List of political parties in Pakistan
There are multiple political parties in Pakistan. Pakistan is a multi-party democracy but has seen various military governments as well. Since no one party has a chance of gaining power alone, parties work with each other to form coalition governments.
Parties active in national and provincial politics
Major parties and coalitions
Major parties in Pakistan are mentioned below in order of the number of elected seats in the parliament.
- The Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, (abbr. PPPP), is an electoral extension of the Pakistan Peoples Party, formed in 2002 by the PPP for the purpose of complying with electoral rules governing Pakistani parties. The Pakistan Peoples Party was founded on November 30, 1967 by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who became its first chairman and later Prime Minister of Pakistan. PPP is the largest political party of Pakistan. This party has been active in Pakistani politics since the separation of the East Wing from the rest of Pakistan. The party gained much popularity and support during the era of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The party won the 1971 elections on a socialist mandate of "Mani, Kapro, Ghar" ("bread, clothes, shelter"). PPP took control of the country after the Indian-supported independent war of Bangladesh (previously known as east Pakistan) in 1971. After the first parliamentary term, PPP secured a landslide victory in the 1977 elections to rule for another five years. PPP was a socialist nationalist party when formed by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, but it moved toward the right under Benazir Bhutto. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto wanted closer ties with China and more attention to the lower classes. Benazir Bhutto adopted conservative privatization policies in order to secure funding from the United States and the World Bank. Although twice elected Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto was criticized for corruption and extrajudicial killings. The PPP currently holds 126 seats in the National Assembly[1] and 27 seats in the Senate.[2] It is the current government of Pakistan. It forms the provincial government in Sindh and is the official opposition in Punjab. In the Angus-Reid pre-election polls of 22 December 2007, it was in first place, with about 30% of the vote. It is strong in the rural areas of Sindh and Punjab.
- Pakistan Muslim League (N) (abbr. PML(N); also PML "Nawaz group") is the second biggest party in Parliament. It is centrist conservative party that has been led from by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Through the help and support of Establishment especially Hameed Gul, it won the election in 1990. It currently holds 90 seats in the National Assembly[1] and 7 seats in the Senate.[2] Although twice elected as Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif was criticized for widespread corruption and extrajudicial killings by opponents specially MQM and other groups, against whom he took action for their crimes against humanity and corruption during his power . Its popularity has been considerably weaken due to support of religious extremist group and poor administration of the Punjab.
- Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (abbr. PML(Q); also PML "Quaid-e-Azam group") is officially called the Pakistan Muslim League. It was supporter of former President Pervez Musharraf. PML (Q) is a centrist conservative party that forms the opposition. It is 3rd biggest party after PPP and PML(N) in parliament and currently holding 53 seats in the National Assembly[1] and 21 seats in the Senate.[2] The PML (Q) born from the dissenters of the PML N, following the arrest and exile of PML leader and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The PML (Q) through the help and rigging by former dictator Pervaiz Musharraf formed Government After 2002 election. It absorbed some minor parties through power-sharing agreements in 2002 general elections, thus making the federal government of Pakistan. In the 2008 general elections the party lost seats dictator support and was no longer in the government. Although deceptionally popular in 2007, lost major vote bank by supporting ex president Musharraf who has been criticized for supporting the US invasion of Afghanistan and suspension of legal rights in the country. In the Angus-Reid pre-election polls of 22-December-2007, the PML (Q) was in third place, with about 23% of the vote. It has some vote bank in rural areas of the two large provinces (Punjab and Sindh).
- Muttahida Qaumi Movement (abbr. MQM) is the third largest political party[3] and the largest liberal political party of Pakistan. It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in province of Sindh. The student organization, All Pakistan Muhajir Student Organization (APMSO), was founded in 1978 by Altaf Hussain which subsequently gave birth to the Muhajir Quami Movement in 1984.[4] The organization maintains liberal, progressive and secular stances on many political and social issues.[5] From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the alleged target of the Pakistan Army's Operation Cleanup leaving hundreds of civilians dead.[6] In 1997, the MQM officially removed the term Muhajir (which denotes the party's roots of Urdu-speaking Muslims) from its name, and replaced it with Muttahida ("United"). The MQM is one of few socially liberal political parties in Pakistan and organized the largest rallies in Pakistan in protest of the actions of al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001 demonstrating sympathy with the victims of the terrorist attacks. Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)is the second largest party in sindh and the traditionally the third largest in the country, however it currently holds fourth highest number of seats in the National Assembly while maintaining its second position in the Sindh Assembly.
- Awami National Party (abbr. ANP) has 13 seats in the National Assembly[1] and 6 Senate seats.[2] The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province government is run by the ANP.
- Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (abbr. MMA) is a coalition of six religious parties consisting of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) (Assembly of Islamic Clergy, Fazl-ur-Rahman Group), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (S) (Assembly of Islamic Clergy, Sami-ul-Haq Group) Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Assembly of Pakistani Clergy), Tehrik-e-Jafaria Pakistan, Jamiat Ahle Hadith and a few more. The religious alliance formed the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2002. It leads the coalition government in Balochistan with PML(Q). This group has broken up with JUI-F, which left to be a part of coalition PPP government and take part in the 2008 general elections.[7] MMA is de-centrist. It is strong in the two small provinces. It is legally ultra-conservative and economically socialist. It strongly opposes US military presence in Pakistan. In the Angus-Reid pre-election polls of 22 December 2007, the MMA was in fifth place, with 4% of the vote. The MMA in the National Assembly is actually JUI-F who decided to use the name MMA at the general election in 2008 after the remaining parties in the MMA decided to not take part in the general election.[8] It currently holds 7 seats in the National Assembly[1] and 4 seats in the Senate.[2] The MMA that contested the 2002 general election has disbanded, according to the head of Jamaat-e-Islaami.[9]
Minor political parties
Defunct parties
Parties in Parliament
The Parliament of Pakistan is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate. National Assembly elections were last held on 18 February 2008.
Senate
National Assembly
See also
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Pakistan portal |
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Government of Pakistan portal |
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