Free Practice Questions for LAW-GAT

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Key Facts: LAW-GAT Exam

100

MCQ Questions

HEC Guidelines

2 years

Result Validity

HEC ETC Operations SOP

Maximum Chances

HEC September 15, 2023 Notification

20%

Each Major Law Block

HEC LAW-GAT Syllabus

Not published

Pass Rate

HEC / Pakistan Bar Council

QSO 1984

Law of Evidence

Qanoon-e-Shahadat

The Pakistan LAW-GAT is a 100-MCQ assessment administered by HEC/ETC. Law graduates must qualify it before becoming eligible to apply to a Bar Council for enrolment as an Advocate. HEC permits up to seven chances, and an ETC LAW-GAT result is valid for two years. The syllabus covers Constitution (20%), CPC (20%), Criminal Law (20%), Law of Evidence (20%), Jurisprudence (10%), and Professional Ethics (10%).

Sample LAW-GAT Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the LAW-GAT exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In the landmark case of Maulvi Tamiz-ud-Din Khan v. Federation of Pakistan, what was the primary legal issue decided by the Federal Court of Pakistan?

A.The validity of the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly by the Governor-General

B.The separation of the judiciary from the executive branch of government

C.The constitutional validity of land reform legislation in East Pakistan

D.The declaration of martial law as a valid legal order under the doctrine of necessity

Explanation: In the Maulvi Tamiz-ud-Din Khan case (1955), the Federal Court of Pakistan, led by Chief Justice Muhammad Munir, ruled on the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly by Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad. The Court held that the Governor-General's assent was required for all legislation passed by the Constituent Assembly, thereby reversing the Sindh Chief Court's decision. This ruling laid the groundwork for the controversial 'doctrine of necessity' in Pakistan's constitutional history.

2Which legal theory or concept did Chief Justice Muhammad Munir rely upon in the State v. Dosso case (1958) to validate the military coup of Iskander Mirza?

A.John Austin's command theory of absolute sovereignty

B.Hans Kelsen's theory of revolutionary change of legal order

C.Albert Venn Dicey's concept of the rule of law

D.Salmond's theory of primary and secondary legislation in public law

Explanation: In the State v. Dosso case (1958), the Supreme Court of Pakistan validated the military coup and the abrogation of the 1956 Constitution. Chief Justice Muhammad Munir relied on Hans Kelsen's positivist theory, arguing that a successful revolution constitutes a law-creating fact. Under Kelsen's theory, once the old legal order (Grundnorm) is successfully replaced, the new order becomes the sole law-creating source.

3In the case of Asma Jilani v. Government of the Punjab (1972), how did the Supreme Court characterize the martial law regime of General Yahya Khan?

A.It validated the regime under the continuous doctrine of necessity

B.It held that the regime was a valid de facto government protected by estoppel

C.It declared General Yahya Khan to be a usurper and his regime illegal

D.It ruled that military commanders have inherent powers to govern during civil unrest

Explanation: In Asma Jilani v. Government of the Punjab, the Supreme Court rejected State v. Dosso's use of Kelsen's theory and held that General Yahya Khan was a usurper whose martial-law regime lacked lawful authority. The Court nevertheless recognized that some past acts could remain effective under limited de facto or necessity-based principles to avoid disorder, so the decision should not be read as mechanically nullifying every act of the regime.

4What was the Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Begum Nusrat Bhutto v. Chief of Army Staff (1977) regarding General Zia-ul-Haq's takeover?

A.It declared the takeover to be an act of high treason under Article 6 of the Constitution

B.It ruled that the military takeover was justified by Kelsen's theory of revolution

C.It ordered immediate elections within 30 days under judicial supervision

D.It validated the takeover under the doctrine of state necessity as a temporary deviation

Explanation: In Begum Nusrat Bhutto v. Chief of Army Staff, the Supreme Court of Pakistan validated the military coup led by General Zia-ul-Haq under the doctrine of state necessity. The Court ruled that the extra-constitutional step was justified by the political crisis and breakdown of law and order following the 1977 elections. However, the Court characterized it as a temporary deviation and emphasized that the 1973 Constitution remained the supreme law.

5In the landmark Al-Jehad Trust v. Federation of Pakistan (1996) case, also known as the Judges Case, what did the Supreme Court hold regarding the power of judicial appointments?

A.The consultation with the Chief Justice of Pakistan must be consensus-oriented, meaningful, and binding

B.The President has absolute and unfettered discretion to appoint any qualified person as a judge of either court

C.All appointments to the High Court must be approved by a parliamentary committee first

D.The senior-most judge of a High Court has no automatic right to be appointed as Chief Justice

Explanation: In the Al-Jehad Trust case, the Supreme Court held that the process of 'consultation' with the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and Chief Justices of the High Courts for judicial appointments must be meaningful, participatory, and consensus-oriented. The Court ruled that the advice of the CJP is binding on the executive unless there are sound, record-backed reasons to deviate. This significantly reduced executive discretion in judicial appointments.

6Under Article 4 of the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan, what is the inalienable right of every citizen?

A.To receive free public education up to the age of eighteen

B.To be dealt with in accordance with law

C.To be provided with employment by the State

D.To vote in all local, provincial, and national elections

Explanation: Article 4 of the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees that it is the inalienable right of every citizen, wherever he may be, and of every other person for the time being within Pakistan, to enjoy the protection of law and to be treated in accordance with law. This article acts as the foundational sub-clause for the rule of law and due process in Pakistan.

7According to Article 8 of the 1973 Constitution, what is the status of laws that are inconsistent with or in derogation of Fundamental Rights?

A.They remain valid until repealed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament

B.They are suspended temporarily but can be enforced during emergency periods

C.They shall be void to the extent of such inconsistency

D.They must be referred to the Council of Islamic Ideology for amendment

Explanation: Article 8(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan declares that any law, or any custom or usage having the force of law, in so far as it is inconsistent with the rights conferred by Chapter 1 (Fundamental Rights), shall, to the extent of such inconsistency, be void. Article 8(2) explicitly prohibits the State from making any law that takes away or abridges these rights.

8Article 9 of the 1973 Constitution guarantees that no person shall be deprived of life or liberty save in accordance with:

A.The discretion of the Executive

B.The orders of a Military Court

C.The rules of natural justice

D.Law

Explanation: Article 9 of the Constitution of Pakistan states: 'No person shall be deprived of life or liberty save in accordance with law.' This is a concise yet powerful guarantee of personal liberty, prohibiting unlawful detention, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial actions.

9Under Article 12 of the 1973 Constitution, protection is provided against retrospective punishment. Which of the following is prohibited by this article?

A.Punishing a person for an act that was not punishable at the time it was committed

B.Imposing a lesser penalty than the one prescribed at the time of the offence after conviction

C.Prosecuting a person twice for the same offence (double jeopardy)

D.Detaining a suspect for more than 24 hours without magistrate approval

Explanation: Article 12 protects citizens against retrospective punishment. It states that no law shall authorize the punishment of a person for an act or omission that was not punishable at the time of the act or omission, nor can a law impose a penalty greater than or of a different kind from the penalty prescribed at the time the offence was committed.

10Which of the following is NOT a ground for imposing reasonable restrictions on the Freedom of Speech under Article 19 of the 1973 Constitution?

A.The interest of the glory of Islam

B.Criticism of government economic policies

C.The integrity, security, or defense of Pakistan

D.Public order, decency, or morality

Explanation: Article 19 guarantees freedom of speech and expression, and freedom of the press, but subjects it to reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam, the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, commission of or incitement to an offence. Criticism of economic policies is a legitimate political expression and is not a valid ground for restriction.

About the LAW-GAT Exam

The Law Graduate Assessment Test (LAW-GAT) is a mandatory examination conducted by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan for LLB graduates. Passing this test is a pre-requisite for enrollment as an Advocate with any provincial Bar Council (such as Punjab, Sindh, KPK, or Balochistan Bar Councils). The exam tests foundational understanding across civil procedure, criminal law, evidence, the constitution, jurisprudence, and professional ethics.

Exam sponsor: Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan / Pakistan Bar Council (PBC). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), allocated by the official syllabus weightages

Time Limit

Not published in the current HEC LAW-GAT syllabus or ETC candidate FAQ; follow the current roll-number slip

Passing Score

Not published in the current HEC LAW-GAT syllabus or ETC candidate FAQ; confirm the current qualifying score with HEC/ETC

Exam / Certification Fees

Set for each administration; confirm the current HEC/ETC notice and generated invoice

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: Not published. HEC and the Pakistan Bar Council do not publish an official LAW-GAT pass rate. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

20%

Constitutional Law

Constitutional History of Pakistan (landmark cases), Constitution of Pakistan 1973 (Fundamental Rights, Parliament, Judicature), UN Charter, and International Court of Justice (ICJ).

20%

Civil Procedure Code (CPC)

Preamble to Section 12, Sections 15–20, 47, 75, 96, 104, 115, 151; Orders 1, 6–9, 39, 41, and 43.

20%

Criminal Law (PPC & CrPC)

Pakistan Penal Code Chapters 2, 4 (Exceptions), 16 (Body), 16-A, and 17 (Property); Criminal Procedure Code Chapters 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 31, and 39.

20%

Law of Evidence (Qanoon-e-Shahadat)

Full text of the Qanoon-e-Shahadat Order, 1984, including competence of witnesses, relevancy of facts, oral and documentary evidence, and burden of proof.

10%

Jurisprudence

English Jurisprudence (Salmond's Jurisprudence) and Islamic Jurisprudence (Nyazee's Islamic Jurisprudence).

10%

Professional Ethics

Canons of Professional Conduct and Etiquette of Advocates (Rules 134–175B of the Pakistan Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Rules, 1976).

Preparing for the LAW-GAT Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Not published in the current HEC LAW-GAT syllabus or ETC candidate FAQ; confirm the current qualifying score with HEC/ETC
Assessment: 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), allocated by the official syllabus weightages
Time limit: Not published in the current HEC LAW-GAT syllabus or ETC candidate FAQ; follow the current roll-number slip
Exam / certification fees: Set for each administration; confirm the current HEC/ETC notice and generated invoice Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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LAW-GAT: Suggested Study Strategy

1Read the Bare Acts directly for CPC, PPC, CrPC, and QSO; questions are highly textual and refer to specific sections/Articles.

2Understand the key legal principles of landmark cases in Pakistan's constitutional history (such as Maulvi Tamiz-ud-Din, Dosso, and Asma Jilani).

3Pay special attention to the Qanoon-e-Shahadat Order (Evidence) as it represents a large block of 20 marks and is highly systematic.

4Memorize the Rules in Chapter XII (Rules 134-175B) of the Bar Council Rules 1976 for Professional Ethics, which is a high-scoring 10-mark section.

5For Jurisprudence, focus on standard concepts of possession, ownership, rights, and sources of Islamic law (Quran, Sunnah, Ijma, Qiyas).

6Practise timed 100-question mocks, then use the duration in the current administration notice or roll-number slip; the current syllabus and candidate FAQ do not state a fixed time limit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the LAW-GAT in Pakistan?

The Law Graduate Assessment Test (LAW-GAT) is a mandatory test conducted by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan under the direction of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC). Law graduates must pass this test to be eligible for license/enrollment as an Advocate with any provincial Bar Council.

What is the passing score for the LAW-GAT?

The current HEC LAW-GAT syllabus and ETC candidate FAQ do not state a qualifying score or a negative-marking rule. Confirm both in the current HEC/ETC administration notice and roll-number-slip instructions.

How many times can I attempt the LAW-GAT?

HEC's September 15, 2023 notification increased the maximum from five to seven chances to qualify LAW-GAT.

What is the fee for registration?

The syllabus and candidate FAQ do not establish a permanent LAW-GAT fee. Use the amount in the current HEC/ETC administration notice and the invoice generated during registration.

What is the syllabus of LAW-GAT?

The syllabus includes Civil Procedure Code (20%), Criminal Law - PPC & CrPC (20%), Law of Evidence - QSO (20%), Constitution & Int. Law (20%), Jurisprudence (10%), and Professional Ethics - Bar Rules (10%).

How long is the LAW-GAT certificate valid?

The HEC ETC operations SOP states that LAW-GAT results are valid for two years from the result date. Passing is an eligibility step; the relevant Bar Council still controls its other enrolment requirements.