# Article 2 of the Constitution of Pakistan

- Jurisdiction: Pakistan (PK)
- Article: 2
- Source document: Pakistan Constitution
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## Verbatim text

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7  New Article 2A Ins. Ibid.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
4 3. Elimination o f exploitation
3. The State shall ensure the elimination of all forms of exploitation
and the gradual fulfillment of the fundamental  principle, from e ach
according to his ability to each according to his work.
4. Right of individuals to be dealt with in accordance with law,
etc.
4. (1) To enjoy the protection of law and to be treated in accordance
with law is the inalienable right of every citizen. Wh erever he may be, and
of every other person for the time being within Pakistan.
(2) In particular —
(a) no action detrimental to the life, liberty, body,
reputation or property of any person shall be taken
except in accordance with law;
(b) no person shall be pr evented from or be hindered in
doing that which is not prohibited by law; and
(c) no person shall be compelled to do that which the law
does not required him to do.
5. Loyalty to State and obedience to Constitution and law
5. (1) Loyalty to the State is the  basic duty of every citizen.
(2) Obedience to the Constitution and law is the 1[inviolable]
obligation of every citizen wherever he may be and of every other person
for the time being within Pakistan.
6. High treason
6. 2[(1) Any person who abrogates o r subverts or suspends or holds
in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate  or subvert  or suspend or
hold in abeyance, t he Constitution by use of force or show of force or by
any other un constitutional means shall be guilty of high treason. ]
(2) Any pe rson aiding or abetting 3[or collaborating] the acts
mentioned in clause (1) shall likewise be guilty of high treason.
1  Subs. by P. O. No. 14 of 1985, Art. 2 and Sch., for "basic ".
2  Subs. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act. 2010 (10 of 2010), s.4 for “clause (1)”.
3  Ins. Ibid.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
5
1[(2A) An act of high treason mentioned in clause (1) or clause (2)
shall not be validated by any court including the Supreme Court
and a High Court. ]
(3)  2[Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament)] shall by law provide for
the punishment of persons found guilty of high treason.
_________
1  New clause (2A) ins. ibid.
2  See footnote 6 on page 3 , supra.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
6 PART II
Fundamental Rights and Principles of Policy
7. Definition of the State
7. In this Part, unless th e context otherwise requires, " the State"
means the Federal Government, 1[Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament)], a
Provincial Government, a Provincial Assembly, and such local or other
authorities in Pakistan as are by law empowered to impose any tax or cess.
CHA PTER 1.  – FUNDAMENTAL  RIGHTS
8. Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of Fundamental Rights
to be void
8. (1) Any law, or any custom or usage having the force of law, in
so far as it is inconsistent with the rights conferred by this Chapter, shall,
to the extent of such inconsistency, be void.
(2) The State shall not make any law which takes away or
abridges the rights so conferred and any law made in contravention of this
clause shall, to the extent of such contravention, be void.
(3) The Provisions  of this Article shall not apply to —
(a) any law relating to members of the Armed Forces, or of
the police or of such other forces as are charged with the
maintenance of public order, for the purpose of ensuring
the proper discharge of their duties or the  maintenance of
discipline among them; or
2[(b) any of the —
(i) laws specified in the First Schedule as in force
immediately before the commenc ing day or as
amended by any of the laws specified in that
Schedule;
1  See footnote 6 on page 3 , supra
2  Subs. by the Constitution (Fourth Amdt.) Act, 1975 (71 of 1975), s. 2, for "paragraph (b)", (w.e.f the 21st
November, 1985), which was previously amended by Act 33 of 1974, s. 3, (w.e.f 4th May, 1974).
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
7 (ii) other laws specified in Part I of the First Schedule;]
and no such law nor any provision thereof shall be void on the ground that
such law or provision is inconsistent with, or repugnant to, any provision
of this Chapter.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph (b) of
clause (3),  within a period of two years from the commencing day, the
appropriate Legislature shall bring the laws specified in 1[Part II of the
First Schedule] into conformity with the rights conferred by this Chapter :
Provided that the appropriate Legislature may  by resolution extend
the said period of two years by a period not exceeding six months.
Explanation. – If in respect of any law 2[Majlis -e-Shoora
(Parliament)] is the appropriate Legislature, such resolution shall be a
resolution of the National Assembly.
(5) The rights conferred by this Chapter shall not be suspended
except as expressly provided by the Constitution.
9. Security of person
9. No person shall be deprived of life or liberty save in accordance
with law.
10. Safeguards as to arrest and dete ntion
10. (1) No person who is arrested shall be detained in custody
without being informed, as soon as may be, of the grounds for such arrest,
nor shall he be denied the right to consult and be defended by a legal
practitioner of his choice.
(2) Every pers on who is arrested and detained in custody shall
be produced before a magistrate within a period of twenty -four hours of
such arrest, excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of
arrest to the court of the nearest magistrate, and no such person shall be
detained in custody beyond the said period with out the authority of a
magistrate.
(3) Nothing in clauses (1) and (2) shall apply to any person
who is arrested or detained under any law providing for preventive
detention.
1  Subs. by the Constitution (Fourth Amdt.) Act, 1975 (71 of I975), s. 2, for "the First Schedu le, not being a law
which relates to, or is connected with, economic reforms."
2  See footnote 6 on page 3 , supra
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
8
(4) No law providing  for preventive detention shall be made except
to deal with persons acting in a manner prejudicial to the integrity,
security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, or external affairs of
Pakistan, or public order, or the maintenance of supplies or se rvices, and
no such law shall authorise the detention of a person for a period
exceeding 1[three months] unless the appropriate Review Board has, after
affording him an opportunity of being heard in person, reviewed his case
and reported, before the expira tion of the said period, that there is, in its
opinion, sufficient cause for such detention, and, if the detention is
continued after the said period of '[three months], unless the appropriate
Review Board has reviewed his case and reported, before the exp iration of
each period of three months, that there is, in its opinion, sufficient cause
for such detention.
Explanation I.— In this Article, "the appropriate Review Board"
means,
(i) in the case of a person detained under a Federal law, a Board
appointed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan and consisting of a
Chairman and two other persons, each of whom is or has been
a Judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court; and
(ii) in the case of a person detained under a Provincial law, a Board
appointed by the Chief Justice  of the High Court concerned and
consisting of a Chairman and two other persons, each of whom
is or has been a Judge of a High Court.
Explanation II.—The opinion of a Review Board shall be
expressed in terms of the views of the majority of its members.
(5)  When any person is detained in pursuance of an order made
under any law providing for preventive detention, the authority making the
order shall, 2[within fifteen days] from such detention, communicate to
such person the grounds on which the order has been made, and shall
afford him the earliest opportunity of making a representation against the
order :
Provided that the authority making any such order may refuse to
disclose facts which such authority considers it to be against the public
interest to d isclose.
(6) The authority making the order shall furnish to the
appropriate Review Board all documents relevant to the case unless a
1  Subs. by the Constitution (Third Amdt.) Act, 1975 (22 of 1975), s. 2, for "one month" (w.e. ,f. the 13th
February. 1975).
2  Subs. ibid., for "as soon as may be, but not later than one week" ( w.e.f.  the 13th February, 1975).
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
9 certificate, signed by a Secretary to the Government concerned, to the
effect that it is not in the public interest to fu rnish any documents, is
produced.
(7) Within a period of twenty -four months commencing on the
day of his first detention in pursuance of an order made under a law
providing for preventive detention, no person shall be detained in
pursuance of any such ord er for more than a total period of eight months
in the case of a person detained for acting in a manner prejudicial to public
order and twelve months in any other case :
Provided that this clause shall not apply to any person who is
employed by, or works for, or acts on instructions received from, the
enemy 1[, or who is acting or attempting to act in a manner prejudicial to
the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof or who
commits or attempts to commit any act which amounts to an a nti-national
activity as defined in a Federal law or is a member of any association
which has for its objects, or which indulges in, any such anti national
activity].
(8) The appropriate Review Board shall determine the place of
detention of the person de tained and fix a reasonable subsistence
allowance for his family.
(9) Nothing in this Article shall apply to any person who for
the time being is an enemy alien.
10A. Right to fair trial
2[10A.  For the determination of his civil rights and obligations  or
in any criminal charge against him a person shall be entitled to a fair trial
and due process.]
11. Slavery, forced labour, etc., prohibited
11. (1) Slavery is non -existent and forbidden and no law shall
permit or facilitate its introduction into Pak istan in any form.
(2)  All forms of forced labour and traffic in human beings are
prohibited.
(3) No child below the age of fourteen years shall be engaged in
any factory or mine or any other hazardous employment.
1  Added by the Constitution (Third Amdt.) Act, 1975 (22 of 1975), s. 2.
2  New Article 10 A ins. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 5.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
10
(4) Nothing in this Article shall be d eemed to affect compulsory
service
(a) by any person undergoing punishment for an
offence against any law; or
(b) required by any law for public purpose:
Provided that no compulsory service shall be of a cruel nature or
incompatible with human dignity.
12. Protection against retrospective punishment
12. (1)  No law shall authorize the punishment of a person —
(a) for an act or omission that was not punishable by
law at the time of the act or omission; or
(b) for an offence by a penalty greater than, or of a kind
different from, the penalty prescribed by law for that
offence at the time the offence was committed.
(2) Nothing in clause (1) or in Article 270 shall apply to any
law making acts of abrogation or subversion of a Constitution in force in
Pakistan at any time  since the twenty -third day of March, one thousand
nine hundred and fifty -six, an offence.
13. Protection against double punishment and self incrimination
13. No person —
(a) shall be prosecuted or punished for the same
offence more than once; or
(b) shall, whe n accused of an offence, be compelled to
be a witness against himself.
14. Inviolability of dignity of man, etc.
14. (1) The dignity of man and, subject to law, the privacy of
home, shall be inviolable.
(2) No person shall be subjected to torture for th e purpose of
extracting evidence.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
11 15. Freedom of movement, etc.
15. Every citizen shall have the right to remain in, and, subject to any
reasonable restriction imposed by law in the public interest, enter and
move freely throughout Pakistan and to reside  and settle in any part
thereof.
16. Freedom of assembly
16. Every citizen shall have the right to assemble peacefully and
without arms, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the
interest of public order.
17. Freedom of association
1[17. (1) Every citizen shall have the right to form associations or
unions, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the
interest of sovereignty or integrity of Pakistan, public order or morality.
(2) Every citizen, not being in the servic e of Pakistan, shall have
the right to form or be a member of a political party, subject to any
reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the sovereignty
or integrity of Pakistan and such law shall provide that where the Federal
Government declares that any political party has been formed or is
operating in a manner prejudicial to the sovereignty or integrity of
Pakistan, the Federal Government shall, within fifteen days of such
declaration, refer the matter to the Supreme Court whose decisi on on such
reference shall be final .
(3) Every political party shall account for the source of its
funds in accordance with law. ]
18. Freedom of trade, business or profession
18. Subject to such qualifications, if any, as may be prescribed by
law, every  citizen shall have the right to enter upon any lawful profession
or occupation, and to conduct any lawful trade or business:
Provided that nothing in this Article shall prevent —
(a) the regulation of any trade or profession by a licensing
system; or
(b) the re gulation of trade, commerce or industry
in the interest of free competition therein; or
1  Subs. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 6.for “Article 17”.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
12
(c) the carrying on, by the Federal Government
or a Provincial Government, or by a
corporation controlled by any such
Government, of any trade, business, industry
or servi ce, to the exclusion, complete or
partial, of other persons.
19. Freedom of speech, etc.
19. Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and
expression, and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any
reasonable restrictions imposed b y law in the interest of the glory of
Islam or the integrity, secu rity or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof,
friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality,
or in relation to contempt of court, 1[commission of] or incitemen t to an
offence.
19A. Right to information .
2[19A.  Every citizen shall have the right to have access to information in
all matters of public importance subject to regulation and reasonable
restrictions imposed by law].
20. Freedom to profess religion an d to manage religious
institutions
20. Subject to law, public order and morality, —
(a) every citizen shall have the right to profess, practice and
propagate his religion; and
(b) every religious denomination and every sect thereof shall
have the right to estab lish, maintain and manage its
religious institutions.
21. Safeguard against taxation for purposes of any particular
religion
21. No person shall be compelled to pay any special tax the proceeds
of which are to be spent on the propagation or maintenance o f any religion
other than his own.
1  Subs. by the Constitution (Fourth Amdt.) Act, 1975 (71 of 1975), s. 4, for "defamation" (w.e.f the 21st
November, 1975).
2  New Article 19A ins. by the Constituti on (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 7.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
13
22. Safeguards as to educational institutions in respect of religion,
etc.
22. (1) No person attending any educational institution shall be
required to receive religious instruction, or take part in any religious
ceremo ny, or attend religious worship, if such instruction, ceremony or
worship relates to a religion other than his own.
(2) In respect of any religious institution, there
shall be no discrimination against any community in the
granting of exemption or concess ion in relation to taxation.
(3) Subject to law,
(a) no religious community or denomination shall be
prevented from providing religious instruction for
pupils of that community or denomination in any
educational institution maintained wholly by that
communit y or denomination; and
(b) no citizen shall be denied admission to any educa -
tional institution receiving aid from public revenues
on the ground only of race, religion, caste or place
of birth.
(4) Nothing in this Article shall prevent any public authority
from making provision for the advancement of any socially or
educationally backward class of citizens.
23. Provision as to property
23. Every citizen shall have the right to acquire, hold and dispose of
property in any part of Pakistan, subject to the Con stitution and any
reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the public interest.
24. Protection of property rights
24. (1) No person shall be deprived of his property save in
accordance with law.
(2) No property shall be compulsorily acquired or taken
possession of save for a public purpose, and save by the authority of law
which provides for compensation therefor and either fixes the amount of
compensation or specifies the principles on and the manner in which
compensation is to be determined and given.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
14
(3) Nothing in this Article shall affect the validity of —
(a) any law permitting the compulsory acquisition or taking
possession of any property for preventing danger to life,
property or public health; or
(b) any law permitting the taking over of any property
which has been acquired by, or come into the
possession of, any person by any unfair means, or in
any manner, contrary to law; or
(c) any law relating to the acquisition, administration or
disposal of any property which is or is deemed to be
enemy property o r evacuee property under any law (not
being property which has ceased to be evacuee property
under any law); or
(d) any law providing for the taking over of the
management of any property by the State for a limited
period, either in the public interest or in order to secure
the proper management of the property, or for the
benefit of its owner; or
(e) any law providing for the acquisition of any class of
property for the purpose of —
(i) providing education and medical aid to all or any
specified class of citizen s; or
(ii) providing housing and public facilities and services
such as roads, water supply, sewerage, gas and
electric power to all or any specified class of
citizens; or
(iii)providing maintenance to those who, on account of
unemployment, sickness, infirmity or old age, are
unable to maintain themselves; or
(f) any existing law or any law made in pursuance of
Article 253.
(4) The adequacy or otherwise of any compensation provided
for by any such law as is referred to in this Article, or determined in
pursuance thereof, shall not be called in question in any court.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
15 25A. Equality of citizens
25. (1) All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal
protection of law.
(2) There shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex  1*.
(3) Nothing in this Art icle shall prevent the State from making
any special provision for the protection of women and children.
25. Right to education
2[25A.  The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all
children of the age of five to sixteen years in such manne r as may be
determined by law.]
26. Non-discrimination in respect of access to public places
26. (1) In respect of access to places of public entertainment or
resort, not intended for religious purposes only, there shall be no
discrimination against any citizen on the ground only of race, religion,
caste, sex, residence or place of birth.
(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall prevent the State from making
any special provision for women and children.
27. Safeguard against discrimination in services
27. (1) No citizen otherwise qualified for appointment in the
service of Pakistan shall be discriminated against in respect of any such
appointment on the ground only of race, religion, caste, sex, residence or
place of birth:
Provided that, for a period not excee ding 3[forty] years from the
commencing day, posts may be reserved for persons belonging to any
class or area to secure their adequate representation in the service of
Pakistan:
Provided further that, in the interest of the said service, specified
posts o r services may be reserved for members of either sex if such posts
or services entail the performance of duties and functions which cannot be
adequately performed by members of the other sex  4[:]
1  The word “alone” omitted by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 8.
2  New Article 25A ins. ibid., s. 9.
3  Subs. and shall be deemed always to have been so subs. by the Const itution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act,
1999 (7 of 1999), s. 2, for "twenty", which was previously subs. by P.O. No. 14 of 1985, Art. 2 and Sch., for
"ten".
4  Subs. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 10 for the full -stop.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
16
1[Provided also that under -representation of any class or area in the
service of Pakistan may be redressed in such manner as may be
determined by an Act of Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament)].
(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall prevent any Provincial
Government, or any local or other authority in a Province, from
prescri bing, in relation to any post or class of service under that
Government or authority, conditions as to residence in the Province, for a
period not exceeding three years, prior to appointment under that
Government or authority.
28. Preservation of language , script and culture
28. Subject to Article 251 any section of citizens having a distinct
language, script or culture shall have the right to preserve and promote the
same and subject to law, establish institutions for that purpose.
CHAPTER 2.  – PRINCIPL ES OF POLICY
29. Principles of Policy
29. (1) The Principles set out in this Chapter shall be known as the
Principles of Policy, and it is the responsibility of each organ and authority
of the State, and of each person performing functions on behalf of a n
organ or authority of the State, to act in accordance with those Principles
in so far as they relate to the functions of the organ or authority.
(2) In so far as the observance of any particular Principle of
Policy may be dependent upon resources  being available for the purpose,
the Principle shall be regarded as being subject to the availability of
resources.
(3) In respect of each year, the President in relation to the
affairs of the Federation, and the Governor of each Province in relation to
the aff airs of his Province, shall cause to be prepared and laid before
2[each House of Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament)] or, as the case may be, the
Provincial Assembly , a report on the observance and implemen tation of
the Principles of Policy, and provision shall be made in the rules of
procedure of the National Assembly 3[and the Senate] or, as the case may
be, the Provincial Assembly, for discussion on such report.
1  New proviso ins. ibid.
2  Subs. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 11, for “the National Assembly”.
3  Ins. ibid.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
17 30. Responsibility with respect to Principles of Policy
30. (1) The responsibility of deciding wh ether any action of an
organ or authority of the State, or of a person performing functions on
behalf of an organ or authority of the State, is in accordance with the
Principles of Policy is that of the organ or authority of the State, or of the
person, co ncerned.
(2) The validity of an action or of a law shall not be called in
question on the ground that it is not in accordance with the Principles of
Policy, and no action shall lie against the State, any organ or authority of
the State or any person on su ch ground.
31. Islamic way of life
31. (1) Steps shall be taken to enable the Muslims of Pakistan,
individually and collectively, to order their lives in  accordance with the
fundamental principles and basic concepts of Islam and to provide
facilities wh ereby they may be enabled to understand the meaning of life
according to the Holy Quran and Sunnah.
(2) The State shall endeavour, as respects the Muslims of
Pakistan, —
(a) to make the teaching of the Holy Quran and Islamiat
compulsory, to encourage and fac ilitate the learning of
Arabic language and to secure correct and exact
printing and publishing of the Holy Quran;
(b) to promote unity and the observance of the Islamic
moral standards; and
(c) to secure the proper organisation of zakat 1[ushr,] auqaf
and mosqu es.
32. Promotion of local Government institutions
32. The State shall encourage local Government institutions composed
of elected representatives of the areas concerned and in such institutions
special representation will be given to peasants, workers and women.
1  Ins.by P.O. No. 14 of 1985, Art. 2 and Sch.,
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
18 33. Parochial and other similar prejudices to be discouraged
33. The State shall discourage parochial, racial, tribal sectarian and
provincial prejudices among the citizens.
34. Full participation of women in national life
34. Steps shall be  taken to ensure full participation of women in all
spheres of national life.
35. Protection of family, etc.
35. The State shall protect the marriage, the family, the mother and the
child.
36. Protection of minorities
36. The State shall safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of
minorities, including their due representation in the Federal and Provincial
services.
37. Promotion of social justice and eradication of social evils
37. The State shall —
(a) promote, with special care, the educational an d economic
interests of backward classes or areas;
(b) remove illiteracy and provide free and compulsory secondary
education within minimum possible period;
(c) make technical and professional education generally
available and higher education equally accessible  to all on
the basis of merit;
(d) ensure inexpensive and expeditious justice;
(e) make provision for securing just and humane conditions of
work, ensuring that children and women are not employed in
vocations unsuited to their age or sex, and for maternity
bene fits for women in employment;
(f) enable the people of different areas, through education,
training, agricultural and industrial development and other
methods, to participate fully in all forms of national
activities, including employment in the service of Pa kistan;
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
19
(g) prevent prostitution, gambling and taking of injurious drugs,
printing, publication, circulation and display of obscene
literature and advertisements;
(h) prevent the consumption of alcoholic liquor otherwise than
for medicinal and, in the case of no n-Muslims, religious
purposes; and
(i) decentralise the Government administration so as to facilitate
expeditious disposal of its business to meet the convenience
and requirements of the public.
38.  Promotion of social and economic well being of the people
38. The State shall —
(a) secure the well -being of the people, irrespective of sex, caste,
creed or race, by raising their standard of living, by
preventing the concentration of wealth and means of
production and distribution in the hands of a few to the
detriment of general interest and by ensuring equitable
adjustment of rights between employers and employees, and
landlords and tenants;
(b) provide for all citizens, within the available resources of the
country, facilities for work and adequate livelihood with
reasonable rest and leisure;
(c) provide for all persons employed in the service of Pakistan or
otherwise, social security by compulsory social insurance or
other means;
(d) provide basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing,
housing, education and medica l relief, for all such citizens,
irrespective of sex, caste, creed or race, as are permanently or
temporarily unable to earn their livelihood on account of
infirmity, sickness or unemployment;
(e) reduce disparity in the income and earnings of individuals,
including persons in the various classes of the service of
Pakistan; 1*
(f) eliminate riba as early as possible  2[; and]
1  The word “and” omitted by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Ac t, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 12.
2  Subs. ibid; for the full -stop.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
20
1[(g) ensure that the shares of the Provinces in all Federal services,
including autonomous bodies and corporations established
by, or unde r the control of , the Federal Government, shall be
secured and any omission in the allocation of the shares of
the Provinces in the past shall be rectified.]
39. Participation of people in Armed Forces
39. The State shall enable people from all parts of Pakistan to
participate in the Armed Forces of Pakistan.
40. Strengthening bonds with Muslim world and promoting
international peace
40. The State shall endeavour to preserve and strengthen fraternal
relations among Muslim countries based on Islamic unit y, support the
common interests of the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America,
promote international peace and security, foster goodwill and friendly
relations among all nations and encourage the settlement of international
disputes by peaceful means.
____________
1  New paragraph (g) added ibid.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
21 PART III
The Federation of Pakistan
CHAPTER 1. —THE PRESIDENT
41. The President
41. (1) There shall be a President of Pakistan who shall be the
Head of State and shall represent the unity of the Republic.
(2) A person shall not be qualif ied for election as President
unless he is a Muslim of not less than forty -five years of age and is
qualified to be elected as member of the National Assembly.
1[(3)  The President 2* * * shall be elected in accordance with the
provisions of the Second Sc hedule by the members of an electoral college
consisting of —
(a) the members of both Houses; and
(b) the members of the Provincial Assemblies.]
(4) Election to the office of President shall be held not earlier
than sixty days and not later than thirty days befo re the expiration of the
term of the President in office:
Provided that, if the election cannot be held within the period
aforesaid because the National Assembly is dissolved, it shall be held
within thirty days of the general election to the Assembly.
(5) An election to fill a vacancy in the office of President shall
be held not later than thirty days from the occurrence of the vacancy:
Provided that, if the election cannot be held within the period
aforesaid because the National Assembly is dissolved, it shall be held
within thirty days of the general election to the Assembly.
(6) The validity of the election of the President shall not be
called in question by or before any court or other authority.
3* * * * * * *
1  Subs. by P. O. No. 14 of 1985, Art. 2 and Sch.. for "clause (3)".
2  Certain words omitted by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 13.
3  Clauses (7) to (9) Omitted by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 13.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
22 42. Oath of President
42. Before ent ering upon office, the President shall make before the
Chief Justice of Pakistan oath in the form set out in the Third Schedule.
43. Conditions of President’s office
43. (1) The President shall not hold any office of profit in the
service of Pakistan or  occupy any other position carrying the right to
remuneration for the rendering of services.
(2) The President shall not be a candidate for election as a
member of 1[Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament)] or a Provincial Assembly; and
, if a member of 1[Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament)] or a Provincial Assembly
is elected as President, his seat in 1[Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament)] or, as
the case may be, the Provincial Assembly shall become vacant on the day
he enters upon his office.
44. Term of office of President
44. (1) Subject to the Constitution, the President shall hold office
for a term of five years from the day he enters upon his office :
Provided that the President shall, notwithstanding the expiration of
his terms, continue to hold office until his succes sor enters upon his office.
(2) Subject to the Constitution, a person holding office as
President shall be eligible for re -election to that office, but no person shall
hold that office for more than two consecutive terms.
(3) The President may, by writin g under his hand addressed to
the Speaker of the National Assembly, resign his office.
45. President’s power to grant pardon, etc.
45. The President shall have power to grant pardon, reprieve and
respite, and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence pas sed by any
court, tribunal or other authority.
1  See footnote 6 on page 3 , supra.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
23  46. President to be kept informed
1[46. The Prime Minister shall keep the President informed on all
matters of internal and foreign policy and on all legislative proposals the
Federal Government intends t o bring before Majlis -e-Shoora
(Parliament).]
47. Removal  2[or impeachment] of President
47. 3[(l) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Constitution, the
President may, in accordance with the provisions of this Article, be
removed from office on the  ground of physical or mental incapacity or
impeached on a charge of violating the Constitution or gross misconduct.
(2) Not less than one -half of the total membership of either
House may give to the Speaker of the National Assembly or, as the case
may be , the Chairman written notice of its intention to move a resolution
for the removal of, or, as the case may be, to impeach, the President; and
such notice shall set out the particulars of his incapacity or of the charge
against him.]
(3) If a notice under  clause (2) is received by the Chairman, he
shall transmit it forthwith to the Speaker.
(4) The Speaker shall, within three days of the receipt of a
notice under clause (2) or clause (3), cause a copy of the notice to be
transmitted to the President.
(5) The Speaker shall summon the two Houses to meet in a
joint sitting not earlier than seven days and not later than fourteen days
after the receipt of the notice by him.
(6) The joint sitting may investigate or cause to be investigated
the ground or the ch arge upon which the notice is founded.
(7) The President shall have the right to appear and be
represented during the investigation, if any, and before the joint sitting.
(8) If, after consideration of the result of the investigation, if
any, a resolutio n is passed at the joint sitting by the votes of not less than
two-thirds of the total membership of 4[Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament)]
declaring that the President is unfit to hold the office due to incapacity or
1  Subs. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 14, for “Article 46”.
2  Ins. by the P.O.  14 of 1985, Art 2 and Sch.
3  Subs. ibid., for "clauses (1) and (2)".
4  See footnote 6 on page 3  supra.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
24 is guilty of violating the Constitution or of  gross misconduct, the President
shall cease to hold office immediately on the passing of the resolution.
48. President to act on advice, etc.
1 [48. (1) In the exercise of his functions, the President shall act  2[on
and] in accordance with the advice o f the Cabinet 3[or the Prime Minister]:
4[Provided that 2[within fifteen days] the President may require the
Cabinet or, as the case may be, the Prime Minister to reconsider such
advice, either generally or otherwise, and the President shall 2[, within te n
days,] act in accordance with the advice tendered after such
reconsideration.]
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (1), the
President shall act in his discretion in respect of any matter in respect of
which he is empowered by the Constituti on to do so 5[and the validity of
anything done by the President in his discretion shall not be called in
question on any ground whatsoever].
6* * * * * * *
(4) The question whether any, and if so what, advice was
tendered to the President by the Cabinet , the Prime Minister, a Minister or
Minister of State shall not be inquired into in, or by, any court, tribunal or
other authority.
7[(5) Where the President dissolves the National Assembly,
notwithstanding anything contained in clause (1), he shall, —
(a) appoint a date, not later than ninety  days from the
date of the dissolution, for the holding of a general
election to the Assembly ; and
(b) appoint a care -taker Cabinet8[in accordance with the
provisions of Article 224 or, as the case may be,
Article 224A] ]
7[(6) If at any time the  Prime Minister considers it necessary to
hold a referendum on any matter of national importance, he may refer the
matter to a joint sitting of the Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament) and if it is
1  Subs. by P.O. No. 14 of 1985, Art. 2 and Sch., for "Article 48".
2  Ins. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 15.
3  Subs. by the Constitution (Eighth Amdt.) Act, 1985 (18 of 1985), s. 2, for ",the Prime Minister, or a
appropriate Minister".
4  Subs. ibid., for "the original proviso".
5  Added ibid.,
6  Clause (3) omitted, ibid.,
7  Subs. by the Constitution (Eighteenth A mdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 15, for “clauses (5) and (6)”.
8  Added by the Constitution (Twentieth Amendment) Act, 2012 (V of 2012), s.2.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
25 approved in a joint sitting, the Prime Mini ster may cause such matter to
be referred to a referendum in the form of a question that is capable of
being answered by either “ Yes” or “No”.]
(7) An Act of Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament) may lay down the
procedure for the holding of a referendum and the compiling and
consolidation of the result of a referendum.]
49. Chairman or Speaker to act as, or perform functions of,
President
49. (1) If the office of President becomes vacant by reason of
death, resignation or removal of the President, the Chairman or, if he is
unable to perform the functions of the office of President, the Speaker of
the National Assembly shall act as President until a President is elected in
accordance with clause (3) of Article 41.
(2) When the President, by reason of absence fro m Pakistan or
any other cause, is unable to perform his functions, the Chairman or, if he
too is absent or unable to perform the functions of the office of President,
the Speaker of the National Assembly shall perform the functions of
President until the P resident returns to Pakistan or, as the case may be,
resumes his functions.
CHAPTER 2.  – THE  1[MAJLIS -E-SHOORA (PARLIAMENT)]
Composition, Duration and Meetings of 1[Majlis -e-Shoora
(Parliament)]
50. Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament)
2 [50. There shall be a Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament) of Pakistan
consisting of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as
the National Assembly and the Senate.]
51. National Assembly
3[51. (1) There shall be three hundred and forty -two seats for
members in the Nat ional Assembly, including seats reserved for women
and non -Muslims.
(2) A person shall be entitled to vote if —
1  See footnote 6 on page 3  supra.
2  Subs. by P.O. No. 14 of 1985, Art. 2 and Sch., for "Article 50".
3  Subs. b y the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 16 for “Article 51” and shall be
deemed always to have been so subs. with effect from the 21st day of August, 2002.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
26 (a) he is a citizen of Pakistan;
(b) he is not less  than eighteen years of age;
(c) his name appears on the electoral roll; and
(d) he is not declared by a competent court to be unsound
mind.
(3) The seats in the National Assembly refer red to in clause
(1), except as provided in clause ( 4), shall be  allocated to each Province,
the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the Federal Capital as
under :—
General Seats  Women  Total
Balochistan  14 3 17
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa  35 8 43
Punjab  148 35 183
Sindh 61 14 75
Federally  Administered Tribal
Areas  12 - 12
Federal Capital  2 - 2
Total  272 60 332
(4) In addition to the number of seats referred to in claus e (3),
there shall be, in the National Assembly, ten seats reserved for non -
Muslims.
(5) The seats in the National Assembly shall be allocated to
each Province, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the Federal
Capital on the basis of population in accordance with the last preceding
census officially published.
(6) For the purpose of election to the National Assembly, —
(a) the constituencies for the general seats shall be single
member territorial constituencies and the members to fill
such seats shall  be elected by direct and free vote in
accordance with law;
(b) each Province shall be a single constituency for all seats
reserved for women which are allocated to the respective
Provinces under clause ( 3);
(c) the constituency for all seats reserved for non -Muslims
shall be the whole country;
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
27
(d) members to the seats reserved for women which are
allocated to a Province under clause ( 3) shall be elected in
accordance with law through proportional representation
system of political parties ’ lists of candidates on th e basis
of total number of general seats secured by each political
party from the Province concerned in the National
Assembly:
Provided that for the purpose of this paragraph  the
total number of general seats won by a political party shall
include the ind ependent returned candidate or candidates
who may duly join such political party within three days of
the publication in the official Gazette of the names of the
returned candidates;  and
(e) members to the seats reserved for non -Muslims shall be
elected in ac cordance with law through proportional
representation system of political parties ’ lists of candidates
on the basis of total number of general seats won by each
political  party in the National Assembly :
Provided that for the purpose of this paragraph  the
total number of general seats won by a political party shall
include the independent returned candidate or candidates
who may duly join  such political party within three days of
the publication in the official Gazette of the names of the
returned candidate s.]
52. Duration of National Assembly
52. The National Assembly shall, unless sooner dissolved, continue for
a term of five years from the day of its first meeting and shall stand
dissolved at the expiration of its term.
53. Speaker and Deputy Speaker o f National Assembly
53. (1) After a general election, the National Assembly shall, at its
first meeting and to the exclusion of any other business, elect from
amongst its members a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker and, so often as the
office of Speaker or Dep uty Speaker becomes vacant, the Assembly shall
elect another member as Speaker or, as the case may be, Deputy Speaker.
(2) Before entering upon office, a member elected as Speaker
or Deputy Speaker shall make before the National Assembly oath in the
form set out in the Third Schedule.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
28
(3) When the office of Speaker is vacant, or the Speaker is
absent or is unable to perform his functions due to any cause, the Deputy
Speaker shall act as speaker, and if, at that time, the Deputy Speaker is
also absent or i s unable to act as Speaker due to any cause, such member
as may be determined by the rules of procedure of the Assembly shall
preside at the meeting of the Assembly.
(4) The Speaker or the Deputy Speaker shall not preside at a
meeting of the Assembly when  a resolution for his removal from office is
being considered.
(5) The Speaker may, by writing under his hand addressed to
the President, resign his office.
(6) The Deputy Speaker may, by writing under his hand
addressed to the Speaker, resign his office .
(7) The office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker shall become
vacant if —
(a) he resigns his office;
(b) he ceases to be a member of the Assembly; or
(c) he is removed from office by a resolution of the Assembly,
of which not less than seven days' notice has been give n
and which is passed by the votes of the majority of the total
membership of the Assembly.
(8) When the National Assembly is dissolved, the Speaker
shall continue in his office till the person elected to fill the office by the
next Assembly enters upon h is office.
54. Summoning and prorogation of Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament)
154. (1) The President may, from time to time, summon either
House or both Houses or 2[Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament)] in joint sitting to
meet at such time and place as he thinks fit  and may also prorogue the
same.
1  Article 54, had, until the 31st day of December, 1973, effect as if the proviso to clause (2) thereof were
omitted, see the Removal of Difficulties (Sittings of National Assembly) Order 1973 (P.O. No. 23 of 1973),
Art. 2.
2  See footnote 6 on page 3 , supra.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
29 (2) There shall be at least 1[three] sessions of the National
Assembly every year, and not more than one hundred and twenty days
shall intervene between the last sitting of the Assembly in one session and
the date appointe d for its first sitting in the next session:
Provided that the National Assembly shall meet for not less than
one hundred and 2[thirty] working days in each year.
3[Explanation .– In this clause, "working days" includes any day on
which there is a joint s itting and any period, not exceeding two days, for
which the National Assembly is adjourned ].
(3) On a requisition signed by not less than one -fourth of the
total membership of the National Assembly, the Speaker shall summon the
National Assembly to meet,  at such time and place as he thinks fit, within
fourteen days of the receipt of the requisition; and when the Speaker has
summoned the Assembly only he may prorogue it.
55. Voting in Assembly and quorum
55. (1) Subject to the Constitution, all decisions  of the National
Assembly shall be taken by majority of the members present and voting,
but the person presiding shall not vote except in the case of equality of
votes.
(2) If at any time during a sitting of the National Assembly the
attention of the pers on presiding is drawn to the fact that less than one -
fourth of the total membership of the Assembly is present, he shall either
adjourn the Assembly or suspend the meeting until at least one -fourth of
such membership  is present.
56. Address by President
56. 4[(1)]  The President may address either House or both Houses
assembled together and may for that purpose require the attendance of the
members.
4[(2) The President may send messages to either House, whether
with respect to a Bill then pending in the Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament) or
otherwise, and a House to which any message is so sent shall with all
convenient despatch consider any matter required by the message to be
taken into consideration.
1  Subs. by P.O. No. 14 of 1985, Art. 2 and Sch.. for "two".
2  Subs. by the Constitution (Tenth Amdt.) Act, 1987 (1 of 1987). s. 2. for "sixty" which was previously
amended by P.O. No.14 of 1985, Art. 2 and Sch.
3  Explanation added by the Constitution (Fourth Amdt.) Act, 1975 (71 of 1975), s. 6 ( w.e.f.  the 21st
November, 1 975).
4  Re-numbered and added by P. O. No. 14 of 1985, Art. 2 and Sch.,
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
30 1[(3) At the commencement of the first session after each
general election to the National Assembly and at the commencement of
the first session of each year the President shall address both Houses
assembled together and inform the Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament) of the
causes of its summons.]
(4) Provision shall b e made in the rules for regulating the
procedure of a House and the conduct of its business for the allotment of
time for discussion of the matters referred to in the address of the
President.]
57. Right to speak in 2[Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament)]
57. The Prime Minister, a Federal Minister, a Minister of State and the
Attorney General shall have the right to speak and otherwise take part in
the proceedings of either House, or a joint sitting or any committee
thereof, of which he may be named a member, but  shall not by virtue of
this Article be entitled to vote.
58. Dissolution of National Assembly
3[58. (1) The President shall dissolve the National Assembly if so
advised by the Prime Minister; and the National Assembly shall, unless
sooner dissolved, sta nd dissolved at the expiration of forty -eight hours
after the Prime Minister has so advised.
Explanation .– Reference in this Article to "Prime Minister" shall
not be construed to include reference to a Prime Minister against whom a
notice of a resolution  for a vote of no -confidence has been given in the
National Assembly but has not been voted upon or against whom such a
resolution has been passed or who is continuing in office after his
resignation or after the dissolution of the National Assembly .
(2)  Notwithstanding anything contained in clause  (2) of
Article 48, the President may also dissolve the National Assembly in his
discretion where , a vote of no -confidence having been passed against the
Prime Minister, no other member of the National Assembly  command the
confidence of the majority of the members of the National Assembly in
accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, as ascertained in a
session of the National Assembly summoned for the purpose .]
1  Subs. by the Constitution (Eighth Amdt.) Act, 1985, (18 of 1985), s. 4, for "clause (3)."
2  See footnote 6 on page 3, supra .
3  Subs. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2 010 (10 of 2010), s. 17, for “Article 58”.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
31 59. The Senate
1[59. (1) The Senate sh all consist of one hundred  and four
members, of whom, —
(a) fourteen shall be elected by the members of each Provincial
Assembly;
(b) eight shall be elected from the Federally Administered
Tribal Areas , in such manner as the President may, by
Order, prescribe ;
(c) two on general seats, and one woman and one technocrat
including aalim  shall be elected from the Federal Capital in
such manner as the President may, by Order, prescribe;
(d) four women shall be elected by the members of each
Provincial Assembly;
(e) four tec hnocrats including ulema  shall be elected by the
members of each Provincial Assembly ; and
(f) four non -Muslims, one from each Province, shall be elected
by the members of each Provincial Assembly:
Provided that paragraph (f) shall be effective from
the next Senate election after the commencement of the
Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, 2010.
(2) Election to fill seats in the Senate allocated to each
Province shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional
representation by means of the sin gle transferable vote.
(3) The Senate shall not be subject to dissolution but the term
of its members, who shall retire as follows, shall be six years: -
(a)  of the members referred to in paragraph (a) of clause (1),
seven shall retire after the expirati on of the first three years
and seven shall retire after the expiration of the next three
years;
(b)  of the members referred to in paragraph (b) of the aforesaid
clause, four shall retire after the expiration of the first three
years and four shall retir e after the expiration of the next
three years;
1  Subs. ibid., s. 18, for “Article 59”.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
32 (c) of the members referred to in paragraph (c) of the aforesaid
clause, —
(i)  one elected on general seat shall retire after the
expiration of the first three years and the other  one
shall retire after the  expiration of the next three
years; and
(ii) one elected on the seat reserved for technocrat shall
retire after first three years and the one elected on
the seat reserved for woman shall retire after the
expiration of the next three years;
(d)  of the m embers referred to in paragraph (d) of the aforesaid
clause, two shall retire after the expiration of the first three
years and two shall retire after the expirat ion of the next
three years;
(e)  of the members referred to in paragraph (e) of the aforesai d
clause, two shall retire after the expiration of the first three
years and two shall retire after the expiration of the next
three years ; and
(f) of the members referred to in paragraph (f) of the aforesaid
clause, two shall retire after the expiration of first three
years and two shall retire after the expiration of next three
years:
Provided that the Election Commission for the first
term of seats for non -Muslims shall draw a lot as to which
two members shall retire after the first three years.
(4) The term of office of a person elected to fill a casual
vacancy shall be the unexpired term of the member whose vacancy he has
filled.]
60. Chairman and Deputy Chairman
60. (1) After the Senate has been duly constituted, it shall, at its
first meeting and to the exclusion of any other business. elect from
amongst its members a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman and, so often as
the Office of Chairman or Deputy Chairman becomes vacant, the Senate
shall elect another member as Chairman or, as the case may be,  Deputy
Chairman.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
33 (2) The term of office of the Chairman or Deputy Chairman
shall be' 1[three] years from the day on which he enters upon his office.
61. Other provisions relating to Senate
61. The provisions of clauses (2) to (7) of Article 53, clauses  (2) and
(3) of Article 54 and Article 55 shall apply to the Senate as they apply to
the National Assembly and, in their application to the Senate, shall have
effect as if references therein to the National Assembly, Speaker and
Deputy Speaker were referen ces, respectively, to the Senate Chairman and
Deputy Chairman 2[and as if, in the proviso to the said clause (2) of
Article 54, for the words 3[one hundred and thirty] the word s 4[one
hundred and ten]  were substituted].
provisions as to Members of 5[Majli s-e-Shoora (Parliament)]
62. Qualifications for membership of Majlis -e-Shoora
(Parliament)
6[62. (1) A person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a
member of Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament) unless —
(a) he is a citizen of Pakistan;
(b)  he is , in the case of the National Assembly, not less than
twenty -five years of age and is enrolled as a voter in any
electoral roll in —
(i)  any part of Pakistan, for election to a general seat or a
seat reserved for non -Muslims; and
(ii)  any area in a Prov ince from which she seeks
membership for electio n to a seat reserved for women.
(c) he is, in the case of the Senate, not less than thirty years of
age and is enrolled as a voter in any area in a Province or,
as the case may be, the Federal Capital or the Fed erally
Administered Tribal Areas, from where he seeks
membership;
1  Subs.  by the Constitution (Eighth Amdt.) Act, 1985 (18 of 1985), s. 7, for “two” .
2  Added by the Constitution (First Amdt.) Act, 1974 (33 of 1974), s. 5 (w.e.f. the 14t h May, 1974).
3  Subs. by the Constitution (Tenth Amdt.) Act, 1987 (1 of 1987), s. 3, which was previously amended by P. O.
No. 24 of 1985. Art. 2.
4  Subs. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 19, for “ninety”.
5  See footnote  6 on page 3 supra .
6  Subs. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 20, for “Article 62”.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
34 (d) he is of good character and is not commonly known as one
who violates Islamic Injunctions;
(e)  he has adequate knowledge of Islamic teachings and
practices  obligatory duties prescribed by  Islam as well as
abstains from major sins;
(f) he is sagacious, righteous , non-profligate , honest and
ameen, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court
of law; and
(g) he has not, after the establishment of Pakistan, worked
against the integr ity of the country or op posed the ideology
of Pakistan.
(2) The disqualifications specified in paragraphs (d) and (e)
shall not apply to a person who is a non -Muslim, but such a person shall
have good moral reputation .]
63. Disqualifications for membersh ip of Majlis -e-Shoora
(Parliament)
1[63. (1) A person shall be disqualified from being elected or chosen
as, and from being, a member of the Ma jlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), if —
(a) he is of unsound mind and has been so declared by a
competent court; or
(b) he is an undischarged insolvent; or
(c) he ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan, or acquires the
citizenship of a foreign State; or
(d) he holds an office of profit in the service of Pakistan other
than an office declared by law not to disqualify its holder;
or
(e) he is i n the service of any statutory body or any body which
is owned or controlled by the Government or in which the
Government has a controlling share or interest; or
(f) being a citizen of Pakistan by virtue of section 14B of the
Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 (I I of 1951), he is for the
time being disqualified under any law in force in Azad
1  Subs. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 21, for “Article 63”.
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
35 Jammu and Kashmir from being elected as a member of the
Legislative Assembly of Azad Jammu and Kashmir; or
(g) he has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction
for propagating any opinion, or acting in any manner,
prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan, or the sovereignty,
integrity or security of Pakistan, or the integrity, or
independence of the judiciary of Pakistan, or which
defames or brings into ridicule the j udiciary or the Armed
Forces of Pakistan, unless a period of five years has lapsed
since his release; or
(h) he has been , on conviction for any offence involving moral
turpitude, sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less
than two years, unless a p eriod of five years has elapsed
since his release; or
(i) he has been dismissed from the service of Pakistan or
service of a corporation or office set up or, controlled by
the Federal Government, Provincial Government or a Local
Government on the grounds  of misconduct , unless a period
of five years has elapsed since his dismissal; or
(j) he has been removed or compulsorily retired from the
service of Pakistan or service of a corporation or office  set
up or controlled by the Federal Government, Provincial
Government or a Local Government on the ground of
misconduct ,  unless a period of three years has elapsed
since his removal or compulsory retirement; or
(k) he has been in the service of Pakistan or of any statutory
body or any body which is owned or con trolled by the
Government or in which the Government has a controlling
share or interest , unless a period of two years has elapsed
since he ceased to be in such service; or
(l)  he, whether by himself or by any person or body of persons
in trust for him o r for his benefit or on his account or as a
member of a Hindu undivided family, has any share or
interest in a contract, not being a contract between a
cooperative society and Government, for the supply of
goods to, or for the execution of any contract or for the
performance of any service undertaken by, Government:
Provided that the disqualification under this
paragraph shall not apply to a person —
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
36
(i) where the share or interest in the contract devolves
on him by inheritance or succession or as a legatee,
executor or administrator, until the expiration of six
months after it has so devolved on him;
(ii) where the contract has been entered into by or on
behalf of a public company as defined in the
Companies Ordinance, 1984 (XLVII of 1984), of
which he is a shareh older but is not a director
holding an office of profit under the company; or
(iii) where he is a member of a Hindu undivided family
and the contract has been entered into by any other
member of that family in the course of carrying on a
separate business in wh ich he has no share or
interest;
Explanation. —In this Article “goods ” does
not include agricultural produce or commodity
grown or produced by him or such goods as he is,
under any directive of Government or any law for
the time being in force, under  a duty or obligation to
supply; or
(m)  he holds any office of profit in the service of Pakistan other
than the following offices, namely : —
(i)  an office which is not whole time office
remunerated either by salary or by fee;
(ii) the office of Lumbardar, wheth er called by this or
any other title;
(iii) the Qaumi Razakars;
(iv) any office the holder whereof, by virtue of such
office, is liable to be called up for military training
or military service under any law providing for the
constitution or raising of a Force; or
(n) he has obtained a loan for an amount of two million rupees
or more, from any bank, financial institution, cooperative
society or cooperative body in his own name or in the name
of his spouse or any of his dependents, which remains
unpaid for more than  one year from the due date, or has got
such loan written off; or
CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN
37 (o) he or his spouse or any of his dependents has defaulted in
payment of government dues and utility expenses,
including telephone, electricity, gas and water charges in
excess of ten thou sand rupees, for over six months, at the
time of filing his nomination papers;  or
(p) he is for the time being disqualified from being elected or
chosen as a member of the Majlis -e-Shoora (Parliament) or
of a Provincial Assembly under any l aw for the time  being
in force.
Explanation. — For the purposes of this paragraph
“law” shall not include an Ordinance promulgated under
````

## What this means (mechanical reading aid, not legal advice)

- The index files this text under article 2 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
- The passage runs to about 10,751 words.
- Read plainly, it mentions fair hearing — it guarantees a fair hearing — a court or tribunal that hears you and decides impartially (the words used: “fair trial”); it mentions arrest and detention — it deals with arrest or detention, and the conditions attached to holding a person (the words used: “arrest”); it mentions privacy, search and seizure — it protects privacy or limits searching a person, their home or their communications (the words used: “inviolable”); it mentions freedom of expression — it protects speaking, writing, publishing or holding an opinion (the words used: “opinion”); it mentions assembly and association — it protects gathering together or joining a group, union or party (the words used: “Assembly”); it mentions property — it addresses property, possession, or taking property compulsorily (the words used: “property”).
- **Caveat:** The row’s stored title is a body fragment, not a heading (“and Sch., for "Parliament".”), so it is not used as the provision’s title here.
- **Caveat:** The index gives this passage an article number but stores a body fragment where a heading would be, so the number could not be cross-checked against the text. Check it against the official Constitution before relying on it in a citation.
- **Caveat:** This index row contains 103 separately numbered sections, so it is a chapter-length passage rather than one provision. Cite the passage, and treat any single section number as unverified.

> This is a mechanical reading aid generated from the text above by matching words in it. It is not legal advice, not a lawyer’s interpretation, and not a substitute for the provision itself.

## How to cite this

Constitution of Pakistan, article 2, Portable Lawyer, https://www.portablelaw.com/provision/589dbd7c-cbb0-44c1-9fab-501420d87a2d (accessed 27 September 2026).

## Related

- [Constitution of Pakistan](https://www.portablelaw.com/countries/74eaac02-803e-4761-8caa-5c9300ba1956)
- [Pakistan on Portable Lawyer](https://www.portablelaw.com/countries/74eaac02-803e-4761-8caa-5c9300ba1956)
- [HTML version of this provision](https://www.portablelaw.com/provision/589dbd7c-cbb0-44c1-9fab-501420d87a2d)
- [Machine-readable corpus digest](https://www.portablelaw.com/llms-full.txt)

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Portable Lawyer · Article 2 of the Constitution of Pakistan. 7 New Article 2A Ins. Ibid. CONSTITU TION OF PAKISTAN 4 3. Elimination o f exploitation 3. The State shall ensure the elimination of all forms of exploitation and the gradual…