#921

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.

#922

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.

#923

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.

#924

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.

#925

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.

#926

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.

#927

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.

#928

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.

#929

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.

#930

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.

#931

Which international event hosted by Pakistan in October 2024 marked a significant diplomatic return to the regional stage?

(a) The SAARC Summit

(b) The SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) Meeting

(c) The OIC Foreign Ministers Meeting

(d) The COP29 Climate Summit

Explanation: Pakistan hosted the 23rd SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad in October 2024. This was a major success for Pakistan's multilateral diplomacy, as it brought together leaders from Russia, China, and Central Asia, and included the first visit by an Indian Foreign Minister to Pakistan in nine years.

#932

In 2024-2025, Pakistan's relationship with India remained 'frozen' primarily due to which condition set by Islamabad?

(a) The return of Junagadh

(b) The restoration of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir

(c) A formal apology for the 1971 war

(d) An increase in water flow in the Ravi river

Explanation: Pakistan has maintained that no formal bilateral dialogue or trade can resume with India until New Delhi revisits its August 5, 2019 decision that revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. India's refusal to discuss this internal matter has led to a prolonged diplomatic stalemate.

#933

Which Gulf country signed a $2.2 billion investment deal with Pakistan during a summit in Islamabad in October 2024?

(a) UAE

(b) Saudi Arabia

(c) Qatar

(d) Kuwait

Explanation: A high-level Saudi delegation visited Islamabad in October 2024 and signed 27 MoUs worth $2.2 billion. This is a critical development for Pakistan's foreign policy, as it shifts the relationship with Riyadh from one of 'financial aid' to 'economic partnership'.

#934

The implementation of which digital infrastructure in 2024-2025 caused international and domestic concern regarding Pakistan's digital freedom?

(a) 5G technology

(b) National Firewall for content filtering

(c) A new E-Passport system

(d) Blockchain banking

Explanation: The installation of a 'National Firewall' to monitor and filter internet traffic sparked concerns from the IT industry, foreign tech giants, and digital rights groups. The resulting internet slowdowns were seen as a challenge to Pakistan's 'Look Digital' foreign policy goals and its attractiveness for global freelancers.

#935

Pakistan's stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2024-2025 has been characterized by:

(a) Full support for Russia

(b) Principled neutrality and abstention from UN resolutions condemning Russia

(c) Joining the NATO coalition

(d) Cutting all ties with Ukraine

Explanation: Pakistan has maintained a neutral stance, calling for a peaceful resolution through dialogue. While it has abstained from UN votes against Russia, it has continued to engage with both Moscow (for wheat and oil) and Kyiv (for defense and trade), reflecting a pragmatic 'bilateralist' approach.

#936

Which European nation's parliament passed a resolution regarding Pakistan's 2024 elections, creating a temporary diplomatic challenge?

(a) France

(b) United Kingdom

(c) Norway

(d) European Parliament (General Resolution)

Explanation: The European Parliament and various Western legislators expressed concerns over the transparency of the February 2024 elections. Managing these 'human rights and democracy' critiques from Western partners is a recurring challenge for Pakistan's Foreign Office.

#937

The 2024 SCO Summit in Islamabad saw the first visit of an Indian Foreign Minister to Pakistan since which year?

(a) 2010

(b) 2015

(d) 2021

Explanation: S. Jaishankar's visit in 2024 for the SCO meeting was the first visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister since Sushma Swaraj's visit in 2015. While no formal bilateral talks occurred, the attendance was seen as an ice-breaking moment for regional multilateralism.

#938

A major security challenge to CPEC Phase II in 2024-2025 has been:

(a) The lack of electricity

(b) Terrorist attacks on Chinese engineers and projects by BLA and TTP

(c) China's bankruptcy

(d) India joining CPEC

Explanation: Targeted attacks on Chinese nationals, such as the Besham attack in March 2024, have led Beijing to demand stricter security measures. Ensuring the safety of foreign workers is a critical foreign policy and security challenge for the Pakistani state.

#939

Which neighboring country's President visited Pakistan in April 2024 to normalize ties and promote the 'Halal Trade'?

(a) Afghanistan

(b) Iran (President Ebrahim Raisi)

(c) China

(d) Maldives

Explanation: President Raisi's visit in April 2024 was a high-profile effort to move past the January missile exchanges. The visit focused on increasing bilateral trade to $10 billion and coordinating on regional security issues.

#940

The 'National Action Plan' (NAP) 2.0 (Azm-e-Istehkam) launched in 2024 is a foreign policy-linked initiative to:

(a) Build houses

(b) Eradicate terrorism to provide a secure environment for foreign investment and CPEC

(c) Increase the number of schools

(d) Ban social media

Explanation: Azm-e-Istehkam is an integrated security campaign intended to eliminate the TTP and other threats. It is crucial for foreign policy because investors, particularly from China and the GCC, require a stable and secure environment before committing funds.

July 2024 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions