President of Pakistan

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Incumbent: Pervez Musharraf
President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Flag of the President of Pakistan


Appointer	Electoral College
Term length	Five years, renewable once, consecutively
Inaugural
Formation	1956
Website	www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk

Pakistan
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Pakistan

Constitution State President Pervez Musharraf Federal government Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani Federal Cabinet Legislative Majlis-e-Shoora - Parliament Senate Chairman of the Senate National Assembly Speaker Deputy Speaker Judiciary Supreme Judicial Council Supreme Court Chief Justice Federal Shariat Court Chief Justices Islamabad High Court Provincial High Courts District Courts
Political Parties Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan Muslim League (N) Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Pakistan Peoples Party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Minor Parties
Subdivisions Provincial Governors Balochistan N.W.F.P Punjab Sindh Capital Territory Tribal Areas Azad Kashmir Northern Areas
Local Government Districts Cities Union Councils
Issues global relations
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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.

1 History of the Presidency
2 Line of succession to President of Pakistan
3 List of Presidents of Pakistan
4 See also
5 Notes
6 External links

[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 is set to expire in 2007.

In 2007, just before the expiry of his term he declared de facto 'Martial Law' under the garb of 'Emergency' 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		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.