January 2024 Edition
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January 2024 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions
Top national & international current affairs questions for CSS, PMS, FPSC, PPSC, and NTS screening tests.
#901
Which political party formed the provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) following the 2024 elections?
(a) JUI-F
(b) PML-N
(c) PTI (represented by Sunni Ittehad Council/Independent bloc)
(d) ANP
Explanation: In KP, candidates backed by the PTI won a landslide victory. After the elections, they joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) as a bloc and elected Ali Amin Gandapur as the Chief Minister of the province.
#902
Which Provincial Assembly elected Maryam Nawaz Sharif as the first female Chief Minister in Pakistan's history in 2024?
(a) Sindh Assembly
(b) Punjab Assembly
(c) Balochistan Assembly
(d) KP Assembly
Explanation: In February 2024, the Punjab Assembly elected Maryam Nawaz Sharif as the Chief Minister of Punjab. This was a historic event as she became the first woman to lead a provincial government in Pakistan.
#903
What is the total number of seats in the National Assembly of Pakistan as per the 2024 general elections framework?
(a) 342
(b) 336
(c) 272
(d) 326
Explanation: Following the 25th Amendment and the merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the total number of seats in the National Assembly was reduced from 342 to 336. This includes 266 general seats, 60 seats reserved for women, and 10 seats reserved for non-Muslims.
#904
Who was elected as the Speaker of the 16th National Assembly of Pakistan in March 2024?
(a) Asad Qaiser
(b) Raja Pervaiz Ashraf
(c) Sardar Ayaz Sadiq
(d) Qasim Suri
Explanation: Sardar Ayaz Sadiq of the PML-N was elected as the Speaker of the National Assembly for the third time in March 2024. He defeated the PTI-backed candidate Malik Muhammad Amir Dogar. The Speaker is the presiding officer of the house and maintains order during sessions.
#905
In the 2024 National Assembly, how many seats are reserved specifically for non-Muslims?
(a) 5
(b) 10
(c) 15
(d) 20
Explanation: The National Assembly has 10 seats reserved for non-Muslims (minorities). These members are elected through a proportional representation system based on the total number of general seats won by each political party in the National Assembly.
#906
Which political party emerged with the largest number of seats in the Sindh Assembly during the 2024 elections?
(a) MQM-P
(b) PTI
(c) Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
(d) PML-N
Explanation: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured a heavy majority in the Sindh Assembly in the 2024 elections, allowing it to form the provincial government for the fourth consecutive time since 2008. Syed Murad Ali Shah was subsequently re-elected as the Chief Minister.
#907
The 26th Constitutional Amendment, passed in October 2024, primarily focused on which area of governance?
(a) Local Government reforms
(b) Judicial reforms and the appointment of the CJP
(c) Economic emergency powers
(d) Education sector devolution
Explanation: The 26th Amendment significantly altered the process of appointing the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and established constitutional benches. It introduced a parliamentary committee to select the CJP from the three most senior judges, shifting away from the previous 'seniority-only' principle.
#908
Who is the current Leader of the House in the 16th National Assembly (elected in March 2024)?
(a) Asif Ali Zardari
(b) Shahbaz Sharif
(c) Nawaz Sharif
(d) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Explanation: Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif was elected as the Prime Minister (Leader of the House) for a second term in March 2024. He represents a coalition government comprising the PML-N, PPP, MQM-P, and other smaller parties.
#909
Which political party formed the provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) following the 2024 elections?
(a) JUI-F
(b) PML-N
(c) PTI (represented by Sunni Ittehad Council/Independent bloc)
(d) ANP
Explanation: In KP, candidates backed by the PTI won a landslide victory. After the elections, they joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) as a bloc and elected Ali Amin Gandapur as the Chief Minister of the province.
#910
Which Provincial Assembly elected Maryam Nawaz Sharif as the first female Chief Minister in Pakistan's history in 2024?
(a) Sindh Assembly
(b) Punjab Assembly
(c) Balochistan Assembly
(d) KP Assembly
Explanation: In February 2024, the Punjab Assembly elected Maryam Nawaz Sharif as the Chief Minister of Punjab. This was a historic event as she became the first woman to lead a provincial government in Pakistan.
#911
Who was the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan during the 2024 General Elections?
(a) Sikandar Sultan Raja
(b) Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim
(c) Sardar Muhammad Raza
(d) Justice (R) Nasim Sikandar
Explanation: Sikandar Sultan Raja was appointed as the CEC in January 2020. He oversaw the 2024 General Elections, which were notable for the use of the 2023 Digital Census data for delimitation and the significant challenges regarding the allocation of symbols and election delays.
#912
What is the security deposit for a candidate contesting a seat in the National Assembly (as of the 2024 elections)?
(a) Rs. 10,000
(b) Rs. 20,000
(c) Rs. 30,000
(d) Rs. 50,000 (increased by recent amendments)
Explanation: The security deposit for the National Assembly was historically Rs. 30,000, though recent legal discussions and amendments have proposed increases. This deposit is forfeited if a candidate fails to secure a minimum percentage of the total votes polled in the constituency.
#913
Which census was used as the basis for the delimitation of constituencies for the 2024 General Elections?
(a) 1998 Census
(b) 2017 Census
(c) 2023 Digital Census
(d) 2021 Interim Census
Explanation: After the Council of Common Interests (CCI) approved the results of the 7th Population and Housing Census (Digital Census) in August 2023, the ECP was constitutionally required to carry out a fresh delimitation of constituencies, which was a primary reason for the delay of elections to February 2024.
#914
In the 2024 General Elections, the majority of PTI candidates contested as 'Independents' because:
(a) The party voluntarily chose to do so
(b) The Supreme Court upheld the ECP's decision to revoke their 'Bat' symbol
(c) The party was formally banned
(d) Independent candidates do not have to pay tax
Explanation: Due to a legal dispute over intra-party elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) revoked PTI's election symbol (the Bat). This decision was upheld by the Supreme Court, forcing PTI-backed candidates to contest as independents with various individual symbols.
#915
In the 2024 elections, which party formed a coalition government at the center with the support of PPP and MQM-P?
(a) PTI
(b) PML-N
(c) JUI-F
(d) IPP
Explanation: After the 2024 elections resulted in a split mandate, the PML-N formed a coalition government with the PPP and other allies, with Shahbaz Sharif being elected as Prime Minister.
#916
Who is the current Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami (elected in 2024)?
(a) Siraj-ul-Haq
(b) Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman
(c) Liaquat Baloch
(d) Munawar Hasan
Explanation: Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman was elected as the Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami in April 2024, succeeding Siraj-ul-Haq following the party's performance in the general elections.
#917
The 'Sunni Ittehad Council' (SIC) became politically significant after the 2024 elections because:
(a) It won a majority on its own
(b) PTI-backed independent candidates joined it to claim reserved seats
(c) It formed the government in Punjab
(d) It was banned by the government
Explanation: Following the 2024 elections, the PTI-backed independent winners joined the Sunni Ittehad Council as a strategic move to preserve their group identity and apply for the allocation of reserved seats for women and minorities.
#918
In the 2024 elections, which party won the second-highest number of seats in the National Assembly after the independents?
(a) PPP
(b) PML-N
(c) MQM-P
(d) JUI-F
Explanation: The PML-N emerged as the single largest party in terms of party-affiliated members after the 2024 elections, followed by the PPP.
#919
The '26th Constitutional Amendment', passed in late 2024, notably changed the process for appointing:
(a) The President
(b) The Prime Minister
(c) The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP)
(d) The Army Chief
Explanation: The 26th Amendment (2024) introduced a significant shift in judicial politics. It replaced the seniority-based automatic promotion of the CJP with a parliamentary committee-led selection from the three most senior judges, and established constitutional benches.
#920
The 'Sunni Ittehad Council' (SIC) became a focal point of constitutional debate in 2024 regarding the allocation of:
(a) General Seats
(b) Reserved Seats for Women and Minorities
(c) Senate Seats
(d) Development Funds
Explanation: In 2024, after PTI-backed independent candidates joined the SIC, a major constitutional dispute arose regarding whether a party that did not win any general seats or contest the election could be allocated reserved seats. The Supreme Court eventually ruled in favor of PTI.