#921

In 2024, the '26th Amendment' was discussed as a way to potentially change the tenure or appointment process of the Chief Justice. How does this affect civil-military relations?

(a) It gives the military control over the High Courts

(b) It re-balances the 'Judiciary-Military-Executive' triangle by giving the Parliament a say in judicial appointments

(c) It makes the PM the Chief Justice

(d) It abolishes the Supreme Court

Explanation: By involving a parliamentary committee in the selection of the Chief Justice (replacing the seniority rule), the 26th Amendment shifted power from the 'judicial brotherhood' to the legislature. Analysts see this as a way for the 'hybrid' setup to ensure a more predictable and less activist judiciary.

#922

The '26th Constitutional Amendment' (2024) significantly impacted judicial activism by establishing:

(a) Military Courts

(b) Constitutional Benches

(c) Federal Shariat Courts

(d) Anti-Terrorism Courts

Explanation: The 26th Amendment introduced Constitutional Benches in the Supreme Court and High Courts to hear matters involving the interpretation of the Constitution. This was seen as a way to separate 'political' constitutional cases from regular litigation and reduce the individual influence of the CJP.

#923

The 'Reserved Seats Case' (2024) saw the Supreme Court intervene to grant seats to which political entity?

(a) PML-N

(b) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

(c) PPP

(d) JUI-F

Explanation: In a major exercise of judicial power, the Supreme Court ruled in July 2024 that the PTI was a political party eligible for reserved seats for women and minorities, overturning the decisions of the ECP and the Peshawar High Court. This was seen as a significant check on the executive and the electoral body.

#924

In the 2024 'Cipher Case' and other political trials, the judiciary faced scrutiny regarding:

(a) The lack of judges

(b) Fair trial standards and the independence of the lower courts

(c) The cost of litigation

(d) The use of artificial intelligence

Explanation: During high-profile political trials in 2024, the judiciary was criticized for the speed and manner of trials in lower courts. High Courts intervened frequently to suspend sentences and order retrials, showcasing 'corrective' activism against perceived executive pressure.

#925

The 'Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Reference' (2024) resulted in the Supreme Court acknowledging that his trial was:

(a) Perfectly legal

(b) Unfair and lacked due process

(c) A military decision only

(d) Irrelevant to modern law

Explanation: In 2024, a larger bench led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa gave an opinion on a reference filed years ago, admitting that the 1979 trial and execution of Bhutto did not meet the standards of a 'fair trial.' This was a form of 'historical' judicial activism to correct past wrongs.

#926

Which High Court took a leading role in 2024 in protecting the rights of social media users and challenging 'firewall' implementation?

(a) Lahore High Court

(b) Islamabad High Court

(c) Sindh High Court

(d) Peshawar High Court

Explanation: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has been at the forefront of digital rights activism in 2024. Judges have repeatedly questioned the PTA and the government regarding internet shutdowns and surveillance, acting as a shield for digital freedoms.

#927

In 2024, six judges of the ______ High Court wrote a letter to the SJC alleging interference by intelligence agencies.

(a) Lahore

(b) Islamabad

(c) Sindh

(d) Peshawar

Explanation: The letter by six Islamabad High Court judges in March 2024 was a bombshell event. It led to a Suo Motu notice by the Supreme Court, highlighting the struggle for judicial independence against 'external' institutional pressures.

#928

In 2024 and 2025, a major point of contention between the government and digital rights activists was the implementation of what technology?

(a) 5G Networks

(b) National Firewall

(c) Digital Rupee

(d) E-Voting Machines

Explanation: The installation of a 'National Firewall' for content filtering and the resulting internet slowdowns became a massive controversy in 2024-2025. Civil society and IT experts argued that it would harm the freelance economy and restricted the right to information and free digital communication.

#929

Which social media platform remained blocked in Pakistan for over a year starting from February 2024?

(a) Facebook

(b) TikTok

(c) X (formerly Twitter)

(d) YouTube

Explanation: The platform X (Twitter) was restricted in Pakistan following the February 2024 general elections. The government cited national security concerns, while civil society challenged the ban in the Sindh and Islamabad High Courts as a violation of the right to expression.

#930

In 2024, the ECP and the government faced criticism from civil society for 'internet shutdowns' during which specific day?

(a) Eid-ul-Fitr

(b) The Election Day (Feb 8, 2024)

(c) Independence Day

(d) Resolution Day

Explanation: On February 8, 2024, mobile and internet services were shut down across Pakistan. The government cited security concerns, but civil society and international observers criticized the move for hindering voters' access to polling information and the transmission of results.

#931

The 'Niazi vs. ECP' and other digital rights cases in the Islamabad High Court in 2024 were overseen by which judge known for his focus on civil liberties?

(a) Justice Babar Sattar

(b) Justice Saqib Nisar

(c) Justice Qazi Faez Isa

(d) Justice Gulzar Ahmed

Explanation: Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court has been at the forefront of digital rights cases in 2024. He has repeatedly questioned the state's authority to conduct mass surveillance and install web-filtering systems without a clear legislative framework.

#932

The 'Niazi vs. State' cases in 2024-2025 involving 'missing' social media activists were primarily handled through which legal writ?

(a) Habeas Corpus

(b) Certiorari

(c) Quo Warranto

(d) Prohibition

Explanation: The writ of Habeas Corpus ('produce the body') is the primary legal tool used by civil society lawyers to demand the release of individuals allegedly abducted by state agencies for their online or political activities.

#933

The 'Niazi' vs. the State narrative in the media during 2024-2025 highlighted the divide between:

(a) Sports and Politics

(b) Pro-PTI digital media vs. the pro-Establishment traditional media

(c) Sindh and Punjab

(d) Religious vs. Secular law

Explanation: The 2024-2025 period saw a deep polarization where mainstream TV channels (regulated by PEMRA) were seen as carrying the state's narrative, while YouTube and X became the primary battlegrounds for the PTI's counter-narrative.

#934

The 26th Constitutional Amendment (2024) introduced a change in the guiding principles of judicial appointments by establishing:

(a) Military courts

(b) Constitutional Benches

(c) Abolition of the Senate

(d) Directly elected judges

Explanation: The 26th Amendment, passed in late 2024, changed the judicial basis by establishing Constitutional Benches in the Supreme Court and High Courts. It also shifted the selection of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to a parliamentary committee, moving away from the seniority-only principle.

#935

Which economic guiding principle was promoted through the 'Special Investment Facilitation Council' (SIFC) in 2023-2024?

(a) Complete state control

(b) Hybrid model of civil-military cooperation for foreign investment

(c) Banning all foreign imports

(d) Abolishing the State Bank

Explanation: The SIFC was established as a new guiding framework to fast-track economic growth. It represents a 'hybrid' model where the civilian government and military establishment collaborate to attract foreign investment in key sectors like agriculture and mining.

#936

The 'Independence of the Judiciary' is a guiding principle that was bolstered in 2023-2024 through debates on which piece of legislation?

(a) The Practice and Procedure Act

(b) The Local Government Act

(c) The Army Act

(d) The Customs Act

Explanation: The Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023 was a major constitutional debate that redefined the Chief Justice's powers regarding bench formation and Suo Motu notices, aiming to institutionalize the internal workings of the judiciary.

#937

Which guiding principle was emphasized in the 2024-2025 fiscal policy to address the IMF's $7 billion program requirements?

(a) Increasing subsidies

(b) Fiscal discipline and tax base expansion

(c) Fixed exchange rates

(d) Printing more currency

Explanation: To meet the conditions of the $7 billion IMF EFF program in 2024, Pakistan adopted fiscal discipline and tax base expansion as its primary economic guiding principles to ensure debt sustainability and macroeconomic stability.

#938

The guiding principle of 'Transparency' was enhanced in 2024 through the judicial and legislative focus on which right?

(a) Right to property

(b) Right to Information (RTI)

(c) Right to bear arms

(d) Right to travel abroad

Explanation: In 2024, the push for digital transparency and the enforcement of the RTI Act remained a key theme, as civil society and the courts emphasized that access to public information is essential for a functioning democracy.

#939

Which specific economic challenge necessitated the $7 billion IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) approved in September 2024?

(a) High defense spending

(b) Balance of payments crisis and low foreign exchange reserves

(c) Excessive gold imports

(d) Funding for CPEC Phase II

Explanation: Pakistan faced a severe balance of payments crisis characterized by dwindling foreign exchange reserves and high external debt obligations. The $7 billion IMF program was critical to avoid default, though it imposes stringent conditions on fiscal reforms, tax base expansion, and energy price hikes that test the government's domestic and external standing.

#940

Following the 'Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar' in January 2024, what is the current status of Pakistan-Iran diplomatic relations?

(a) Full suspension of ties

(b) Restored and focused on border security coordination

(c) A state of undeclared war

(d) Iran has joined the SCO

Explanation: After a brief military exchange in January 2024 targeting militant hideouts, both nations moved quickly to de-escalate. By late 2025, the focus has shifted toward institutionalizing border security through a joint commission and reviving the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, though the latter remains hindered by international sanctions.

January 2024 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions