Government of Pakistan
Encyclopedia
The Government of Pakistan
is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected
President
as the Head of State
and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister
as the Head of Government
. The President’s appointment and term are constitutionally independent of the Prime Minister’s term. On September 6, 2008, the Electoral College
(composed of the Senate
, the National Assembly
, and the four Provincial Assemblies) chose Asif Ali Zardari
as the eleventh President of Pakistan for a five-year term. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the National Assembly and is assisted by a cabinet of ministers drawn from both chambers of the federal legislature. The current Prime Minister is Yousaf Raza Gillani
of the Pakistan Peoples Party
, who took office on March 25, 2008.
On November 3, 2007, President Musharraf suspended Pakistan's constitution by declaring a state of emergency
.
In the general elections held in February 2008
, the party of slain leader Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians
(PPPP) won 123 seats in the National Assembly while the Pakistan Muslim League (N)
of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif won 91 seats in the National Assembly. President Musharaf's ally party Pakistan Muslim League (Q)
(PML-Q) came third with 54 seats. After the elections the People's Party Parliamentarian and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz announced a coalition to form the new government along with the Awami National Party
(ANP). Pakistan's new parliament elected the country's first female speaker March 19, 2008 from the Pakistan Peoples Party
: Fahmida Mirza
. Allies of President Pervez Musharraf
withdrew their candidate for Pakistan's prime minister, Farooq Sattar
, and the coalition chose Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani
as the Prime Minister of Pakistan
, who was sworn in March 25, 2008 by President Pervez Musharraf.
On August 7, 2008, the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) agreed to force Musharraf to step down and begin his impeachment
. Asif Ali Zardari
, Rehman Malik
, Altaf Hussain
and Nawaz Sharif
announced sending a formal request or joint charge sheet that he steps down, and impeach him through parliamentary process upon refusal. Musharaf, however, said: “I will defeat those who try to push me to the wall. If they use their right to oust me, I have the right to defend myself." Musharraf accordingly delayed his departure for the Beijing Olympics by a day. A senior coalition official told Reuters
: "Yes, we have agreed in principle to impeach him." The draft of the ruling coalition’s joint statement had been finalized by the draft Committee, and Musharraf must obtain vote of confidence from the National Assembly and 4 provincial assemblies. The government summoned the national assembly, or lower house of parliament, to sit on August 11. Capt. Wasif Syed, spokesman for the Pakistan People's Party -- confirmed: "A decision has been made that he has to go now, and all the parties have agreed on this point."
Legislative
Judicial
Former
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected
Indirect election
Indirect election is a process in which voters in an election don't actually choose between candidates for an office but rather elect persons who will then make the choice. It is one of the oldest form of elections and is still used today for many upper houses and presidents...
President
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
as the Head of State
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
as the Head of Government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
. The President’s appointment and term are constitutionally independent of the Prime Minister’s term. On September 6, 2008, the Electoral College
Electoral College of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is chosen by an electoral college, in Pakistan. According to article 41 of the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan, this electoral college consists of the Senate, the National Assembly of Pakistan, and the Members of the Provincial Assemblies. Members of the National Assembly...
(composed of the Senate
Senate of Pakistan
The Senate of Pakistan is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Pakistan. Elections are held every three years for one half of the senate and each senator has a term of six years...
, the National Assembly
National Assembly of Pakistan
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
, and the four Provincial Assemblies) chose Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari is the 11th and current President of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party . He is also the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister....
as the eleventh President of Pakistan for a five-year term. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the National Assembly and is assisted by a cabinet of ministers drawn from both chambers of the federal legislature. The current Prime Minister is Yousaf Raza Gillani
Yousaf Raza Gillani
Yousuf Raza Gilani is the current prime minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He was nominated as Prime Minister by the PPP, with the support of its coalition partners, Pakistan Muslim League , Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on 22 March 2008...
of the Pakistan Peoples Party
Pakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
, who took office on March 25, 2008.
Recent history
The National Assembly elections that were held in October 2002 had 91 women elected to its Parliament - the largest number and percentage of women in the parliament of any Muslim-majority country.On November 3, 2007, President Musharraf suspended Pakistan's constitution by declaring a state of emergency
2007 Pakistani state of emergency
A state of emergency was declared by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on November 3, 2007, and lasted until December 15, 2007,during which time the constitution of Pakistan was suspended....
.
In the general elections held in February 2008
Pakistani general election, 2008
A general election was held in Pakistan on 18 February 2008, after being postponed from 8 January 2008. The original date was intended to elect members of the National Assembly of Pakistan, the lower house of the Majlis-e-Shoora...
, the party of slain leader Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians
Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians
The Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians is a party created by Ameen Faheem. The party is an electoral extension of the Pakistan Peoples Party....
(PPPP) won 123 seats in the National Assembly while the Pakistan Muslim League (N)
Pakistan Muslim League (N)
The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism...
of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif won 91 seats in the National Assembly. President Musharaf's ally party Pakistan Muslim League (Q)
Pakistan Muslim League (Q)
The Pakistan Muslim League or officially Pakistan Muslim League is a centrist, modern political party in Pakistan. The present form of PML-Q was formed prior to 2002 general elections....
(PML-Q) came third with 54 seats. After the elections the People's Party Parliamentarian and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz announced a coalition to form the new government along with the Awami National Party
Awami National Party
The Awami National Party is an Pashtun nationalist, socialist, centre-left political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International...
(ANP). Pakistan's new parliament elected the country's first female speaker March 19, 2008 from the Pakistan Peoples Party
Pakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
: Fahmida Mirza
Fahmida Mirza
Dr. Fahmida Mirza , sometimes also spelled as Fehmida Mirza , is a medical doctor, agriculturist and businesswoman from Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan who was elected as the first female Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan on March 19, 2008...
. Allies of President Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf , is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and tenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled...
withdrew their candidate for Pakistan's prime minister, Farooq Sattar
Farooq Sattar
Farooq Sattar Pirwani is a politician from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Farooq Sattar is Deputy Convener and Parliamentary leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement , a political party in Pakistan. He has also served as Provincial Minister in the Sindh Cabinet for Local Bodies and is one of the senior...
, and the coalition chose Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani
Yousaf Raza Gillani
Yousuf Raza Gilani is the current prime minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He was nominated as Prime Minister by the PPP, with the support of its coalition partners, Pakistan Muslim League , Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on 22 March 2008...
as the Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
, who was sworn in March 25, 2008 by President Pervez Musharraf.
On August 7, 2008, the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) agreed to force Musharraf to step down and begin his impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
. Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari is the 11th and current President of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party . He is also the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister....
, Rehman Malik
Rehman Malik
27 April 2009 He has been the interior adviser since 27 March 2008.Senator A. Rehman Malik is a Pakistani politician, member of the Senate of Pakistan, and the current Interior Minister of Pakistan under the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani administration. His Second name is Shetan Malik and he...
, Altaf Hussain
Altaf Hussain
Altaf Hussain is the founder and leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement . The MQM emerged as the third largest political party in the national assembly of Pakistan during 1988 and 1990 elections. The MQM secured representation in the parliamentary elections held in the northern areas of Pakistan...
and Nawaz Sharif
Nawaz Sharif
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani conservative politician and steel magnate who served as 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 to October 12, 1999...
announced sending a formal request or joint charge sheet that he steps down, and impeach him through parliamentary process upon refusal. Musharaf, however, said: “I will defeat those who try to push me to the wall. If they use their right to oust me, I have the right to defend myself." Musharraf accordingly delayed his departure for the Beijing Olympics by a day. A senior coalition official told Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
: "Yes, we have agreed in principle to impeach him." The draft of the ruling coalition’s joint statement had been finalized by the draft Committee, and Musharraf must obtain vote of confidence from the National Assembly and 4 provincial assemblies. The government summoned the national assembly, or lower house of parliament, to sit on August 11. Capt. Wasif Syed, spokesman for the Pakistan People's Party -- confirmed: "A decision has been made that he has to go now, and all the parties have agreed on this point."
Federal branches
Executive- PresidentPresident of PakistanThe President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
- Prime MinisterPrime Minister of PakistanThe Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
- National Security CouncilNational Security Council of PakistanThe Prime minister Secretariat National Security Council is a consultative body that is chaired by the President of Pakistan and Prime minister of Pakistan. It is a principal forum that is mandated for considering national security and foreign policy matters with the senior national security...
Legislative
- Parliament
- SenateSenate of PakistanThe Senate of Pakistan is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Pakistan. Elections are held every three years for one half of the senate and each senator has a term of six years...
- National AssemblyNational Assembly of PakistanThe National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also compromises the President of Pakistan and Senate . The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad...
-
- Leader of the Opposition
-
- Senate
- Federal Government MinistriesFederal Government Ministries of PakistanThe Ministries of the Federal Government of Pakistan assist the cabinet Prime Minister in managing the government of Pakistan. The current Federal Ministries and their departments are:...
- Federal MinistersCabinet of PakistanThe Cabinet of Pakistan is headed by Prime Minister and plays an important role in the Government of Pakistan, in accordance with the Westminster System....
- Federal Ministers
Judicial
- JudiciaryCourt system of PakistanCourt system of Pakistan is made up of many courts differing in levels of legal superiority and separated by jurisdiction. Some of the courts are federal in nature while others are provincial.-Structure of courts in Pakistan:...
- Attorney General
- Attorney chief
- Federal Shariat Court of PakistanFederal Shariat Court of PakistanThe Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan is a court which has the power to examine and determine whether the laws of the country comply with Shari'a law...
Provincial governments
- BalochistanGovernment of BalochistanGovernment of Balochistan is based in the largest province of Pakistan in Quetta. The head of the province is the Governor, who is nominated by the President of Pakistan...
- Islamabad Capital TerritoryIslamabad Capital TerritoryThe Islamabad Capital Territory is one of the two federal territories of Pakistan. It includes Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, and covers an area of 1,165.5 km² of which 906 km² is Islamabad proper...
- Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
- Punjab
- SindhGovernment of SindhGovernment of Sindh is based in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. سندھ is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and is home to the Sindhis, Muhajirs, Pashtuns and a whole array of other ethnic and linguistic groups. Neighbouring regions are Balochistan to the west and north, Punjab in the north and...
- Kashmir
- Gilgit-Baltistan
Local governments
- DistrictsDistricts of PakistanThe Districts of Pakistan are the second order administrative divisions of Pakistan. Districts were the third order of administrative divisions, below provinces and "divisions", until the reforms of August 2000, when "divisions" were abolished...
- TehsilTehsilA Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
s - Union CouncilsUnion Councils of PakistanA sherwan or village council in Pakistan is an elected local government body consisting of 21 councillors, and headed by a nazim and a naib nazim...
Former
- DivisionsDivisions of PakistanDivisions are the third tier of government in Pakistan, between the provinces and districts. They were abolished in 2000 by the government of former president Pervez Musharraf to make way for local governance via district governments...
(abolished in August 2000)
Kashmir governments
- Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
- Northern Areas Government
Ministries and divisions
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Departments
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See also
- Ministry of Finance of the Government of PakistanMinistry of Finance of the Government of PakistanThe Ministry of Finance, also known as Finance Ministry, is a Cabinet-level department of Government of Pakistan concerned with the promoting economic growth and economic activities within the country. The Ministry's executive and political figure head is known as Finance Minister of Pakistan, who...
- Statistics Division of the Government of PakistanStatistics Division of the Government of PakistanThe Statistics Division of the Government of Pakistan, also known as Statistics Division, is a Government of Pakistan's executive and federal department, which is mandate to frames policies for development of statistical services in the country...
- Federal Bureau of Statistics of the Government of Pakistan
- Pakistan Institute of International AffairsPakistan Institute of International AffairsThe Pakistan Institute of International Affairs is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Karachi whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs.-History:PIIA was founded in 1947 in Karachi in affiliation with the Royal...
- Gazette of PakistanGazette of PakistanGazette of Pakistan is the official newspaper of the Government of Pakistan. The Gazette provides information about government acts, ordinances, regulations, orders, S.R.Os, notifications, appointments, promotions, leaves, and awards.-External links:*...
- Economic Coordination CommitteeEconomic Coordination CommitteeEconomic Coordination Committee is a cabinet level committee responsible for final decisions relating to economy in Pakistan. It was established in 1965 under the chairmanship of the Central Finance Minister, with almost weekly meetings of its members, who are ministers in charge of economic...
- Types of Government Servants in PakistanTypes of Government Servants in PakistanServants to the Government of Pakistan, it refers to all those serving officials either civil or military, who perform their duties while subordinate to their outfits in Federal/Provincial/District Government. Recruitment in services is carried out irrespective of the gender, ethnic, racial,...
External links
- Web gateway official Pakistan government portal
- The Government of Pakistan
- The President of Pakistan
- Senate of Pakistan
- National Assembly of Pakistan
- Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan
- Supreme Court of Pakistan