Muhammad Ali Jinnah, seated on the throne of Pakistan, carrying out official duties as the monarch's representative
Pakistan was one of the realms of the Commonwealth of Nations that shared the same person as sovereign and head of state. The Pakistani monarch was represented in the dominion by the governor-general of Pakistan, whom the monarch appointed on the advice of the Pakistani government.[3][4]
The Pakistani monarch and the Federal Legislature of Pakistan constituted the Parliament of Pakistan. All executive powers of Pakistan rested with the sovereign. All laws in Pakistan were enacted only with royal assent, granted by the governor-general on behalf of the sovereign. The governor-general was also responsible for summoning, proroguing, and dissolving the Federal Legislature. The governor-general chose and appointed the Council of Ministers and dismissed them at his discretion. All Pakistani ministers of the Crown held office at the pleasure of the governor-general. The governor-general of Pakistan was also exempted from any proceedings against him in any Pakistani court.[5][6]
Akhilesh Pillalamarri of The Diplomat wrote that during the reign of Elizabeth II, Queen of Pakistan, "her governors-general were presidents of Pakistan in all but name."[7]
Oath of office
The governor-general of Pakistan was required to take an oath of allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan and the Pakistani monarch before being permitted to assume his seat. The oath of allegiance taken by Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the first governor-general, was as follows:[6]
"I, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, do solemnly affirm true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan as by law established and that I will be faithful to His Majesty King George VI, in the office of Governor General of Pakistan."
List of governors-general of Pakistan
The following is a list of people who served as governor-general of Pakistan.
.jpg){kind=small}
_(cropped)_(3-to-4_aspect_ratio).jpg){kind=small}
.svg)
.svg)