Amendments to the Constitution of Pakistan

This is a list of all the amendments to the Pakistan Constitution which have been passed by
Parliament.

Enactment
#
date

Redefined the boundaries of Pakistan and removed references Full

1st May 4, 1974 Text
to East Pakistan.

Defined a Muslim and declared the status September Full

2nd Text
of Ahmadis as minority and 'non-Muslim'. 7, 1974

February 18, Full

3rd Extended the period of preventive detention. Text
1975

Decreed additional seats for minorities, it also deprived courts of

November Full
4th the power to grant bail to any person detained under Text
21, 1975
any preventive detention.

September Full
5th Widened the scope of restriction on the High Courts. Text
5, 1976

Provided that Chief Justice of Supreme Court will be retired at the December Full
6th Text
age of 65 and High Court judges at age 62. 22, 1976

Enables the Prime Minister to obtain a vote of confidence of the May 16, Full
7th Text
people of Pakistan. 1977

Changed Pakistan's government from a Parliamentary system to

November Full
8th a Semi-presidential system by giving the President a number of Text
11, 1985
additional powers.
 Bill to impose Shariah law as the supreme law of land. The bill
Full
9th was passed by Senate but could never be passed by National 1985 Text
Assembly owing to the latter's dissolution.

Fixed the interval period between sessions of the National March 29, Full
10th Text
Assembly to not exceed 130 days. 1987

Revision of the reserved seats for women in the National and the Full
11th 1989 Text
provincial assemblies. The bill was withdrawn in 1992.

Full
12th Created Speedy Trial Court for 3 years. 1991 Text

Stripped the President of Pakistan of his reserve power to

Full
13th dissolve the National Assembly of Pakistan, and thereby 1997 Text
triggering new elections and dismissing the Prime Minister.

Full
14th Allowed members of parliament to be dismissed if they defect. July 3, 1997 Text

Bill to impose Shariah law as supreme law of land. Was never Full
15th 1998 Text
passed.

Increased the term appointed for quota system as per 1973 Full
16th 1999 Text
Constitution from 20 to 40 years.

Made changes dealing with the office of the President and the Full
17th 2003 Text
reversal of the effects of the Thirteenth Amendment.

Removed the power of President of Pakistan to dissolve the Full

18th April 8, 2010 Text
Parliament unilaterally.

Provided for the appointment of the Judges of the Supreme Court

of Pakistan and made amendments in the number of members of December Full
19th Text
the parliamentary committee for the appointment of Chief 22, 2010
Electoral Officers at Election Commission of Pakistan.
 February 14, Full
20th For Free and Fair Elections.[1] Text
2012

January 7, Full
21st For Speedy Trial Military Courts to deal with terrorism. Text
2015

22nd ECP powers deputed to Chief Election Commissioner.[2] June 8, 2016

The 23rd Amendment was passed to re-establish the military

courts for further two years till 6th January 2019.[3] In 2015,
National Assembly passed the 21st Amendment and created the
military courts for the period of 2 years. The period of two years January 7, Full
23rd Text
was expired on 6th January 2017 hence this 23rd Amendment 2017
was passed to re-establish the military courts for further two years
till 6th January 2019. At the end of this period all the amendments
will be expired/removed automatically.