How Many Constitutions Has Pakistan Had? All Three Explained

How many constitutions has Pakistan had? The answer is three: the Constitutions of 1956, 1962, and 1973. Each reflected the politics of its era — and each of the first two was abrogated by the very military rulers who found it inconvenient. Only the 1973 Constitution survives, and it remains the supreme law of the land today.

This guide walks through all three constitutions, compares them side by side, and explains why Pakistan’s constitutional journey has been so turbulent.

The Short Answer

The First Constitution: 1956

Pakistan took nearly nine years after independence to produce its first constitution. The Constituent Assembly, wrestling with questions of representation between East and West Pakistan, language, and the Islamic character of the state, finally adopted the document in February 1956. It was enforced on 23 March 1956 — the date Pakistan became the world’s first Islamic republic, now commemorated as Pakistan Day.

The 1956 Constitution had 234 articles in 13 parts. It established a parliamentary system with a President as head of state and a Prime Minister as head of government, a single National Assembly with parity between the two wings, and a justiciable chapter of fundamental rights.

It barely got a chance. The parliamentary system produced the same governmental instability seen since 1947 — seven prime ministers in eleven years. On 7 October 1958, President Iskander Mirza abrogated the Constitution, dissolved the assemblies, and imposed martial law, calling it the only way out of the political crisis. Twenty days later, Army Chief Ayub Khan removed Mirza and took power himself. The first constitution had lasted two and a half years.

The Second Constitution: 1962

Ayub Khan blamed parliamentary democracy for the chaos and designed a constitution to his own taste. The 2nd Constitution of Pakistan (1962) was enforced on 8 June 1962.

It contained 250 articles and created a presidential system: the President was chief executive, elected indirectly by 80,000 “Basic Democrats” rather than by direct universal vote. The legislature was weak, and fundamental rights were initially only principles of law-making, not enforceable rights.

The 1962 Constitution was deeply unpopular, especially in East Pakistan, where Bengalis saw it as a tool to deny their majority. After the mass agitation of 1968–69, Ayub Khan handed power to General Yahya Khan on 25 March 1969, who imposed martial law and abrogated the constitution the same day. Lifespan: under seven years.

The Third Constitution: 1973

After the trauma of 1971 — the secession of East Pakistan as Bangladesh — the remaining Pakistan needed a fresh constitutional settlement. An assembly elected in 1970 drafted the new document under the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It was passed on 10 April 1973 and enforced on 14 August 1973.

The Constitution of Pakistan 1973 has 280 articles in 12 Parts and 7 Schedules. It restored the parliamentary system, direct elections by universal adult franchise, a federal structure with four provinces, and a fully justiciable chapter of fundamental rights (Articles 8–28). Islam is the state religion, and no law may be repugnant to the Quran and Sunnah.

Unlike its predecessors, the 1973 Constitution has survived — through Zia-ul-Haq’s martial law (which held it “in abeyance” rather than abrogating it), Musharraf’s 1999 takeover, and multiple amendments. It has been amended 27 times, most recently the 27th Amendment of November 2025, which created the Federal Constitutional Court. Amendment requires a two-thirds majority under Article 239, which is part of why the document has endured: it bends through consensus rather than breaking by decree.

Why Did the First Two Fail?

Historians point to a common pattern:

1. Designed around individuals, not institutions. The 1962 Constitution was built for Ayub Khan; when he fell, it fell.
2. No democratic buy-in. Neither the 1956 nor the 1962 document emerged from a fully representative, directly elected process commanding nationwide legitimacy.
3. The military veto. In both 1958 and 1969, the army — the ultimate power broker — simply discarded the constitution when it became inconvenient.
4. East Pakistan’s exclusion. Both early constitutions failed to satisfy Bengali aspirations, and the unresolved constitutional question fed the crisis of 1971.

The 1973 Constitution broke the pattern precisely because it was negotiated by elected representatives and has since been amended only through parliamentary supermajorities — including landmark changes like the 13th Amendment, which restored full parliamentary supremacy in 1997.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many constitutions has Pakistan had?

Three: 1956 (234 articles, parliamentary), 1962 (250 articles, presidential), and 1973 (280 articles, parliamentary). Only the 1973 Constitution is still in force.

Which is Pakistan’s current constitution?

The Constitution of 1973, enforced on 14 August 1973. It has been amended 27 times but never abrogated.

Why was the 1956 Constitution abrogated?

President Iskander Mirza abrogated it on 7 October 1958, citing political instability, and imposed Pakistan’s first martial law.

What is the difference between the three constitutions?

The 1956 and 1973 constitutions are parliamentary; the 1962 constitution was presidential with indirect elections. The 1973 document is the most detailed (280 articles) and the only one to survive military rule.