President of Pakistan

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President of the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Flag of the President of Pakistan
Incumbent:
Pervez Musharraf
Appointer Electoral College
Term length Five years, renewable once,
consecutively
Inaugural
Formation 1956
Website www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk
Pakistan

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The President of Pakistan (Urdū: صدر مملکت Sadr-e-Mumlikat) is the head of state of Pakistan. Pakistan has a parliamentary form of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College of Pakistan to serve a five-year term. The electoral college comprises the Senate, National Assembly and the provincial assemblies. The president may be re-elected but may not serve for more than two consecutive terms. The president may also be impeached and subsequently removed from office by a two-thirds vote by the Parliament.

The position of president in Pakistan has traditionally been one of a figurehead, with actual powers lying with the Prime Minister. However, at various times in history, often related with military coups and the subsequent return of civilian governments, changes in the Constitution have altered the powers and privileges associated with the office of the president. The current constitution gives the president reserve powers - subject to Supreme Court approval or veto - to dissolve the National Assembly of Pakistan, triggering new elections, and thereby to dismiss the Prime Minister. The president also chairs the National Security Council and appoints the heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

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[edit] History of the Presidency

In 1947, Pakistan became a dominion within the British Commonwealth with the British Monarch as head of state, represented by the Governor-General of Pakistan. In 1956 Pakistan established its first constitution and became a Republic, and the positions of Queen and Governor-General were replaced by the president.

Pakistan's first president was Iskandar Mirza, who was also the last Governor General. In 1958, he abrogated the constitution and declared martial law. A few weeks later, he was overthrown in a bloodless coup d'état by General Ayub Khan, who had declared himself president. The constitution was revised, and the president became the ruler of Pakistan. The constitution also stipulated that the president be elected by the people. Elections were held in 1963, and Khan defeated Fatima Jinnah, sister of founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Ayub Khan continued as president until March 25, 1969, when he passed the presidency to Yahya Khan. Yahya Khan stepped down after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto became the new president and presided over the formation of a new constitution. This constitution was completed in 1973, and reduced the presidency to a figurehead position, giving power to the Prime Minister. Bhutto stepped down as President and became Prime Minister, symbolizing the transition. The president was henceforth elected by legislative assembly members, not by popular vote. Popular vote would be used to directly elect the members of the National Assembly, including the Prime Minister.

In 1978, Prime Minister Bhutto was toppled by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, who declared himself president. The presidency again became the premier position in the Pakistani government. Zia-ul-Haq introduced the Eighth Amendment, which gave reserve powers to the President's office. Following the mysterious death of Zia-ul-Haq in 1988, the PM's office regained leadership of the country. The Presidency retained its reserve powers until 1997, when the Thirteenth Amendment was passed.

However, the 1999 coup of General Pervez Musharraf brought executive powers back to the President's office. National and provincial elections were held in 2002. In December 2003, the Seventeenth Amendment partially restored the President's reserve powers, but made the exercise of those powers subject to Supreme Court approval or veto within 30 days. In January of 2004, the Electoral College of Pakistan gave Musharraf a vote of confidence, as result of which he was, according to the Constitution, "deemed to be elected". Musharraf's term of office as president was set to expire in 2007.

In 2007, just before the expiry of his term he declared a state emergency and de facto martial law on 3rd November 2007 and purged the judiciary of all independent minded judges, in particular 'Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudry' who were against him holding the office of president and army chief together. Earlier in a presidential election, Musharraf was able to secure 57% of votes largely due to his supporters, PML-Q and massive resignations of opposition members from the assemblies, on which a decision was pending by the superior court. After the emergency the newly constituted courts under Provisional Constitutional Order issued by Musharraf as army chief, validated the presidential election and declared Musharraf the winner, who in turn took oath for another five years term as President of Pakistan.

Some constitutional experts still dispute the validity of his election according to the constitution of Pakistan.

[edit] Line of succession to President of Pakistan

Pakistan has a parliamentary system of government that has been modified several times since its inception.

Article 49 of constitution states about acting president. The constitution does not allow for a Vice President, but the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan officiates in the absence of the President and takes over on the President's death or removal from office. And if the Chairman of the Senate is also unavailable because of unavoidable reasons then Speaker of the National Assembly takes over as President.[1] The Electoral College of Pakistan is responsible for electing a new president.

[edit] List of Presidents of Pakistan

      Independent       Republican Party/Pakistan Muslim League (N)       Pakistan Muslim League (Q)       Pakistan Peoples Party       Military


Name Portrait Entered office Left office Date of Birth and Death Political party
1 Iskandar Mirza 23 March 1956 27 October 1958 13 November 1889 – 12 November 1969 Republican Party
2 Muhammad Ayub Khan 27 October 1958 25 March 1969 14 May 1907 – 19 April 1974 Military
3 Yahya Khan 25 March 1969 20 December 1971 4 February 1917 – 10 August 1980 Military
4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto 20 December 1971 13 August 1973 5 January 1928 – 4 April 1979 Pakistan Peoples Party
5 Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry 13 August 1973 16 September 1978 1 January 1904 – 2 June 1982 Pakistan Peoples Party
6 Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq 16 September 1978 17 August 1988 12 August 1924 – 17 August 1988 Military
7 Ghulam Ishaq Khan 17 August 1988 18 July 1993 20 January 1915 – 27 October 2006 Independent
8 Wasim Sajjad 18 July 1993 14 November 1993 30 March 1941 – present Pakistan Muslim League (N)
9 Farooq Leghari 14 November 1993 2 December 1997 29 May 1940 – present Pakistan Peoples Party
10 Wasim Sajjad 2 December 1997 1 January 1998 30 March 1941 – present Pakistan Muslim League (N)
11 Muhammad Rafiq Tarar 1 January 1998 20 June 2001 2 November 1929 – present Pakistan Muslim League (N)
12 Pervez Musharraf 20 June 2001 present 11 August 1943 – present Pakistan Muslim League (Q)

The head of state of Pakistan before 1956 was the British Monarch. For the Governors-General who represented them from 1947 to 1956, see Governor-General of Pakistan.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ See Article 48 of the Constitution.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Presidents of Pakistan
Mirza  | A Khan†  | Y Khan†  | Bhutto  | Chaudhry  | ul-Haq†  | I Khan  | Sajjad  | Leghari  | Sajjad  | Tarar  | Musharraf†
† military ruler
 Flag of the President of Pakistan