UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Pak. appoints Achakzai as Leader of Opposition in National Assembly

Q1. In the context of Pakistan's National Assembly, the office of the 'Leader of the Opposition' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. The formally recognised head, in the National Assembly, of the largest party or bloc that is not part of the government
  • B. The senior-most member of the Senate who leads the opposition parties in the upper house
  • C. A ceremonial post held by the runner-up prime-ministerial candidate irrespective of party strength in the House
  • D. An official nominated by the President to represent all minority parties in Parliament

Q2. With reference to the office of the Leader of the Opposition, consider the following statements: 1. In India, statutory recognition of the Leader of the Opposition by convention requires a party to have at least one-tenth of the total strength of the House. 2. The Leader of the Opposition in India enjoys a statutory status under the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977. 3. In Pakistan, the Leader of the Opposition is a post that exists only in the Senate and not in the National Assembly. 4. In India, the Leader of the Opposition is a member of the selection committee for appointments such as the Central Vigilance Commissioner under the CVC Act, 2003. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. In India, statutory recognition of the Leader of the Opposition by convention requires a party to have at least one-tenth of the total strength of the House.
  2. The Leader of the Opposition in India enjoys a statutory status under the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.
  3. In Pakistan, the Leader of the Opposition is a post that exists only in the Senate and not in the National Assembly.
  4. In India, the Leader of the Opposition is a member of the selection committee for appointments such as the Central Vigilance Commissioner under the CVC Act, 2003.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. Consider the following statements about Mehmood Khan Achakzai and his party: 1. The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP), led by Achakzai, is a Pashtun-nationalist party with its principal support base in the Pashtun belt of Balochistan. 2. Unlike the Awami National Party, whose ideological roots lie in Abdul Ghaffar Khan's Khudai Khidmatgar movement, the PMAP's stronghold is primarily the Peshawar valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 3. Achakzai was appointed Leader of the Opposition in Pakistan's National Assembly in January 2026. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP), led by Achakzai, is a Pashtun-nationalist party with its principal support base in the Pashtun belt of Balochistan.
  2. Unlike the Awami National Party, whose ideological roots lie in Abdul Ghaffar Khan's Khudai Khidmatgar movement, the PMAP's stronghold is primarily the Peshawar valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
  3. Achakzai was appointed Leader of the Opposition in Pakistan's National Assembly in January 2026.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The vacancy in the office of Leader of the Opposition in Pakistan's National Assembly, which was filled in January 2026, had arisen because of which one of the following?

  • A. The previous incumbent, Omar Ayub Khan, was disqualified as a member of the National Assembly following his conviction in a vandalism/violence case
  • B. The previous incumbent resigned the seat in order to contest elections to the Senate
  • C. The National Assembly was dissolved, so the post automatically and permanently lapsed
  • D. The previous incumbent was elevated to the office of Prime Minister of Pakistan

Q5. In Pakistan's National Assembly constituted after the February 2024 general elections, candidates backed by which one of the following emerged as the single largest bloc and went on to form the principal opposition?

  • A. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), whose backed candidates contested as independents
  • B. Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)
  • C. Pakistan Peoples Party
  • D. Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party

Q6. Consider the following statements about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI): 1. In the February 2024 general elections, PTI-backed candidates contested as independents after the party was denied its 'cricket bat' election symbol. 2. PTI was founded by Imran Khan and won its first majority government in the 1997 general elections. 3. Imran Khan, the founder of PTI, was convicted in August 2023 in the Toshakhana case concerning the retention of state gifts. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In the February 2024 general elections, PTI-backed candidates contested as independents after the party was denied its 'cricket bat' election symbol.
  2. PTI was founded by Imran Khan and won its first majority government in the 1997 general elections.
  3. Imran Khan, the founder of PTI, was convicted in August 2023 in the Toshakhana case concerning the retention of state gifts.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. Consider the following pairs (Personality : Position/Role as of 2026): 1. Imran Khan : Founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf 2. Asim Munir : Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan 3. Omar Ayub Khan : Sitting Prime Minister of Pakistan 4. Shehbaz Sharif : Prime Minister of Pakistan Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

  1. Imran Khan : Founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
  2. Asim Munir : Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan
  3. Omar Ayub Khan : Sitting Prime Minister of Pakistan
  4. Shehbaz Sharif : Prime Minister of Pakistan
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. Consider the following statements about the Pashtuns and their geography: 1. The Durand Line, demarcated in 1893, divides Pashtun-inhabited areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Afghanistan has never formally accepted it as an international border. 2. Pashto, the language of the Pashtuns, belongs to the Dravidian family of languages. 3. The Pashtuns constitute the largest ethnic group of Afghanistan. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Durand Line, demarcated in 1893, divides Pashtun-inhabited areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Afghanistan has never formally accepted it as an international border.
  2. Pashto, the language of the Pashtuns, belongs to the Dravidian family of languages.
  3. The Pashtuns constitute the largest ethnic group of Afghanistan.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. In the context of Pashtun society, the term 'Pashtunwali' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The traditional customary code of honour and conduct that governs Pashtun social life
  • B. A Pashtun-nationalist political party based in Balochistan
  • C. The demand for an independent Pashtun homeland straddling the Durand Line
  • D. The Pashto-language literary academy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Q10. Pakistan's National Assembly has a total of 336 seats. Which one of the following categories accounts for the largest number of these seats?

  • A. General seats filled through direct popular election
  • B. Seats reserved for women
  • C. Seats reserved for non-Muslims
  • D. Seats nominated by the President of Pakistan

Q11. As per the 27th Constitutional Amendment passed by Pakistan's Parliament in November 2025, overall command over all three branches of the armed forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) was vested in which one of the following newly created offices?

  • A. Chief of Defence Forces
  • B. Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
  • C. Chief of Army Staff
  • D. Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces