Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution MCQs 2026

The Arbitration Act 1940 governs

1. A criminal trials only ✓
2. B family court procedure exclusively ✓
3. C constitutional writs ✓
4. D domestic arbitration in Pakistan prior to newer legislation ✓

An arbitration agreement is

1. A always an oral promise only ✓
2. B a court judgment ✓
3. C a written agreement to submit present or future disputes to arbitration ✓
4. D a criminal plea bargain ✓

An arbitration agreement must generally be

1. A in writing as required by the Act ✓
2. B oral always ✓
3. C registered with police ✓
4. D approved by the President ✓

An arbitrator is

1. A always a High Court judge in every case ✓
2. B a person appointed to resolve disputes referred under an arbitration agreement ✓
3. C a police officer ✓
4. D a tax collector only ✓

Number of arbitrators may be

1. A one or more as agreed by the parties ✓
2. B always exactly five ✓
3. C always zero ✓
4. D fixed at ten by law ✓

If parties fail to agree on arbitrator, the court may appoint under

1. A Section 302 CrPC ✓
2. B the Limitation Act only ✓
3. C Section 8 of the Arbitration Act 1940 ✓
4. D the Family Courts Act ✓

An award is

1. A a criminal sentence ✓
2. B a tax assessment ✓
3. C a marriage certificate ✓
4. D the decision of the arbitrator on the merits of the dispute referred ✓

An award must be

1. A oral only ✓
2. B in writing and signed by the arbitrator ✓
3. C delivered only to media ✓
4. D registered with the Union Council ✓

Court intervention in arbitration without party application is

1. A unlimited at any time ✓
2. B limited — courts do not generally decide merits on their own motion ✓
3. C automatic in every contract dispute ✓
4. D prohibited entirely including enforcement ✓

Court may intervene with party application to

1. A decide merits de novo always ✓
2. B conduct criminal trial ✓
3. C grant divorce ✓
4. D appoint arbitrator, extend time, issue processes and set aside award ✓

Reference to arbitration under Section 20 may be ordered by court when

1. A parties are before it in a suit and an arbitration agreement exists ✓
2. B no agreement exists ✓
3. C only in criminal cases ✓
4. D only after Supreme Court referral ✓

An interim injunction during arbitration may be sought from

1. A only the arbitrator without court ✓
2. B the police station ✓
3. C the court under applicable provisions ✓
4. D the Union Council exclusively ✓

Setting aside an award under Section 30 grounds includes

1. A arbitrator misconduct, legal incapacity and award beyond reference ✓
2. B mere dissatisfaction with result ✓
3. C low damages only ✓
4. D winner being wealthy ✓

After award, a party may apply to court to

1. A appeal on merits automatically ✓
2. B retry the whole case before jury ✓
3. C refer to criminal court ✓
4. D file the award and obtain judgment in terms of the award ✓

An award once filed becomes

1. A void automatically ✓
2. B a criminal conviction ✓
3. C enforceable as a court decree subject to objections ✓
4. D unenforceable forever ✓

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) includes

1. A only criminal prosecution ✓
2. B arbitration, mediation, conciliation and negotiation ✓
3. C only legislative drafting ✓
4. D only appellate litigation ✓

Mediation differs from arbitration in that mediator

1. A imposes binding award like arbitrator ✓
2. B conducts criminal trial ✓
3. C facilitates settlement without binding decision unless parties agree ✓
4. D registers marriages ✓

Conciliation under general ADR practice involves

1. A binding criminal sentencing ✓
2. B automatic divorce ✓
3. C constitutional amendment ✓
4. D a conciliator proposing settlement terms for parties' consideration ✓

Party autonomy in arbitration means

1. A parties choose arbitrator, procedure and scope within law ✓
2. B court dictates all terms always ✓
3. C state chooses all arbitrators ✓
4. D no choice on venue ✓

Arbitration is favoured in commercial disputes because it offers

1. A mandatory publicity ✓
2. B confidentiality, expertise and relative speed ✓
3. C no enforcement mechanism ✓
4. D criminal penalties for breach ✓

An arbitration clause in a contract provides that

1. A all disputes worldwide go to criminal court ✓
2. B marriage is automatically dissolved ✓
3. C limitation never applies ✓
4. D disputes arising from the contract shall be referred to arbitration ✓

Separability doctrine means

1. A arbitration clause may survive even if main contract is invalid ✓
2. B arbitration clause always dies with contract ✓
3. C only criminal clauses survive ✓
4. D no clause is ever severable ✓

Kompetenz-kompetenz means

1. A only court decides jurisdiction always ✓
2. B police decide jurisdiction ✓
3. C arbitrator may rule on own jurisdiction including validity of arbitration agreement ✓
4. D Union Council decides ✓

Stay of court proceedings may be granted when

1. A no agreement exists ✓
2. B parties are bound by arbitration agreement covering the dispute ✓
3. C only in family courts ✓
4. D only in tax tribunals ✓

An award beyond the scope of reference is

1. A always valid ✓
2. B a criminal offence only ✓
3. C enforceable without challenge ✓
4. D liable to be set aside ✓

Misconduct of arbitrator includes

1. A delivering award within time ✓
2. B signing award ✓
3. C bias, improper reception of evidence and procedural unfairness ✓
4. D holding hearings ✓

Time for making award may be extended by

1. A court on application if delay not due to arbitrator's fault ✓
2. B plaintiff alone without court ✓
3. C police ✓
4. D passport authority ✓

Death of a party does not automatically terminate arbitration if

1. A any death ends all arbitration always ✓
2. B the arbitration agreement and estate interests permit continuation ✓
3. C only criminal cases continue ✓
4. D only family cases continue ✓

International commercial arbitration in Pakistan is also influenced by

1. A the Recognition and Enforcement (Arbitration Agreements and Foreign Arbitral Awards) Act 2011 ✓
2. B the Penal Code only ✓
3. C the MFLO only ✓
4. D the Forest Act ✓

Under ADR, negotiation is

1. A binding arbitration ✓
2. B court trial ✓
3. C direct party-to-party discussion to resolve dispute without third-party decision ✓
4. D criminal prosecution ✓

CSS law examinations often test arbitration concepts including

1. A only criminal appeals ✓
2. B only land revenue ✓
3. C only Senate rules ✓
4. D agreement in writing, appointment, award and court enforcement ✓

An invalid arbitration agreement renders

1. A award unchallengeable ✓
2. B reference to arbitration and resulting award challengeable ✓
3. C automatic criminal liability ✓
4. D permanent marriage bar ✓

Two pending suits and arbitration for same dispute — court generally

1. A tries both simultaneously always ✓
2. B stays suit if arbitration agreement covers the matter ✓
3. C refers to criminal court ✓
4. D dismisses arbitration always ✓

Cost of arbitration is typically borne

1. A always by government ✓
2. B always by defendant criminally ✓
3. C by the court registry only ✓
4. D as agreed by parties or awarded by arbitrator ✓

Reasoned award means

1. A award states grounds for decision unless parties waive reasons ✓
2. B oral summary only ✓
3. C no record of reasoning always ✓
4. D criminal verdict ✓

Remission of award under Section 33 allows court to

1. A retry as criminal case ✓
2. B grant divorce ✓
3. C remit award to arbitrator for reconsideration on limited grounds ✓
4. D cancel citizenship ✓

Court assistance for recording evidence in arbitration may occur when

1. A parties or arbitrator need court processes for witnesses or documents ✓
2. B never under any circumstance ✓
3. C only in criminal trials ✓
4. D only before marriage ✓

ADR in Pakistan is promoted to

1. A eliminate all courts ✓
2. B abolish contracts ✓
3. C replace the Constitution ✓
4. D reduce court backlog and provide flexible dispute resolution ✓

An arbitral tribunal's jurisdiction is derived from

1. A random court assignment ✓
2. B criminal statute only ✓
3. C the arbitration agreement and referred disputes ✓
4. D family schedule only ✓

Foreign arbitral award enforcement in Pakistan requires

1. A only oral application ✓
2. B compliance with Recognition and Enforcement Act 2011 and New York Convention conditions ✓
3. C police FIR ✓
4. D Union Council permission ✓