Pakistan Studies/Affairs MCQs
Topic Notes: Pakistan Studies/Affairs
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
21
Which Prime Minister was disqualified in 2012 by the Supreme Court for refusing to write a letter to Swiss authorities, a move often linked to civil-military tensions?
Answer:
Yousaf Raza Gillani
Yousaf Raza Gillani was disqualified for contempt of court. While the case was legal, many analysts saw the judicial pressure as part of a broader institutional squeeze on the PPP government during a period of high friction with the military leadership over Memogate and NRO.
22
The 'Abbottabad Commission' was formed to investigate the 2011 US raid. Why was it significant for civil-military relations?
Answer:
It scrutinized the failure of the military and intelligence services to detect Bin Laden's presence
The raid on Osama bin Laden's compound by US SEALs in May 2011 was a major embarrassment for the Pakistani establishment. The subsequent commission report (leaked in 2013) criticized the 'collective failure' of military and intelligence leadership, sparking a debate on institutional accountability.
23
In civil-military discourse, what does the term 'Hybrid Regime' or 'Hybrid Model' typically refer to?
Answer:
A civilian government that works in close partnership with the military establishment in core policy areas
The term 'Hybrid Model' describes a setup where the military remains the dominant actor in foreign policy, national security, and increasingly economic governance, while an elected civilian government handles the front-end administrative tasks and political management.
24
The 21st Amendment to the Constitution (2015) was passed to allow for:
Answer:
Speedy trials of terrorists through Military Courts
In the wake of the 2014 APS Peshawar attack, political parties and the military establishment agreed on the 21st Amendment. It allowed for the trial of 'jet-black' terrorists in military courts for a 'sunset' period of two years, a significant expansion of the military's judicial footprint.
25
Who was the only General in Pakistan's history to be convicted of high treason by a special court (later overturned)?
Answer:
General Pervez Musharraf
In December 2019, a special court sentenced General Pervez Musharraf to death in absentia for high treason under Article 6 of the Constitution, specifically for his 2007 suspension of the Constitution. However, the judgment was later set aside by the Lahore High Court on procedural grounds.
26
The 'Charter of Democracy' (2006) signed by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif included a pledge to establish which commission to oversee intelligence agencies?
Answer:
Federal Commission on Intelligence
The Charter of Democracy was a strategic pact to end military intervention. It proposed the creation of a 'National Security Council' and a 'Federal Commission on Intelligence' to provide parliamentary oversight of agencies like the ISI and IB, although full implementation remains pending.
27
Which organization manages the massive industrial and commercial assets of the Pakistan Army?
Answer:
Fauji Foundation
The Fauji Foundation is one of the largest conglomerate groups in Pakistan, providing welfare for ex-servicemen through various commercial enterprises. Along with the Army Welfare Trust, Shaheen Foundation, and Bahria Foundation, it represents the significant 'military-business' footprint in the national economy.
28
In the 'Asma Jilani vs. Government of Punjab' (1972) case, the Supreme Court declared which military ruler a 'Usurper'?
Answer:
General Yahya Khan
Following the fall of East Pakistan, the Supreme Court in the Asma Jilani case made a bold departure from the Doctrine of Necessity by declaring General Yahya Khan's 1969 takeover as illegal and labeling him a 'usurper.' This was the first time the court retrospectively delegitimized a military ruler.
29
The 18th Constitutional Amendment (2010) strengthened civil-military balance primarily by:
Answer:
Removing the President's power to dissolve the National Assembly (Article 58-2b)
By repealing the changes made by the 8th and 17th Amendments, the 18th Amendment restored the 1973 Constitution to its original parliamentary form. It removed the President's discretionary power to dissolve the assembly, thereby reducing the institutional tools used by the establishment to dismiss elected governments.
30
Which historical figure served as the first native Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army?
Answer:
General Ayub Khan
While the first two commanders were British, General Ayub Khan became the first native Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army in January 1951. His appointment marked the beginning of the 'Pakistanization' of the military leadership, and he later became the country's first military president.