Pakistan » Politics

The first Constitution of Pakistan was adopted in 1956, but was suspended in 1958 by Ayub Khan. The Constitution of 1973, suspended in 1977 by Zia-ul-Haq, was re-instated in 1991 and is the most important document laying the foundations of government in the country. Pakistan is a federal republic with Islam as the state religion. The semi-presidential system includes a bicameral legislature consisting of a 100-member Senate and a 342-member National Assembly. The President is the Head of State and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and is elected by an electoral college. The prime minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the National Assembly.

Gen. Pervez Musharraf dissolved the Parliament following the military takeover of 12 October 1999.

President Musharraf held a referendum on 30 April 2002. The question: 'Do you want to elect President General Pervez Musharraf as President of Pakistan for the next five years for survival of local government system; restoration of democracy; continuity and stability of reforms; eradication of extremism and sectarianism and for the accomplishment of Quaid-i-Azam's concept'. Official figures reported a 71% turn-out and 98% 'yes' vote.

President Musharraf declared in December 2004 that he would retain his post as head of the army, a reversal of an earlier promise.

In March 2007, President Musharraf suspended Chief Justice Iftakhar Mohammed Chaudhry, accusing him of abuse of power and nepotism.

On Oct. 6, 2007, Musharraf was easily re elected to a third term by the country's national and provincial assemblies. The opposition boycotted the vote, however, and only representatives from the governing party participated in the election. In addition, the Supreme Court said the results will not be formalized until it rules if Musharraf was constitutionally eligible to run for president while still head of the military.

Musharraf stepped down as military chief on November 28, 2007, the day before being sworn in as a civilian president. Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the former head of Pakistan's intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, took over as army chief. Since he no longer controls the military, Musharraf's power over Pakistan has been significantly diminished.

In the parliamentary elections in February 2008, Musharraf's party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, which has been in power for five years, suffered a stunning defeat, losing most of its seats. The opposition Pakistan People's Party, which was led by Bhutto until her assassination and is now headed by her widow, Asif Ali Zardari, won 80 of the 242 contested seats. The Pakistan Muslim League-N, led by Sharif, took 66 seats. Musharraf party's won just 40.

The Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-N said they will form a coalition government and exclude Musharraf and members of his government. The parties also agreed that once the new Parliament is seated, they will reinstate the Supreme Court justices Musharraf ousted in late 2007 and pass legislation voiding the law that Musharraf passed legalizing the firings. The Supreme Court, once reinstated, could reverse the ruling that legitimized Musharraf's controversial reelection as president when he was still the military chief.

According to the current status of the Election 2008 held in February, Dr. Fehmida Mirza has been elected first ever woman speaker of National Assembly and Faisal Karim Kundi has been elected as the Deputy Speaker on 19 th March 2008.

Makhdoom Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani swore as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan on March 25, 2008.

The performance of the governance in all areas was safeguarded by the President of Pakistan for the duration of his tenure; particularly the economy, empowerment of people, achievements and accomplishments in health, education and social sectors, besides the war on terror.

The Parliament has thirty days to elect a new replacement for the preceding President Musharraf. Until then, the presidency will fall to the chairman of Pakistan's Senate, Mohammed Mian Soomro. Soomro along being a constituent of Musharraf's Pakistan Muslim League-Q party was also the governor of the province of Sindh from 2000 to 2002 and was elected in 2003 to the Senate.

On 6th September 2008 Asif Ali Zardari, the widow man of past Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, has succeeded a winning triumph in Pakistan's presidential election.  The election was called after the abdication of Pervez Musharraf from the President office on 18th August 2008.  

Mr Zardari succeeded 481 votes out of 702 votes. The lead was far more than the 352 votes. 481 votes have assured him success, leaving his two competitors lagging far behind.

In Sindh province, Mr Zardari succeeded entirely 65 votes. In (NWFP) he obtained 56 out of 65 votes. In Balochistan he succeeded 59 of the 65 votes. Mr Asif Ali Zardari gained only 22 out of 65 votes in Punjab province.

On 16 March 2009, Prime Minister of Pakistan; Mr.Yousaf Raza Gilani delivered a televised speech and announced that previously sacked chief justice of Pakistan Mr. Iftikhar Choudhry would resume his designation on the 21 of March 2009.