The political framework of Pakistan

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Asif Ali ZARDARI (since 10 March 2024)
Prime Minister: Shahbaz SHARIF (since 3 March 2024)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: 2029
Senate: March 2027
National Assembly: February 2029

Main Political Parties

Pakistan has a multi-party system in which no party has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties work with each other to form coalition governments to direct the National Assembly. Political alliances in Pakistan shift very frequently. Some of the major political parties in the country are:

- Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz PML-N): centre-right, conservative liberal
- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI): centre-left-, Islamic democracy, main opposition party
- Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM): self-proclaimed liberal
- Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP): a mainstream political party derived out of the Pakistan People's Party
- Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC): right-wing, a political alliance of Islamic political and Barelvi religious parties
- Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA): big-tent, regional political coalition of seven Sindh-based political parties
- Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F): far-right
- Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP): spit from PTI
- Pakistan Muslim League (PMLQ): centre-right
- Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC): right-wing political alliance of Islamic political and Barelvi religious parties
- Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA): far-right
- Jamaat-e Islami Pakistan (JI): far-right
- Awami National Party (ANP): democratic socialism
- Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP)
- Awami Workers Party (AWP): left-wing
- Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP): far right.

Executive Power

The President is the chief of state and is elected by an Electoral College composed of the members of the Senate, the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies, for a five-year term. The President is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The President is supposed to have a largely ceremonial role; however, Presidents with an army background have played an influential role in mainstream politics throughout Pakistan's history. The Prime Minister is elected by the lower house of the parliament through a vote for a five-year term. The Prime Minister is the head of the government and enjoys the executive powers which include implementation of the law and running the day-to-day affairs of the country. The council of ministers (cabinet) is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Legislative Power

Pakistan has a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate (upper house) and the National Assembly (lower house). The Senate has 100 seats, with members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies and other electoral colleges to serve six-year terms, with elections held every three years for half of the seats. The National Assembly consists of 342 seats, of which 272 members are directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, while the remaining 70 seats—60 reserved for women and 10 for non-Muslims—are allocated through proportional representation among parties securing more than 5% of the vote.

The President can be impeached and removed from office by a two-thirds majority vote in a joint session of both Houses of Parliament. While the President has the authority to dissolve the National Assembly, this power is exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister. The President does not have the power to unilaterally dismiss the Prime Minister, who can only be removed through a vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly. The Prime Minister, as head of government, cannot independently dissolve Parliament but can recommend its dissolution to the President.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

145/180

Evolution:

145/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Partly Free

Political Freedom:

5/7

Civil Liberties:

22/60

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House