Constitution of Pakistan — supreme law of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Pakistan's 1973 Constitution established the country's current federal parliamentary republic framework and remains its supreme governing law.
Key Facts
- Approved by Parliament
- 10 April 1973, unanimously by the 5th Parliament
- Ratified
- 14 August 1973
- Total Amendments
- 23 amendments passed
- Word Count
- 56,240 words
- World Ranking by Length
- 6th lengthiest constitution in the world
- Amendment Threshold
- Two-thirds majority in both houses required
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the secession of East Pakistan in 1971 and the political transition under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan required a new constitutional framework to replace the discredited documents of 1956 and 1962 and to re-establish legitimate governance for the remaining state.
The government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, with assistance from opposition parties, drafted a constitution that was unanimously approved by the 5th Parliament on 10 April 1973 and formally ratified on 14 August 1973, establishing a bicameral legislature, a prime ministerial executive, a federal judiciary, and Islam as the state religion.
The 1973 Constitution became Pakistan's supreme and enduring law, shaping its federal parliamentary republic system. Amended 23 times since ratification, it continues to govern Pakistan's political structure, fundamental rights, and legal compliance with Islamic injunctions, and ranks as the sixth longest constitution in the world.
Political Outcome
A new federal parliamentary republican constitution was ratified, establishing a bicameral legislature, prime ministerial executive, apex federal judiciary, and Islam as state religion, replacing all prior constitutional documents.
Presidential system under prior constitutional arrangements of 1956 and 1962
Federal parliamentary republic with prime minister as chief executive and president as ceremonial head of state