Constitution of 1973

Article 2 explicitly states that Islam shall be the State religion of Pakistan [3]. This is further reinforced by the Objectives Resolution, which is a substantive part of the Constitution under Article 2A [3].

Under Article 6, any person who abrogates, subverts, suspends, or holds in abeyance the Constitution through the use of force or other unconstitutional means is guilty of high treason [11]. The 18th Amendment further clarified that such acts cannot be validated by any court [11, 12].

The Twenty-sixth Amendment inserted Article 9A, which establishes that every person is entitled to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment [5]. This was added to address the growing national concerns regarding climate change.

According to Article 52, the National Assembly shall continue for a term of five years from the day of its first meeting [13]. At the expiration of this term, it stands dissolved automatically [13].

Article 58(1) mandates that the President shall dissolve the National Assembly if so advised by the Prime Minister [14]. If the President fails to do so, the Assembly stands dissolved after forty-eight hours of the advice being tendered [14].

Under the newly inserted Article 175E, the Federal Constitutional Court has exclusive original jurisdiction in any dispute between two or more Governments (Federal and Provincial) [10, 15]. In these cases, it pronounces declaratory judgments only [15].

As per Article 179, a Judge of the Supreme Court shall hold office until attaining the age of sixty-five years [16]. However, the Chief Justice now has a fixed term of three years, even if they have not reached 65 [16].

The Council of Islamic Ideology (Islamic Council) is established to make recommendations and advise the Parliament or Provincial Assemblies on whether laws are in accordance with the Holy Quran and Sunnah [17, 18]. It consists of 8 to 20 members appointed by the President [17].

The Twenty-sixth Amendment updated Article 38(f) to set a firm deadline for the State to eliminate riba completely before the first day of January, 2028 [19].

The Second Schedule of the Constitution stipulates that the Chief Election Commissioner shall be the Returning Officer for the election to the office of President [20]. The election itself is conducted by the Election Commission of Pakistan [20].

Article 1(1) specifies that Pakistan shall be a Federal Republic known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan [1].

Article 2 explicitly states that Islam shall be the State religion of Pakistan [2].

Article 2A stipulates that the principles and provisions set out in the Objectives Resolution are made a substantive part of the Constitution [2].

Article 3 requires the State to ensure the elimination of all forms of exploitation [2].

Article 4(1) defines this as an inalienable right for every citizen and every other person for the time being within Pakistan [3].

Article 5(1) states that loyalty to the State is the basic duty of every citizen [4].

Article 6(1) defines high treason as abrogating, subverting, suspending, or holding in abeyance the Constitution by use of force or show of force or any other unconstitutional means [5].

Article 6(2A) states that acts of high treason shall not be validated by any court, including the Federal Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and a High Court [5, 6].

The Twenty-sixth Amendment inserted Article 9A, granting every person entitlement to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment [7].

Every person who is arrested and detained in custody shall be produced before a magistrate within a period of twenty-four hours [8].