Government Structure Across Constitutions (1956, 1962, 1973)

Overview

Quick-reference comparison of how power was structured in Pakistan's three constitutions (1956, 1962, 1973). Useful for MCQs and structural comparison questions.

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1) Government Structure — 1956 Constitution (Parliamentary)

President (Head of State)

• Restrictions: Muslim, over 40, PM must be from National Assembly
• Powers: Chooses PM; emergency powers — can dissolve National Assembly
• Linked to: Federal & Provincial Courts

Prime Minister (Head of Government)

• Powers: Chooses Cabinet
• Restriction: Cabinet must be from National Assembly

Cabinet

• Powers: Advises President
• Restriction: Advice only
• Linked to: Islamic Committee (advice/review role on legislation)

Legislature

• Unicameral — National Assembly: 1 house, 300 members, elected by adults over 21
• Provincial Assembly: East Pakistan as one body; West Pakistan as single "One Unit" (4 provinces merged), elected same way

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2) Government Structure — 1962 Constitution (Presidential + Basic Democracies)

President

• Powers: Appoints Provincial Governors; appoints PDAC members
• System: Elected indirectly through Basic Democrats (not direct adult franchise)

5 Provincial Governments

• Powers: Run the provinces
• Restrictions: Must obey President; must consult PDAC

2 Provincial Development Advisory Councils (PDAC)

• One each for East & West Pakistan

Divisional Councils

• Headed by Divisional Commissioner (bureaucrat, not elected); not directly elected — civil servants chosen by/coordinated with PDAC

District Councils

• Headed by Deputy Commissioner; some members elected

Local Committees / Union Councils

• Only directly elected tier ("Basic Democrats") — ~80,000 across the country
• These indirectly elected the President and Assembly members

Key features: Presidential system; unicameral legislatures at centre & provinces; institutionalized military role (legalized generals as PM/Defence Minister)

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3) Government Structure — 1973 Constitution (Parliamentary, currently in force)

President (Head of State — largely ceremonial)

• Restrictions: Muslim
• Elected indirectly by Parliament + Provincial Assemblies (electoral college)

Prime Minister (Head of Government — real executive power)

• Elected by majority of National Assembly
• Powers: Appoints Chief Justice (on advice/process), runs the government

Cabinet

• Powers: Advises PM
• Restriction: Advice only
• Linked to: Islamic Council (advises only on legislation vis-a-vis Islamic injunctions)

Judiciary

• Separate judiciary; judges elected/appointed for fixed tenure (5 years reference in notes, subject to later amendments like 18th/19th which changed appointment process)

Legislature — Bicameral (Two Houses)

• Senate — upper house, equal provincial representation (protects smaller provinces)
• National Assembly — lower house, 200 members (original 1973 figure; later increased via amendments)

Provincial Assembly seat distribution (original 1973 allocation)

• Punjab: 240 seats
• Sindh: 100 seats
• NWFP (now KP): 80 seats
• Balochistan: 40 seats

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Quick Comparison Table

Exam Angle

• This comparison table is exam gold for "trace constitutional evolution" questions — shows the pendulum swing: parliamentary (1956) → presidential/controlled (1962) → parliamentary again (1973), each shift driven by military intervention or civilian backlash against concentrated power.