundamental
Rights of speech,
Rights of speech, Rights of speech,
association, association, association,
employment etc employment etc employment etc
were provided but were provided but were provided but
could suspended in could suspended in could suspended in
emergency emergency emergency

10. Independence
Judiciary was
of Independence of
Judiciary was
Independence of
Judiciary was
guaranteed. It guaranteed. It guaranteed. It
enjoys full enjoys full enjoys full
supremacy & supremacy & supremacy &
custodian of custodian of custodian of
fundamental rights fundamental rights fundamental rights
No. 1956 1962 1973

11. National
Language
National Language National
Language
Urdu & Bengali
Urdu & Bengali were recognized as Urdu was
were recognized as national languages recognized as
national languages national language
& declared as
official language

12. Powers of Powers of Powers of

President President President
He could dissolved He could dissolved He could dissolved
the National the National the National
Assembly on the Assembly anytime Assembly on the
advice of Cabinet but have to quit the advice of Cabinet
Other nomination office himself as