List of political parties in Pakistan
Encyclopedia
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 government
s.
and the Senate
. National Assembly elections were last held on 18 February 2008.
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 multi-party
Multi-party system
A multi-party system is a system in which multiple political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition, e.g.The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in the United Kingdom formed in 2010. The effective number of parties in a multi-party system is normally...
democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
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 government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
s.
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 ParliamentariansPakistan Peoples Party ParliamentariansThe Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians is a party created by Ameen Faheem. The party is an electoral extension of the Pakistan Peoples Party....
, (abbr. PPPP), is an electoral extension of the Pakistan Peoples PartyPakistan Peoples PartyThe 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...
, 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 BhuttoZulfikar Ali BhuttoZulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
, who became its first chairman and later Prime Minister of PakistanPrime 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...
. PPP is the largest political party of PakistanPakistanPakistan , 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...
. 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 and 27 seats in the Senate. 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)Pakistan Muslim League (N)The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism...
(abbr. PML(N); also PML "NawazNawaz SharifMian 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...
group") is the second biggest party in Parliament. It is centrist conservative party that has been led from by former prime minister Nawaz SharifNawaz SharifMian 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...
. 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 and 7 seats in the Senate. 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 PunjabPunjab (Pakistan)Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
. - 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....
(abbr. PML(Q); also PML "Quaid-e-AzamMuhammad Ali JinnahMuhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
group") is officially called the Pakistan Muslim League. It was supporter of former President Pervez MusharrafPervez MusharrafPervez 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...
. 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 and 21 seats in the Senate. 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 MovementMuttahida Qaumi MovementMuttahida Qaumi Movement generally known as MQM, is a liberal-secular political party of Pakistan. It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in province of Sindh...
(abbr. MQM) is the third largest political party 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. The organization maintains liberal, progressive and secular stances on many political and social issues. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the alleged target of the Pakistan Army's Operation Cleanup leaving hundreds of civilians dead. 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 PartyAwami National PartyThe Awami National Party is an Pashtun nationalist, socialist, centre-left political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International...
(abbr. ANP) has 13 seats in the National Assembly and 6 Senate seats. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province government is run by the ANP. - Muttahida Majlis-e-AmalMuttahida Majlis-e-AmalMuttahida Majlis-e-Amal is a coalition of Islamist parties that was formed in 2002 to electorally challenge the Pakistan Parliament's incumbent parties...
(abbr. MMA) is a coalition of six religious parties consisting of the Jamaat-e-IslamiJamaat-e-IslamiThis article is about Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. For other organizations of similar name see Jamaat-e-Islami The Jamaat-e-Islami , is a Pro-Muslim political party in Pakistan...
(JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-IslamJamiat Ulema-e-IslamThe Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam is a political party in Pakistan. It formed a combined government in national elections in 2002 and 2008...
(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-PakistanJamiat Ulema-e-PakistanThe Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan is a political party in Pakistan. It is part of the Islamic Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, that won at the last legislative elections, 20 October 2002, 11.3 of the popular vote and 53 out of 272 elected members.This party belongs to the Sunni current, which in...
(Assembly of Pakistani Clergy), Tehrik-e-Jafaria Pakistan, Jamiat Ahle HadithJamiat Ahle HadithJamiat Ahle Hadith is a religio-political party in Pakistan promoting the Ahle Hadees religious movement. It is part of the Islamic fundamentalist Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, that won at the last legislative elections, 20 October 2002 with 11.3 percent of the popular vote...
and a few more. The religious alliance formed the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2002. It leads the coalition government in BalochistanBalochistanBalochistan or Baluchistan is a region which covers parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. It can also refer to one of several modern and historical territories within that region:...
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. 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. It currently holds 7 seats in the National Assembly and 4 seats in the Senate. The MMA that contested the 2002 general election has disbanded, according to the head of Jamaat-e-Islaami.
Minor political parties
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Pakistan Awami Tehrik The Pakistan Awami Tehrik is a political party in Pakistan.The founder and chairman of the party is Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. In 1990, Pakistan Awami Tehrik participated in the national elections just one year after it was founded... Pakistan Christian Congress The akistan Christian Congress is a Christian political party in Pakistan founded in 1985. The party aims to safeguard and advocate the social, religious and political rights of Christians in Pakistan.... (PCC) Pakistan Democratic Party The Pakistan Democratic Party is a political party in Pakistan.At the last legislative elections, 20 October 2002, the party won 0.3% of the popular vote and 1 out of 272 elected members.... Meo Mayo or Meo or Mewati is a prominent Muslim Rajput tribe from North-Western India. A considerable number of Meos migrated to Pakistan after independence in 1947 and now they are estimated to be over 12 million. In Pakistan, Meos have lost their distinct group identity and cultural traditions and... Ittehad Pakistan Muslim League (F) The Pakistan Muslim League is a political party in Pakistan. It is one of the factions of the original Pakistan Muslim League. The letter 'F' in its name stands for functional. It is primarily associated with the Sindhi religious leader Pir Pagara... Pakistan Muslim League (Jinnah) The Pakistan Muslim League was a political party in Pakistan. It was one of the factions of the original Pakistan Muslim League, named after the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah.... Pakistan Muslim League (J) The Pakistan Muslim League was a political party in Pakistan established in 1993. It merged with PML-Q in 2004.It is one of the factions of the original Pakistan Muslim League, named "J" after Junejo... Pakistan Muslim League (Z) Pakistan Muslim League Pakistan Muslim League (Zia-ul-Haq Shaheed) Pakistan Muslim League (Zia-ul-Haq Shaheed) (Urdu: (پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ض) is a right-wing political party in Pakistan formed in 2002. It is one of the factions of the original Pakistan Muslim League, named after General Muhammad... Pakistan Social Democratic Party The Pakistan Social Democratic Party is a political party in Pakistan. In 2002, with a wristwatch as the party's symbol on the ballot, it fielded 1 candidate in the National Assembly elections and the regional assembly elections, but won no seats... Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is "Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem".-Founding:... |
Republican Party (Pakistan) The Pakistani Republican Party was formed in October 1955, by a break away faction of the Muslim League and other politicians supporting the creation of the West Pakistan province, on the instigation of key leaders in the military and civil service.... Sindh Democratic Alliance The Sindh Democratic Alliance was a regional political party in Pakistan. The party was created by the bureaucrat-turned-politician Imtiaz Shaikh in mid-2001. He was formerly a right-hand man of Jam Sadiq Ali, who was the Chief Minister of Sindh from 1990 to until he was murdered in 1992. At the... Sindh National Front Sindh National Front is a political party in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is currently led by Mumtaz Bhutto, the cousin of Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan, who was hanged by the regime of Zia-ul-Haq.... Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party formally called Jeay Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party, is a political party in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Dr. Qadir Magsi is the chairman of Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party.- External links :*... Sunni Tehreek Sunni Tehreek is a political Islamic organization founded in Pakistan in 1990 to promote the interests of Barelvi Sunni Muslims in conflicts against competing Deobandi and Wahhabi sects.-History:... Tehrik-e-Istiqlal Tehrik-e-Istiqlal Pakistan is a political party in Pakistan. It was formed by Air Marshal Retd. Asghar Khan in 1970. Asghar Khan has retired from the post of President of the party and is currently headed by [Asaf Fasifuddin Vardag], former Member of the senate.In 1979 Tehrik-e-Istiqlal Pakistan... |
Defunct parties
- Muslim League (Pakistan)Muslim League (Pakistan)Muslim League was the original successor of All India Muslim League that led the Pakistan Movement achieving an independent nation. After formation of Pakistan, the party was renamed to Muslim League which came to an end soon after Qaid-e-Azam's death on the first marshal law in 1958.-History:On...
- Convention Muslim LeagueConvention Muslim LeagueThe Convention Muslim League was a faction of the Pakistan Muslim League that split-off in 1962 in support of the military regime of the President of Pakistan Gen. Ayub Khan....
- Council Muslim LeagueCouncil Muslim LeagueThe Council Muslim League was a faction of the Pakistan Muslim League that divided from the Convention Muslim League that was supportive of the military regime of the President of Pakistan Gen. Ayub Khan. Mian Mumtaz Daultana, Chaudhry Muhammad Husain Chattha, Khawaja Muhammad Safdar and Chaudhry...
- Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-IslamMajlis-e-Ahrar-ul-IslamMajlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam or Majlis-e-Ah'rãr-e-Islam , also known in short as Ahrar, was a conservative Sunni Muslim political party in Pakistan prior to the Partition of India...
- Mazdoor Kisan Party
Parties in Parliament
The Parliament of Pakistan is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly of PakistanNational 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 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...
. National Assembly elections were last held on 18 February 2008.
Senate
| Party | Seats |
|---|---|
| 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... |
27 |
| 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.... |
21 |
| Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam is a political party in Pakistan. It formed a combined government in national elections in 2002 and 2008... |
10 |
| Pakistan Muslim League (N) Pakistan Muslim League (N) The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism... |
7 |
| Muttahida Qaumi Movement Muttahida Qaumi Movement Muttahida Qaumi Movement generally known as MQM, is a liberal-secular political party of Pakistan. It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in province of Sindh... |
6 |
| 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... |
6 |
| FATA Federally Administered Tribal Areas The Federally Administered Tribal Areas are a semi-autonomous tribal region in the northwest of Pakistan, lying between the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and the neighboring country of Afghanistan. The FATA comprise seven Agencies and six FRs... |
8 |
| Independent candidates | 4 |
| Jamaat-e-Islami Jamaat-e-Islami This article is about Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. For other organizations of similar name see Jamaat-e-Islami The Jamaat-e-Islami , is a Pro-Muslim political party in Pakistan... |
3 |
| Balochistan National Party (Awami) Balochistan National Party The Balochistan National Party or Balochistan National Party is a political party in Balochistan, Pakistan... |
2 |
| National Party National Party (Pakistan) National Party is a democratic, centre-left Baloch nationalist political party. It is one of the largest Baloch nationalist parties active in the province of Balochistan, Pakistan along with Balochistan National Party... |
2 |
| Pakistan Muslim League (F) Pakistan Muslim League (F) The Pakistan Muslim League is a political party in Pakistan. It is one of the factions of the original Pakistan Muslim League. The letter 'F' in its name stands for functional. It is primarily associated with the Sindhi religious leader Pir Pagara... |
1 |
| Jamhoori Wattan Party | 1 |
| Pakistan Peoples Party (Sherpao) | 1 |
| Pakhtun-khwa Milli Awami Party Pakhtun-khwa Milli Awami Party Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party / ) is a Pashtun democratic political party in Pakistan. The moto of PkMAP is to unite Pushtuns of Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa provinces of Pakistan.Mahmood Khan Achakzai is the current party chairman... |
1 |
| Total | 100 |
National Assembly
| Party | Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 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.... |
120 | Ruling party by simple majority |
| Pakistan Muslim League (N) Pakistan Muslim League (N) The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism... |
90 | Opposition |
| 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.... |
51 | part of coalition government |
| Muttahida Qaumi Movement Muttahida Qaumi Movement Muttahida Qaumi Movement generally known as MQM, is a liberal-secular political party of Pakistan. It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in province of Sindh... |
25 | Part of coalition government |
| 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... |
13 | Part of coalition government |
| Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal is a coalition of Islamist parties that was formed in 2002 to electorally challenge the Pakistan Parliament's incumbent parties... |
6 | Opposition |
| Pakistan Muslim League (F) Pakistan Muslim League (F) The Pakistan Muslim League is a political party in Pakistan. It is one of the factions of the original Pakistan Muslim League. The letter 'F' in its name stands for functional. It is primarily associated with the Sindhi religious leader Pir Pagara... |
5 | |
| Pakistan Peoples Party (Sherpao) | 1 | |
| Balochistan National Party (Awami) | 1 | |
| Independent candidates | 19 |
See also
- Politics of PakistanPolitics of PakistanPolitics of Pakistan have taken place in the framework of a federal republic, where the system of government has at times been parliamentary, presidential, or semi-presidential. In the current parliamentary system, the President of Pakistan is the largely ceremonial head of state, the Prime...
- List of political parties by country