President of Pakistan

President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
صدر مملکت اسلامی جمہوریہ پاکستان
Incumbent
Asif Ali Zardari

since 10 March 2024
StyleMr. President (informal)
Honourable President or
His Excellency
TypeHead of state
(Ceremonial)
ResidenceAiwan-e-Sadr
SeatIslamabad
AppointerElectoral College
Term lengthFive years
Renewable once
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Pakistan
PrecursorGovernor General of Pakistan
Inaugural holderIskandar Mirza
FormationMarch 23, 1956; 68 years ago (1956-03-23)
Deputyabolished, Vice President of Pakistan
SalaryRs 846,550 per month[1][2]
WebsitePresident of Pakistan

The president of Pakistan (Urdu: صدر, Sadr-e-Mumlikat) is the head of state of Pakistan. Pakistan has a parliamentary form of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a five-year term. The electoral college is made up of the Senate, National Assembly, and the provincial assemblies.[3]

The position of president in Pakistan has usually been one of a figurehead. That is with real power being given to the Prime Minister. However the power of the president has changed over the years, due to the military changing the role.

History

In 1947, Pakistan became a dominion and part of the British Commonwealth with the British Monarch as head of state, represented by the Governor-General of Pakistan. In 1956 Pakistan established its first constitution and became a Republic, and the Queen and Governor-General were replaced by the president.

Pakistan's first president was Iskander Mirza, who was also the last Governor General. In 1958, he removed the constitution and declared martial law. A few weeks later, he was overthrown by General Ayub Khan, who then declared himself president. The constitution was changed and the president became the ruler of Pakistan. The constitution also said that the president be elected by the people. Elections were held in 1963, and Khan defeated Fatima Jinnah, sister of founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

List of presidents of Pakistan

Key for presidents list
Party name
Republican Party
Muslim League (C)
Armed Forces
Independent
Muslim League (Q)
Peoples Party
Muslim League (N)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

List of presidents of Pakistan

No Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Elections Took office Left office Political party Note
1 A black and white portrait of Iskander Mirza Iskander Mirza
(1899–1969)
 1958 Pakistani coup d'état 23 March 1956 27 October 1958 Republican Party
2 A black and white portrait of Ayub Khan Ayub Khan (1907–1974)  1958 Pakistani coup d'état 27 October 1958 8 June 1962   Military Dictator
(2) 2 January 1965 8 June 1962 29 November 1963 Military Dictator Pakistan Muslim League (C)
Mohammad Afzal Cheema
(1913–2008)
Acting
 — 1962 1963  Senior Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly 1962-1965
Fazlul Qadir Chaudhry
(1919–1973)
Acting
 — 29 November 1963 12 June 1965 Pakistan Muslim League (C)
(2) A black and white portrait of Ayub Khan Ayub Khan
(1907–1974)
2 January 1965 12 June 1965 31 March 1969 Pakistan Muslim League (C)
3 A portrait of Yahya Khan Yahya Khan
(1917–1980)
 —Military Dictator 31 March 1969 20 December 1971  Military Dictator
4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
(1928–1979)
20 December 1971 20 December 1971 13 August 1973 Pakistan Peoples Party
5 Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry
(1904–1982)
14 August 1973 14 August 1973 20 April 1978 Pakistan Peoples Party
Sheikh Anwarul Haq
(1917–1995)
Acting
14 August 1973 20 April 1978 7 May 1978 Pakistan Peoples Party
(5) Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry
(1904–1982)
14 August 1973 7 May 1978 16 September 1978 Pakistan Peoples Party
6 Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
(1924–1988)
 Military Dictator 16 September 1978 17 August 1988  Military Dictator
7 Ghulam Ishaq Khan
(1915–2006)
13 December 1988 17 August 1988 18 July 1993 Independent
Wasim Sajjad
(1941– )
Acting
1995 Pakistani coup d'état attempt 18 July 1993 14 November 1993 Pakistan Muslim League (N)
8 Farooq Leghari
(1940–2010)
14 November 1993 14 November 1993 2 December 1997 Pakistan Peoples Party
Wasim Sajjad
(1941– )
Acting
27 December 1997 1 January 1998 Pakistan Muslim League (N)
9 A side shoot of Muhammad Rafiq Tarar at an award ceremony Muhammad Rafiq Tarar
(1929–2022)
31 December 1997 1999 Pakistani coup d'état 1 January 1998 20 June 2001 Pakistan Muslim League (N)
10 A portrait of Pervez Musharraf Pervez Musharraf
(1943–2023)
 Military Dictator 20 June 2001 6 October 2007 1 January 2004[n 1]
(10) 6 October 2007 6 October 2007 18 August 2008 Military Dictator Pakistan Muslim League (Q)
Muhammad Mian Soomro
(1950– )
Acting
18 August 2008 9 September 2008 Pakistan Muslim League (N)
11 A portrait of Asif Ali Zardari Asif Ali Zardari
(1955– )
6 September 2008 9 September 2008 9 September 2013 Pakistan Peoples Party
12 Mamnoon Hussain
(1940–2021)
30 July 2013 9 September 2013 9 September 2018 Pakistan Muslim League (N)
13 Arif Alvi
(1949– )
4 September 2018 9 September 2018 10 March 2024 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(11) A portrait of Asif Ali Zardari Asif Ali Zardari
(1955– )
9 March 2024 10 March 2024 Incumbent Pakistan Peoples Party

Living former presidents

Present holder of the post

The President is now Arif Alvi, a former dentist. He has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan since August 2018. Before, he was a member of the National Assembly from June 2013 to May 2018. He is a member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, a moderate Party with democratic ideals.

Notes

  1. Musharraf took vote of confidence from the electoral college of Pakistan and elected himself as a President of Pakistan.[4]

References

  1. "Govt wants to double president's salary". The Express Tribune. 29 May 2018.
  2. "Data" (PDF). www.na.gov.pk. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  3. "President of Pakistan: Official Website". Archived from the original on 2008-07-05. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  4. Waldman, Amy (2 January 2004). "Pakistan gives Musharraf confidence vote as president". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 January 2013.

Other websites