Part I: Introductory

1 The Republic and its territories

(1) Pakistan shall be a Federal Republic to be known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,
hereinafter referred to as Pakistan.
 
 1
[
(2) The territories of Pakistan shall comprise:-
(a) the Provinces of  2[Balochistan] 2, the  3[Khyber Pakthunkhwa] 3, the Punjab
and  4[Sindh] 4 ;
(b) the Islamabad Capital Territory, hereinafter referred to as the Federal Capital;  5[and] 5
 6  6
[]
 7
[(c)] 7 such States and territories as are or may be included in Pakistan, whether by
accession or otherwise.
 
(3)  8[Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] 8 may by law admit into the Federation new States or areas
on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
 
] 1
 
2 Islam to be State religion
Islam shall be the State religion of Pakistan.
 
 9
[
2A The Objectives Resolution to form part of substantive provisions.
The principles and provisions set out in the Objectives Resolution reproduced in the Annex
are hereby made substantive part of the Constitution and shall have effect accordingly.
 
] 9
3 Elimination of exploitation
The State shall ensure the elimination of all forms of exploitation and the gradual fulfillment of
the fundamental principle, from each according to his ability to each according to his work.
 
4 Right of individuals to be dealt with in accordance with law, etc.
(1) To enjoy the protection of law and to be treated in accordance with law is the inalienable
 right of every citizen, wherever 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 prevented 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 require him to do.
 
 
5 Loyalty to State and obedience to Constitution and law.
(1) Loyalty to the State is the basic duty of every citizen.
 
(2) Obedience to the Constitution and law is the  10[inviolable] 10 obligation of every citizen
wherever he may be and of every other person for the time being within Pakistan.
 
 
6 High treason
 11
[
(1) Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance, or attempts or
conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance, the Constitution by use of
force or show of force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high
treason.
 
] 11
(2) Any person aiding or abetting  12[or collaborating] 12 the acts mentioned in clause (1) shall
likewise be guilty of high treason.
 
 13
[
(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.
 
] 13
 14
(3) [Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] 14 shall by law provide for the punishment of persons
 found guilty of high treason.
 

Part II: Fundamental Rights and Principles of Policy

7 Definition of the State

In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, "the State" means the Federal
Government,  15[Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] 15, 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.
 

Chapter 1: Fundamental Rights

8 Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of fundamental rights to be void.

(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
 16
[
(b) any of the:-
(i) laws specified in the First Schedule as in force immediately before the
commencing day or as amended by any of the laws specified in that Schedule;
(ii) other laws specified in Part I of the First Schedule;
 ] 16 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  18[Part II of the First Schedule]  18 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  19[Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] 19 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.
No person shall be deprived of life or liberty save in accordance with law.
 
10 Safeguards as to arrest and detention
(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 person 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 without 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.
 
(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
services, and no such law shall authorise the detention of a person for a period
exceeding  20[three months] 20 unless the appropriate Review Board has, after affording
him an opportunity of being heard in person, reviewed his case and reported, before the
expiration 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  21[three months] 21,
unless the appropriate Review Board has reviewed his case and reported, before the
expiration 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,  22[within fifteen days] 22 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 disclose.
 
(6) The authority making the order shall furnish to the appropriate Review Board all
documents relevant to the case unless a certificate, signed by a Secretary to the
Government concerned, to the effect that it is not in the public interest to furnish 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 order 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  23[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 anti-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] 23.
 
(8) The appropriate Review Board shall determine the place of detention of the person
detained 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.
 
 
 24
[
10A. Right to fair trial:
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.
 
] 24
11 Slavery, forced labour, etc. prohibited
(1) Slavery is non-existent and forbidden and no law shall permit or facilitate its introduction
into Pakistan 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.
 
(4) Nothing in this Article shall be deemed 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
(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.
No person:-
(a) shall be prosecuted or punished for the same offence more than once; or
(b) shall, when accused of an offence, be compelled to be a witness against himself.
 
14 Inviolability of dignity of man, etc.
(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 the purpose of extracting evidence.
 
 
15 Freedom of movement, etc.
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.
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.
 
 25
[
17. Freedom of association:
(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 service 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 soverignty or integrity of Pakistan, the Federal Government
shall, within fifeen days of such declaration, refer the matter to the Supreme Court whose
decision on such reference shall be final.
 
(3) Every political party shall account for the source of its funds in accordance with law.
 
 
] 25
18 Freedom of trade, business or profession.
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 regulation of trade, commerce or industry in the interest of free competition therein; or
(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
service, to the exclusion, complete or partial, of other persons.
 
19 Freedom of speech, etc.
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 by law in the interest of
the glory of Islam or the integrity, security 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,  33[commission of] 33 or incitement to an offence.
 
 34
[
19A. Right to information:
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.
 
] 34
20 Freedom to profess religion and to manage religious institutions.
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 establish,
maintain and manage its religious institutions.
 
21 Safeguard against taxation for purposes of any particular religion.
No person shall be compelled to pay any special tax the proceeds of which are to be spent on
the propagation or maintenance of any religion other than his own.
 
22 Safeguards as to educational institutions in respect of religion, etc.
(1) No person attending any educational institution shall be required to receive religious
instruction, or take part in any religious ceremony, 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 concession 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 community or denomination; and
(b) no citizen shall be denied admission to any educational 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.
Every citizen shall have the right to acquire, hold and dispose of property in any part of
Pakistan, subject to the Constitution and any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the
public interest.
 
24 Protection of property rights.
(1) No person shall be compulsorily 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 therefore and
either fixes the amount of compensation or specifies the principles on and the manner in
which compensation is to be determined and given.
 
(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 or 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 citizens 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.
 
 
25 Equality of citizens.
(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  35[] 35.
 
(3) Nothing in this Article shall prevent the State from making any special provision for the
protection of women and children.
 
 
 36
[
25A. Right to education:
The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to
sixteen years in such manner as may be determined by law.
 
] 36
26. Non-discrimination in respect of access to public places.
(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.
(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 exceeding  37[forty] 37 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 or 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 39[:] 39
 40
[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).] 40
 
(2) Nothing in clause (1) shall prevent any Provincial Government, or any local or other
authority in a Province, from prescribing, 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.
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: Principles of Policy

29 Principles of Policy
(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 an 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 affairs of his Province, shall cause to
be prepared and laid before the  41[each House of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] 41 or,
as the case may be, the Provincial Assembly, a report on the observance and
implementation of the Principles of Policy, and provision shall be made in the rules
of procedure of the National Assembly  42[and the Senate] 42or, as the case may be, the
Provincial Assembly, for discussion on such report.
 
 
30 Responsibility with respect to Principles of Policy.
(1) The responsibility of deciding whether 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, concerned.
 
(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 or any organ or authority of the State or any person on such ground.
 
 
31 Islamic way of life.
(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 whereby 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 facilitate 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,  43[ushr, ] 43auqaf and mosques.
 
 
32 Promotion of local Government institutions.
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.
 
33 Parochial and other similar prejudices to be discouraged.
The State shall discourage parochial, racial, tribal, sectarian and provincial prejudices
among the citizens.
 
34 Full participation of women in national life.
Steps shall be taken to ensure full participation of women in all spheres of national life.
 
35 Protection of family, etc.
The State shall protect the marriage, the family, the mother and the child.
 
36 Protection of minorities.
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.
The State shall:
(a) promote, with special care, the educational and 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 benefits 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 Pakistan;
(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 non-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.
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
medical 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;  44[] 44
(f) eliminate riba as early as possible 45[; and] 45
 46
[
(g) the shares of the Provinces in all federal services, including autonomous bodies and
corporations established by, or under 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 recitified.
] 46
 
39 Participation of people in Armed Forces.
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.
The State shall endeavour to preserve and strengthen fraternal relations among Muslim
countries based on Islamic unity, 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.

Part III: The Federation of Pakistan

Chapter 1: The President

41 The President.
(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 qualified 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.
 
 47
[
(3) The President  48[] 48 shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of the
Second Schedule by the members of an electoral college consisting of:
(a) the members of both Houses; and
(b) the members of the Provincial Assemblies.
 
] 47
(4) Election to the office of President shall be held not earlier than sixty days and not
later than thirty days before 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
 member of the National Assembly to be the Prime Minister who commands the
confidence of the majority of the members of the National Assembly, as
ascertained in a session of the Assembly summoned for the purpose in
accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

] 217

(3) The person appointed under clause (2)  218[or as the case may be, invited under
clause (2A)] 218 shall, before entering upon the office, make before the President
oath in the form set out in the Third Schedule and shall within a period of sixty
days thereof obtain a vote of confidence from the National Assembly.

(4) The Cabinet, together with the Ministers of State, shall be collectively
responsible to the National Assembly.

 
 219
[

(5) The Prime Minister shall hold office during the pleasure of the President, but the
President shall not exercise his powers under this clause unless he is satisfied that
the Prime Minister does not command the confidence of the majority of the
members of the National Assembly, in which case he shall summon the National
Assembly and require the Prime Minister to obtain a vote of confidence from the
Assembly.

] 219

(6) The Prime Minister may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President,
resign his office.

(7) A Minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of the
 National Assembly shall, at the expiration of that period, cease to be a Minister
and shall not before the dissolution of that Assembly be again appointed a
Minister unless he is elected a member of that Assembly:

Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall apply to a Minister who is a

member of the Senate.

(8) Nothing contained in this Article shall be construed as disqualifying the Prime
Minister or any other Minister or a Minister of State for continuing in office
during any period during which the National Assembly stands dissolved, or as
preventing the appointment of any person as Prime Minister or other Minister or
as Minister of State during any such period.