Updated 22 Aug 2023

PAKISTAN STUDIES 2059/01

TOPIC-WISE PAST QUESTIONS

11. Establishment of an independent nation between 1947 and 1948

Which of the following was the most important problem to overcome following the
creation of Pakistan in 1947:
i. formation of a government;
1 [14] Jun 00
ii. division of the armed forces and military assets;
iii. the refugee crisis?
Explain your answer with reference to all three of the above.
2 Explain three reasons for the Canal Water Dispute between India and Pakistan. [7] Jun 00
Nov 00
Jun 01
3 Why was Pakistan faced with a refugee problem in 1947? [7] Nov 06
Jun 13-C
Nov 17
How successful was the government of Pakistan in solving the problems of
Partition during 1947 and 1948? Explain your answer. Jun 02
OR Jun 05
‘The government of Pakistan was totally successful in solving the problems of Jun 12
4 [14]
Partition during 1947 and 1948.’ Do you agree? Explain your answer. Nov 13
OR Jun 16
‘By 1948 Pakistan had solved the challenges created by Partition.’ How far do you Nov 21
agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
Why was the division of the armed forces and the military assets a problem for
5 [7] Nov 03
Pakistan in 1947?
Was the refugee issue the most important problem facing the newly formed
6 [14] Jun 04
government of Pakistan in 1947? Give reasons for your answer.
‘The Canal Water Dispute was the most important problem facing the newly
7 established government of Pakistan in 1947.’ Do you agree or disagree? Give [14] Jun 07
reasons for your answer.
‘The formation of a government was the most important problem facing the newly
8 established government of Pakistan in 1947.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your [14] Nov 09
answer.
Jun 10
9 What was the Canal Water Dispute? [4]
Nov 22
10 Why did many Pakistanis migrate between 1947 and 1999? [7] Jun 12
Nov 12
11 Describe the refugee problem. [4]
Nov 18
12 What was the June 3 Plan? [4] Nov 16
 12. The extent of stability in Pakistan following the death of Jinnah
Nov 02
Nov 04
Why was Martial Law declared in 1958? Nov 06
1 OR [7] Nov 09
Explain why Ayub Khan introduced Martial Law in 1958? Nov 12
Jun 16
Nov 21
Which of the following was the most important contribution of Ayub Khan’s
government during the Decade of Development between 1958 and 1969: Nov 03
i. agricultural and other economic reforms; Jun 05
2 [14]
ii. constitutional reforms; Nov 07
iii. foreign policy? Jun 12
Explain your answer with reference to all three of the above.
Jun 08
3 Explain why Ayub Khan called the years 1958 to 1969 ‘the Decade of Progress’ [7]
Jun 10
Nov 11
4 What were the Basic Democracies? [4]
Jun 17
5 Why was it so difficult to agree on a new Constitution in 1950? [7] Nov 11
6 Describe the constitutional crisis of 1954 -55. [4] Jun 12
‘Constitutional reforms were the most important of Ayub Khan’s domestic policies
7 during the ‘Decade of Progress’ between 1958 and 1969.’ Do you agree? Give [14] Jun 12
reasons for your answer.
Who of the following contributed the most to Pakistan’s domestic policies between
1948 and 1958:
i. Liaquat Ali Khan;
ii. Malik Ghulam Muhammad;
Jun 13-C
iii. Iskander Mirza?
8 [14] Jun 17
OR
iv. Khwaja Nazimuddin;
v. Malik Ghulam Muhammad;
vi. Iskander Mirza?
Explain your answer with reference to all three of the above.
9 How did Ayub Khan achieve power? [4] Jun 13
Nov 13
10 Describe the 1956 Constitution. [4]
Jun 22
Nov 13
11 Why did Ayub Khan come to power in 1958? [7] Nov 20
Nov 22
Were the social reforms of Ayub Khan the most important of his domestic policies
12 [14] Jun 14
during the ‘Decade of Progress’ between 1958 and 1969? Explain your answer.
Nov 14
13 Why were there so many governments between 1951 and 1958? [7] Jun 19
Jun 21
14 Why was Islamabad chosen as the new capital of Pakistan? [7] Jun 15
15 What was the ‘One Unit’ Scheme? [4] Jun 16
16 Why was there a constitutional crisis between 1954 and 1955? [7] Nov 16
17 Explain why there was a constitutional crisis in 1958? [7] Jun 18
Were the economic reforms of Ayub Khan the most important of his domestic
18 policies during the ‘Decade of Progress’ between 1958 and 1969? Explain your [14] Jun 19
answer.
19 Who was Fatima Jinnah? [4] Jun 20
‘Ayub Khan’s agricultural policies were the most effective of the domestic reforms
20 that took place between 1958 and 1969.’ How far do you agree with this statement? [14] Jun 21
Explain your answer.
21 According to Source A what did Fatima Jinnah wish for the people of Pakistan? [3] Nov 22
2
 What can we learn from Source B about the relations between Pakistan and the USA in the early
22 [5] Nov 22
1960s?
To what extent were the years 1958-1968 ‘A Decade of Development’? Explain
23 [10] Nov 22
your answer.

13. The making of Bangladesh

Jun 00
Explain three reasons why Bangladesh was created in 1971.
Jun 03
1 OR [7]
Nov 08
Why did East Pakistan wish to break away from Pakistan?
Jun 13-C
2 Why did Mujib ur Rahman and the Awami League demand the Six Points? [7] Jun 01
‘Economic factors were more important than political considerations in the creation Jun 04
3 [14]
of Bangladesh in 1971’. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. Jun 09
‘The Six Points made by Mujib ur Rahman and the Awami League was the most
4 important factor in the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.’ Do you agree? Give [14] Jun 06
reasons for your answer.
‘The geographical position of East Pakistan was the most important reason for the
5 creation of Bangladesh in 1971.’ Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your [14] Nov 07
answer.
‘Political factors were more important than any other factor in the creation of
6 [14] Jun 11
Bangladesh in 1971.’ Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.
7 Who was Sheikh Mujib-ur-Rahman? [4] Jun 13
Were political concerns more important than economic ones in creation of
8 [14] Jun 14
Bangladesh in 1971? Explain your answer.
9 What was Operation Searchlight? [4] Nov 15
10 According to Source A what problems were caused by Cyclone Bhola in 1970? [3] Jun 16
What does Source B tell us about the outcome of the conflict between East Pakistan and West
11 [5] Jun 16
Pakistan?
Why did the victory of the Awami League in the 1970 elections in Pakistan cause a
12 [7] Jun 16
constitutional crisis?
To what extent did Pakistan achieve a new constitution between 1949 and 1973?
13 [14] Nov 19
Explain your answer.

14. Pakistan in twenty years following the Decade of Progress

How successful was Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as Prime Minister of Pakistan? Explain
1 [14] Jun 00
your answer.
Nov 00
2 Give three reasons why Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was executed in 1979? [7] Nov 07
Jun 14
Was the promotion of Islamic values / Islamic reforms the most important
achievement of General Zia ul Haq between 1977 and 1988? Explain your answer. Nov 00
OR Jun 10
3 [14]
To what extent was the Islamization programme the most significant policy Nov 14
introduced by the government of Zia ul Haq between 1977 and 1988? Explain your Nov 21
answer.
Which of the following contributed the most to Pakistan’s domestic policies;
i. Liaquat Ali Khan
4 ii. Ayub Khan [14] Jun 01
iii. Zia ul Haq
Explain your answer with reference to all three of the above.

3
 How successful have governments been in the Islamization of Pakistan between Jun 02
5 [14]
1947 and 1988? Explain your answer. Nov 09
In which of the following did Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto have most success?
i. reform and control of the armed forces
Nov 02
6 ii. constitutional reform [14]
Nov 18
iii. education and health reforms
Explain your answer with reference to all three of the above.
In which of the following did Zia ul Haq have most success between 1977 and
1988:
i. Islamization; Jun 03
7 [14]
ii. economic affairs; Nov 05
iii. political affairs?
Explain your answer with reference to all three of the above.
Why did Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto fall from power in 1979?
Jun 03
8 OR [7]
Jun 17
Explain why Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s rule ended in 1977?
‘Constitutional reforms were the most important of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s domestic Jun 04
9 [14]
policies between 1971 and 1977.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer. Nov 11
10 Describe Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s health reforms of 1972. [4] Jun 16
11 Why did Zia ul Haq find it difficult to rule Pakistan during the late 1980s? [7] Jun 16
Why did Pakistan face so many problems in the provision of education between Nov 04
12 [7]
1947 and 1988 / 1999? Jun 13
Jun 06
Why did Zia ul Haq introduce his Islamic reforms between 1977 and 1988?
Jun 08
13 OR [7]
Jun 11
Why did Zia ul Haq introduce a series of Islamic laws between 1979 and 1988?
Jun 23
‘Social reforms were the most important of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s domestic policies
14 [14] Jun 06
between 1971 and 1977.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.
‘Zia ul Haq’s foreign policy was more successful than his domestic reforms.’ Do
15 [14] Jun 07
you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer.
Why did education reform become such an important issue between 1947 and Nov 07
16 [7]
1988/1999? Nov 18
‘The low rate of literacy was the most important social problem facing Pakistan
17 [14] Jun 08
between 1947 and 1988.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.
‘Education reforms were the most important of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s domestic
18 [14] Nov 08
policies between 1971 and 1977.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.
19 Why did Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto come to power in 1971? [7] Nov 09
What was the Simla Agreement? Nov 10
20 OR [4] Jun 13-C
Describe the terms of the Simla Agreement. Jun 21
21 Describe Bhutto’s downfall from power. [4] Nov 12
‘Economic reforms were the most important of Zia-ul-Haq’s domestic policies
22 [14] Nov 12
between 1977 and 1988.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.
What difficulties did Zia-ul-Haq find in ruling Pakistan during the late 1980s?
OR Jun 13
23 [7]
Explain why it became more challenging for Zia ul Haq to govern Pakistan Nov 20
effectively during the late 1980s?
24 What were the Hudood Ordinances? [4] Nov 13
Nov 14
25 Describe the terms of 1973 constitution. [4]
Jun 23
26 What was the Afghan Miracle? [4] Jun 15
How successful were Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s domestic policies between 1971 and
1977? Explain your answer.
Jun 15
27 OR [14]
Jun 22
Assess the effectiveness of the domestic policies introduced by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
between 1971 and 1977? Explain your answer.

4
 How successful was Pakistan in establishing a new constitution between 1947 and
28 [14] Nov 15
1973? Explain your answer.
29 Explain why Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s rule ended in 1977? [7] Jun 17
According to Source A, what were the effects of the High Court judgement regarding Zulfiqar Ali
30 [3] Jun 18
Bhutto on the people of Pakistan?
31 How does Source B help us to understand the way Zia-ul-Haq governed Pakistan? [5] Jun 18
32 Why did Zia-ul-Haq introduce his Islamisation reforms? [7] Jun 18
How successful was Zia-ul-Haq’s foreign policy between 1978 and 1988? Explain
33 [10] Jun 18
your answer.
34 What was the Eighth Amendment? [4] Nov 18
35 Describe the Zakat Ordinance. [4] Jun 19
36 Describe the Security of Tenure scheme. [4] Nov 20
37 Describe the main events of Muhammad Khan Junejo’s political career. [4] Jun 21
38 Describe the Cricket Diplomacy of 1987. [4] Nov 21
39 Explain why Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reformed education between 1971 and 1977? [7] Nov 21

15. Pakistan’s government in the final decade of the 20th century

Jun 10
1 What was the Pucca Qila massacre? [4]
Nov 17
Nov 10
2 Why did Benazir Bhutto fall from office in 1990? [7]
Nov 22
3 What problems did Nawaz Sharif face as Prime Minister during the 1990s? [4] Jun 11
Why did General Musharraf come to power in 1999?
Nov 11
OR
4 [7] Jun 15
Explain the circumstances that brought General Pervez Musharraf into power in
Jun 22
1999?
5 What problems did Benazir Bhutto face as Prime Minister of Pakistan? [4] Jun 12
Nov 12
6 Why did Benazir Bhutto fall from office for a second time in 1996? [7] Nov 15
Jun 20
Describe General Pervez Musharraf’s coup.
Jun 13-C
7 OR [4]
Nov 16
Describe General Pervez Musharraf’s rise to power in 1999.
How successful was Benazir Bhutto as Prime Minister of Pakistan in the years
8 [14] Jun 13
1988-90 and 1993-96?
9 Why did Nawaz Sharif fall from office in 1993? [4] Nov 13
10 What was the Cooperative Societies Scandal? [4] Jun 14
Describe the problems caused by family feuds that faced the Benazir Bhutto
11 [4] Nov 14
governments.
Was the Co-operative Societies scandal the most important reason why Nawaz Jun 16
12 [14]
Sharif fell from office in 1993? Explain your answer. Jun 23
Were the challenges facing Benazir Bhutto in Sindh the main reason why she left
13 [14] Jun 18
office in 1990? Explain your answer.
Was the collapse of Bank and Credit Commerce International (BCCI) the main
14 [14] Jun 20
reason for the government ending in 1993? Explain your answer.
To what extent did Benazir Bhutto’s privatisation policy contribute to the
15 [14] Nov 20
government being replaced in 1996? Explain your answer.

5
 16. Pakistan’s role in world affairs since 1947
Jun 00
Nov 04
How successful has Pakistan been in its relationship with Afghanistan between
1 [14] Jun 10
1947 and 1988 / 1999? Explain your answer.
Nov 14
Jun 17
Nov 00
How successfully did India and Pakistan handle the Kashmir issue up to 1988 / Nov 04
2 [14]
between 1947 and 1999? Explain your answer. Nov 06
Nov 11
Jun 01
How successful was Pakistan in its relationship with India between 1947 and 1988 /
3 [14] Nov 08
1999?
Nov 13
Nov 01
Nov 05
Nov 08
4 Why has Pakistan supported the Palestine cause (between 1947 and 1999)? [7]
Nov 15
Jun 18
Jun 23
Nov 01
Nov 06
How successful was Pakistan’s relationship with the USSR between 1947 and 1988/
5 [14] Nov 12
1999?
Nov 17
Nov 22
Jun 01
6 Why was Pakistan unsuccessful in the 1965 and 1971 wars against India? [7] Jun 06
Jun 12
Nov 02
Jun 07
7 Why did Pakistan join the United Nations in 1947? [7]
Jun 10
Jun 14
How successful was Pakistan in its relationship with the USA between 1947 and
Nov 02
1988/ 1999? Explain your answer.
Jun 08
8 OR [14]
Jun 15
‘Pakistan has had good relations with the United States since 1947.’ How far do you
Jun 21
agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
Jun 03
How successful / effective has Pakistan been as a member of world organizations Jun 13
9 [14]
between 1947 and 1988 / 1999? Explain your answer. Nov 17
Nov 21
Why was Pakistan’s relationship with India so poor between 1971 and 1988? OR Nov 03
10 [7]
Why did Pakistan distrust India so much between 1971 and 1988? Jun 07
How successful was Pakistan in its relationship with Great Britain and the
Nov 03
Commonwealth between 1947 and 1988 / 1999? Explain your answer.
Jun 13-C
11 OR [14]
Nov 16
‘Pakistan has had good relations with the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth
Nov 20
since 1947.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
12 Why did Pakistan leave SEATO in 1972? [7] Jun 04
Why was membership of the United Nations important for Pakistan between 1947 Jun 05
13 [7]
and 1988? Nov 19
Nov 10
14 How successful was Pakistan in its relationship with China between 1947 and 1999? [14]
Nov 18
Describe Pakistan’s involvement in the U2 crisis.
Nov 11
15 OR [4]
Jun 23
Describe the U-2 incident
16 What was the Kargil Conflict? [4] Jun 14
6
17 Why did Pakistan distrust India so much between 1971 and 1988? [7] Nov 14
18 What has been the importance of Siachen Glacier to both India and Pakistan? [4] Jun 15
Nov 15
19 What is the Karakoram Highway? [4]
Nov 19
How successful have relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh been from 1971 to
1999? Explain your answer. [10]
20 OR [14] Jun 16
‘Pakistan has built good relations with Bangladesh since 1971.’ How far do you
agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
21 What was SEATO? [4] Jun 17
Why did being a nuclear power create difficulties for Pakistan in the 1980s and
22 [7] Jun 17
1990s?
23 What was CENTO? [4] Jun 18
24 Describe the OIC. [4] Nov 20
25 Explain why Pakistan becoming a nuclear power was significant? [7] Jun 22
To what extent was the referral of the Kashmir issue to the United Nations
26 [14] Jun 23
important for the new state of Pakistan? Explain your answer.