Batch 3: Yahya Khan Era & Fall of Dhaka (1969–1971)
1. Who succeeded Ayub Khan after his resignation in 1969?
(A) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
(B) Yahya Khan
(C) Iskander Mirza
(D) Ghulam Ishaq Khan
✅ Correct Answer: B. Yahya Khan
🔹 Explanation: After Ayub Khan resigned on 25 March 1969, power was handed over to General Yahya Khan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army.
2. Which constitution did Yahya Khan abrogate in 1969?
(A) 1956 Constitution
(B) 1962 Constitution
(C) 1973 Constitution
(D) None of these
✅ Correct Answer: B. 1962 Constitution
🔹 Explanation: Yahya Khan abrogated the 1962 Constitution, dissolved assemblies, and declared Martial Law in 1969.
3. When did Yahya Khan announce Pakistan’s first general elections?
(A) 1969
(B) 1970
(C) 1971
(D) 1972
✅ Correct Answer: A. 1969
🔹 Explanation: Yahya Khan promised general elections based on adult franchise in 1969, which were held in December 1970.
4. Which was the first general election in Pakistan’s history?
(A) 1956
(B) 1962
(C) 1970
(D) 1973
✅ Correct Answer: C. 1970
🔹 Explanation: The general elections of December 1970 were the first ever direct elections in Pakistan, held on the basis of one person, one vote.
5. Who won a majority in the 1970 General Elections?
(A) Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
(B) Awami League
(C) Muslim League
(D) Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
✅ Correct Answer: B. Awami League
🔹 Explanation: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League won a majority, securing 160 out of 162 East Pakistan seats in the National Assembly.
6. Who emerged as the leading party in West Pakistan during the 1970 elections?
(A) Muslim League
(B) Awami League
(C) Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
(D) Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
✅ Correct Answer: C. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
🔹 Explanation: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s PPP won 81 seats, dominating West Pakistan, particularly Punjab and Sindh.
7. Why did the 1970 elections create a political crisis?
(A) Both parties refused to accept results
(B) West Pakistan rejected Awami League’s Six Points
(C) Sheikh Mujib resigned
(D) Military refused to hold assembly
✅ Correct Answer: B. West Pakistan rejected Awami League’s Six Points
🔹 Explanation: Although Awami League had majority, West Pakistani leadership, especially Bhutto, refused to accept Mujib’s Six-Point Program, leading to political deadlock.
8. Who postponed the National Assembly session scheduled in March 1971?
(A) Yahya Khan
(B) Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
(C) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
(D) None of these
✅ Correct Answer: A. Yahya Khan
🔹 Explanation: Yahya Khan postponed the assembly session on 1 March 1971, triggering protests in East Pakistan.
9. What operation did the Pakistan Army launch in East Pakistan in March 1971?
(A) Operation Desert Storm
(B) Operation Searchlight
(C) Operation Gibraltar
(D) Operation Tashkent
✅ Correct Answer: B. Operation Searchlight
🔹 Explanation: On 25 March 1971, the army launched Operation Searchlight to suppress Awami League supporters in East Pakistan, escalating into civil war.
10. When did India intervene militarily in East Pakistan?
(A) March 1971
(B) August 1971
(C) December 1971
(D) January 1972
✅ Correct Answer: C. December 1971
🔹 Explanation: India intervened in December 1971, supporting Mukti Bahini fighters, leading to the Indo-Pak War of 1971.
11. When did Dhaka fall to Indian and Mukti Bahini forces?
(A) 3 December 1971
(B) 10 December 1971
(C) 16 December 1971
(D) 20 December 1971
✅ Correct Answer: C. 16 December 1971
🔹 Explanation: On 16 December 1971, Pakistan Army surrendered in Dhaka, and Bangladesh was created as an independent state.
12. Who signed the instrument of surrender on behalf of Pakistan?
(A) General Yahya Khan
(B) General A.A.K. Niazi
(C) General Tikka Khan
(D) General Zia-ul-Haq
✅ Correct Answer: B. General A.A.K. Niazi
🔹 Explanation: General A.A.K. Niazi, Commander of Eastern Command, signed the surrender document to Indian General Jagjit Singh Aurora.
13. Who resigned as President after the Fall of Dhaka?
(A) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
(B) Iskander Mirza
(C) Yahya Khan
(D) Ayub Khan
✅ Correct Answer: C. Yahya Khan
🔹 Explanation: After the defeat and dismemberment of Pakistan, Yahya Khan resigned on 20 December 1971, handing power to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
14. Which international power supported Pakistan during the 1971 war?
(A) USA
(B) China
(C) USSR
(D) Both A & B
✅ Correct Answer: D. Both A & B
🔹 Explanation: USA and China diplomatically supported Pakistan, but USSR backed India, shifting the balance in favor of India.
15. The creation of Bangladesh is also called:
(A) Fall of Dhaka
(B) East Pakistan Crisis
(C) Third Indo-Pak War
(D) All of these
✅ Correct Answer: D. All of these
🔹 Explanation: The events of 1971 are described as the Fall of Dhaka, the East Pakistan Crisis, and the Third Indo-Pak War, marking Pakistan’s greatest tragedy.