Background to the 1973 Constitution
📌 The 1962 Constitution ceased functioning on March 25, 1969, when President Ayub Khan resigned, handing power to General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan, who abrogated the constitution and declared martial law.
🇵🇰 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took power on December 20, 1971, leading to the enforcement of an Interim Constitution in April 1972 to end martial law.
⚖️ The Interim Constitution allowed the National Assembly to frame a regular constitution, continuing the necessary legal framework after the military government ended.

Constitution Making Process
🤝 A Constitution Committee representing all political parties was established, headed by the Federal Law Minister, to draft the new constitution.
📜 Major political parties reached an agreement on the basic principles of the new constitution in October 1972, facilitating the committee's work, which submitted its report on December 31, 1972.
✅ The National Assembly adopted the new constitution on April 10, 1973, with no negative votes, earning it the description of the "unanimity constitution."
🗓️ The Constitution was enforced on August 14, 1973, and has remained the constitution of Pakistan despite periods of suspension and amendments (e.g., suspended 1977–1985 and 1999–2002).

Major Features of the 1973 Constitution
🏛️ The constitution established a Parliamentary System of Government, shifting away from the Presidential system under the 1962 Constitution, originally featuring a powerful Prime Minister as head of government.
🗣️ Post-1985 amendments granted the President some discretionary powers, unlike the original 1973 text where the President was largely ceremonial, acting on the Prime Minister's advice.
📊 It introduced a Bicameral Legislature (Parliament), with the Senate (Upper House) giving equal representation to all four provinces, and the National Assembly (Lower House) based on population.
💰 The National Assembly holds precedence over the Senate in legislative and financial matters, as it elects the Prime Minister and has overriding power regarding the budget.
🌍 The system is Federal, dividing powers between the Center and four provinces (Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Balochistan) through Federal and Concurrent Legislative Lists, while granting provincial autonomy.
🕌 It solidified the Islamic Character of the state, naming it the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, making Islam the State Religion, and including the Objective Resolution as an integral part (Article 2A inserted in 1985).
📰 Urdu is the National Language, though English remains operational at the official level until the transition is complete, and provincial assemblies can promote their regional languages.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ The 1973 Constitution reintroduced the Parliamentary System to Pakistan, emphasizing the responsibility of the executive (PM and Cabinet) to the lower house (National Assembly).
➡️ The Senate provides federal balance by ensuring equal provincial representation, while the National Assembly ensures representation based on population.
➡️ Fundamental Rights guaranteed under the constitution are justiciable, meaning citizens can seek redress in courts if these rights are violated by the state.
➡️ The constitution clearly establishes the Islamic identity of Pakistan, defining Islam as the state religion and incorporating provisions related to Islamic principles in policymaking.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Nov 18, 2025, 15:08 UTC