Government and Politics of Pakistan

Government Type

federal republic

Administrative Divisions

4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh

Legal System

based on English common law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Pakistan dual citizenship recognized: yes, but limited to select countries residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 7 years and including the 12 months preceding application

Executive Branch

note: Pakistan has undergone significant political transitions since the era of military rule under General Pervez Musharraf. Following years of democratic consolidation, the country has experienced continued political turbulence, including the ouster of Prime Minister Imran Khan via a parliamentary vote of no confidence in April 2022, and his subsequent arrest and imprisonment in 2023. General elections held in February 2024 resulted in a coalition government, with Shehbaz Sharif elected as Prime Minister for a second time. Asif Ali Zardari was elected President in March 2024, returning to the office he previously held from 2008 to 2013. chief of state: President Asif Ali ZARDARI (since 9 March 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Shehbaz SHARIF (since 4 March 2024) cabinet: Federal Cabinet appointed by the president upon the advice of the prime minister elections: the president is elected by an Electoral College consisting of members of the Senate, National Assembly, and provincial assemblies for a five-year term; the prime minister is selected by a majority vote of the National Assembly for a five-year term; general elections were last held on 8 February 2024 election results: Asif Ali ZARDARI elected president on 9 March 2024, receiving a majority of Electoral College votes; Shehbaz SHARIF elected prime minister on 4 March 2024 with 201 votes in the National Assembly, heading a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led coalition government

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (100 seats; members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies and the National Assembly to serve six-year terms, with half the members retiring every three years) and the National Assembly (336 seats; 60 seats reserved for women; 10 seats reserved for non-Muslim minorities; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms). Elections: Senate - last held in March 2024; National Assembly - last held on 8 February 2024. Election results: Senate results - seats by party following the 2024 elections include Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-affiliated independents, and various regional parties including Balochistan National Party and Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, among others. National Assembly results - the February 2024 general elections saw seats distributed among PTI-backed independents emerging as the largest bloc, followed by PML-N and PPPP; a coalition government was subsequently formed under PML-N leadership, with Shehbaz Sharif elected Prime Minister. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) oversaw the polling across all four provinces and federally administered territories.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal Islamic or Shari'a Court

Political Parties

Awami National Party or ANP [Wali KHAN]; Balochistan National Movement/Hayee Group or BNM/H [Dr. Hayee BALUCH]; Baluch National Party/Awami or BNP/Awami [Moheem Khan BALOCH]; Baluch National Party-Mengal or BNP/M [Sardar Ataullah MENGAL]; Jamhoori Watan Party or JWP [Akbar Khan BUGTI]; Jamiat-al-Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR]; Jamiat-i-Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F [Fazlur REHMAN]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami ul-HAQ faction or JUI/S [Sami ul-HAQ]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan or JUP [Shah Faridul HAQ]; Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan or MMA [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf faction or MQM/A [Altaf HUSSAIN]; Muttahida Quami Movement, Haqiqi faction or MQM/H [Afaq AHMAD]; National People's Party or NPP [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI]; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PkMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI]; Pakhtun Quami Party or PQP [Mohammed Afzal KHAN]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group or PML/F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan Muslim League or PML [Chaudhry Shujaat HUSSAIN]; note - as of May 2004, the PML/Q changed its name to PML and absorbed the PML/J, PML/Z, and NA; Pakistan National Party or PNP [Hasil BIZENJO]; Pakistan People's Party or PPP [Aftab Ahmed Khan SHERPAO]; Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians or PPPP [Benazir BHUTTO]; Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]; Tehrik-i-Islami [Allama Sajid NAQVI] note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently

Head of State

President Asif Ali ZARDARI

Head of Government

Prime Minister Shehbaz SHARIF

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president upon the advice of the prime minister

Elections

Senate - last held in March 2024; National Assembly - last held on 8 February 2024.

Election Results

Senate results - seats by party following the 2024 elections include Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-affiliated independents, and various regional parties including Balochistan National Party and Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, among others. National Assembly results - the February 2024 general elections saw seats distributed among PTI-backed independents emerging as the largest bloc, followed by PML-N and PPPP; a coalition government was subsequently formed under PML-N leadership, with Shehbaz Sharif elected Prime Minister. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) oversaw the polling across all four provinces and federally administered territories.

Constitution

10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999, restored 31 December 2002

Independence

14 August 1947 (from UK)

National Holiday

Republic Day, 23 March (1956)

International Organization Participation

AsDB, C (suspended), CP, ECO, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Jehangir KARAMAT chancery: 3517 International Court, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 243-6500 FAX: [1] (202) 686-1534 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York, Sunnyvale (California) consulate(s): Chicago, Houston

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan CROCKER embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200 telephone: [92] (51) 2080-0000 FAX: [92] (51) 2276427 consulate(s): Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar

Capital City

Islamabad

Location

33 41 N, 73 03 E

Time Difference

UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

derived from two words: Islam, an Urdu word referring to the religion of Islam, and -abad, a Persian suffix indicating an "inhabited place" or "city," to render the meaning "City of Islam"

U.S. Embassy in Islamabad The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad is located at Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5. Telephone: (92-51) 208-0000 Consular Section telephone: (92-51) 208-2700 Fax: (92-51) 282-2632 Emergency Contact Information: (92-51) 208-0000 U.S. Consulate General in Karachi The U.S. Consulate General in Karachi is located at Plot 3-5 New TPX Area, Mai Kolachi Road. U.S. citizens requiring emergency assistance should call the Consular Section in Karachi. Telephone: (92-21) 3527-5000 Fax: (92-21) 3561-2420 Emergency Contact Information: (92-21) 3527-5000 U.S. Consulate General in Lahore The U.S. Consulate in Lahore is located on 50 Sharah-E-Abdul Hamid Bin Badees (Old Empress Road), near Shimla Hill Rotary. Telephone: (92-42) 3603-4000 Fax: (92-42) 3603-4212 Emergency Contact Information: (92-42) 3603-4000 U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar The U.S. Consulate in Peshawar is located at 11 Hospital Road, Cantonment, Peshawar. Telephone: (92-91) 526-8800 Fax: (92-91) 528-4171 Emergency Contact Information: (92-91) 526-8800

Military Branches

Pakistan Army (includes National Guard), Pakistan Navy (includes Marines and Maritime Security Agency), Pakistan Air Force (Pakistan Fiza'ya)

Service Age and Obligation

16-23 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age 18; the Pakistani Air Force and Pakistani Navy have inducted their first female pilots and sailors; the Pakistan Air Force recruits aviation technicians at age 15; service obligation (Navy) 10-18 years; retirement required after 18-30 years service or age 40-52