MCQ Detailed View

The 1962 Constitution of Pakistan was introduced by General Ayub Khan. He became the President of Pakistan after taking over the government in 1958 through martial law. At that time, the first constitution of 1956 was suspended, and Pakistan was being run under military rule.

To bring back a legal structure and civil governance, Ayub Khan introduced a new constitution on 1st March 1962. This constitution replaced the parliamentary system with a presidential system, where the President had most of the powers. Unlike the previous system where the Prime Minister was the head of government, the President now held both executive and administrative powers.

Ayub Khan believed that the parliamentary system had not worked well in Pakistan and that a strong presidential system would provide stability and development. He also introduced a system called Basic Democracies, where local council members were elected directly by the people, and those members indirectly elected the President and members of the national and provincial assemblies.

While the 1962 Constitution helped restore civil rule after years of military governance, it was criticized for giving too much authority to one person and limiting democratic participation. Eventually, this constitution was suspended in 1969 when Ayub Khan resigned due to public pressure and unrest in the country.

Important Facts:

• Introduced By: General Ayub Khan


• Date Enforced: 1st March 1962


• Type of System: Presidential system


• Key Feature: Basic Democracies for indirect elections


• Reason: To replace parliamentary system and restore civil governance


• Suspended: In 1969 after Ayub Khan resignation

In summary, General Ayub Khan was the leader behind the 1962 Constitution. His aim was to bring a strong and efficient government, but the concentration of power in one office eventually led to criticism and unrest, ending in another political transition.