A. Power of President to dismiss Army Chief
B. Power of President to dissolve Provincial Assemblies
C. Power of President to dissolve National Assembly
D. Power of President to dissolve Senate
🧠 Explanation:
Article 58(2b) of Pakistan’s 1973 Constitution allowed the President to dissolve the National Assembly if governance became unworkable. Introduced during Zia-ul-Haq’s era, it was a controversial provision, often criticized for enabling political instability. It gave significant power to the President, impacting democratic processes by allowing dismissals of elected governments. The article was repealed in 2010 via the 18th Amendment to strengthen parliamentary democracy. Its history reflects Pakistan’s complex political evolution, highlighting tensions between executive authority and legislative autonomy, a key topic in studies of the country’s constitutional and political framework.