From ZAB to Shehbaz: List of Constitutional Amendments over 50 years

The 52-year history of Pakistan's Constitution is marked by numerous changes, with both democratic and military regimes making amendments. In total, 26 constitutional amendments have been formally enacted.

During military regimes, the Constitution was repeatedly altered through orders and presidential decrees. General Ziaul Haq issued dozens of constitutional orders — with some analyses counting as many as 97 changes to the suspended Constitution — while General Pervez Musharraf introduced over 30 amendments and legal orders during his tenure. These interventions significantly impacted the federal democratic framework established in 1973.

The 1973 Constitution, though hailed as a major achievement, has undergone substantial modifications over time. Between its approval and 1977, former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto introduced seven amendments, making crucial changes to several articles. These changes shaped the constitutional landscape, reflecting the evolving political and legal realities in Pakistan.

The Constitution’s evolution highlights the ongoing tension between military control and democratic governance, with each era leaving a lasting impact on the country’s legal framework. Pakistan's 1973 Constitution underwent its first set of amendments just one year after its approval. In 1974, three consecutive constitutional amendments were passed, significantly altering the original framework.

First amendment made changes to 17 articles of Constitution

The first amendment, passed in 1974, made changes to 17 Articles of the Constitution. It not only included the provinces, federally administered areas, and annexed territories under the federal system, but also constitutionally mandated citizens to form and join political parties and disclose their party's sources of income.

The second amendment, which revised Articles 106 and 260, declared the Qadiani community, the Lahore group, and those who do not believe in the finality of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) as non-Muslim.

The third amendment further expanded the powers of the government to detain individuals involved in activities against the country's integrity and security. It increased the duration of detention from one month to three months for individuals found to be engaged in anti-state activities.

Then the Constitution underwent significant amendments in 1975 and 1976, including changes to the terms of office for senior judiciary and the exclusion of certain laws from constitutional oversight.

Amendments set retirement age for SC judges

The fourth constitutional amendment, passed in 1975, made alterations to the first schedule of the Constitution. It also amended sub-clauses one and two of Article 8, exempting presidential orders, regulations, federal laws, presidential ordinances, provincial acts, and regulations from being challenged under the constitutional framework.

In 1976, two more amendments were introduced, defining the terms and conditions for appointments to the highest courts. The fifth and sixth amendments set the retirement age for Supreme Court judges at 65 years, while the age for Chief Justices of High Courts was fixed at 62 years. Additionally, the tenure for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was set at five years, while the Chief Justice of High Courts would serve for four years.

A significant provision also included that the senior most judge was no longer automatically appointed as the Chief Justice of either court; instead, a selection from within the judges would be made for the position.

The last constitutional amendment during Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s tenure in 1977 introduced the process for a referendum to seek a vote of confidence from the public for the prime minister, along with the procedures for its conduct.

Following Bhutto’s rule, General Ziaul Haq, who came to power in a military coup, made significant amendments to the Constitution in 1985 and 1987. These changes altered 27 sections of the Constitution, effectively reshaping Pakistan’s constitutional framework.

During his rule, General Zia issued numerous constitutional orders — some later consolidated through the Eighth Amendment — granting constitutional protection to presidential orders and martial law regulations, giving the military a lasting influence on the legal system.

Benazir Bhutto introduced 11th Constitutional Amendment

In 1989, after the end of military rule, Benazir Bhutto came to power and introduced the 11th constitutional amendment. The amendment revised Article 51 to change the timing of general elections, extending the interval from three years to four years.

In 1991, the 12th Constitutional Amendment established the Special Court and the Supreme Appellate Court, while also determining the salaries and benefits for judges.

Nawaz Sharif’s second term

During Nawaz Sharif's second term, four significant amendments were made to the Constitution. The 13th Amendment in 1997 restored all the powers of the prime minister that had been previously taken away by the 8th Amendment. Amendments were also made to Articles 58, 101, 112, and 243. Additionally, the 14th Amendment in the same year introduced Article 63A, which imposed disqualification for voting against party policies.

In 1998, the 15th Constitutional Amendment added Article 2B, declaring the Quran and Sunnah as the supreme law of Pakistan. The 16th Amendment, passed in 1999, introduced protections against discriminatory practices in employment, including setting an age limit of 40 years for public sector jobs.

Musharraf’s constitutional changes

In 2002, during Musharraf’s military rule, the Parliament passed the 17th Constitutional Amendment, which granted the military leader the power to dissolve the Parliament at will. The amendment also introduced changes to Article 41, detailing the procedure for the presidential vote of confidence. It further made consultation with the prime minister a constitutional requirement for the appointment of military chiefs.

Musharraf, who had suspended the Constitution, introduced multiple constitutional changes through the Legal Framework Order (LFO) and other decrees. These were later reversed by the democratic government through the 18th Amendment.

The 18th Amendment, enacted under the Pakistan Peoples Party during its tenure, is considered the most significant constitutional reform by democratic forces. It reversed many of the undemocratic changes made by military rulers Zia and Musharraf, particularly the amendments affecting presidential powers and military influence.

The 18th Amendment restored provincial autonomy, transferring key sectors such as education, health, and law enforcement to the provinces. It also removed the president’s power to dissolve Parliament, redefined the appointment process for the Chief Election Commissioner, and introduced reforms related to the appointment of military chiefs.

In addition, the 19th Amendment further clarified the role of the parliamentary committee in the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts, strengthening judicial independence and oversight.

20th Amendment expanded powers of EC

The 20th Constitutional Amendment expanded the powers of the Election Commission, establishing it as an independent body. During the tenure of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif between 2013–2017, the government focused on combating growing terrorism through the 21st Amendment. This amendment modified Article 175 of the Constitution for two years, allowing for the swift trial of individuals involved in terrorism, subversive activities, and foreign funding crimes.

In 2016, the 22nd Amendment defined the term limits for the chief election commissioner and other members of the Election Commission, adding clarity to the electoral process. The 23rd Amendment in 2017 repealed the temporary provisions introduced under Article 175, marking the conclusion of the two-year period for counterterrorism measures.

Later in 2017, the 24th Amendment abolished reserved seats for tribal areas in the National Assembly, while the 25th Amendment in 2018 reduced the total number of seats in the National Assembly to 336.

26th Constitutional Amendment

In 2024, the current government passed the 26th Amendment, which introduced significant judicial reforms.

The amendment established the Judicial Commission and Judicial Council, formalised the formation of constitutional benches in the Supreme Court, and set limits on the tenure of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to three years.

This amendment also changed the selection process for the CJP, with a 12-member parliamentary committee now nominating the Chief Justice from the three most senior judges, rather than the former practice of appointing the most senior judge.