List of presidents of Pakistan

The head of state of Pakistan from independence until Pakistan became a republic in 1956 was the Pakistani monarch. For the Governor-Generals who represented them from 1947 to 1956, see Governor-General of Pakistan.

Flag of the President of Pakistan

The president of Pakistan is the head of state of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. According to the Constitution of Pakistan, the president has "powers, subject to Supreme Court approval or veto, to dissolve the National Assembly, triggering new elections, and thereby dismissing the prime minister".^[1] These powers were repeatedly modified through amendments to the constitution, which were introduced as the results of military coups and changes in government. Since the 18th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in 2010, Pakistan has been shifted back from semi-presidential to a parliamentary republic. Under that system, the president has limited ruling powers, and performs ceremonial duties while the Prime Minister enjoys more powers to execute decisions.^[2] The president is chosen by the Electoral College composed of the Senate, the National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies.^[3]

There have been thirteen presidents of Pakistan since the introduction of the post in 1956.^[4] The office was established when Pakistan was declared as a republic with the adoption of the 1956 constitution, and Iskander Mirza became the first president of the country.^[5]^[6] Until 1956, Pakistan was a dominion within the Commonwealth of Nations with Elizabeth II as the queen of Pakistan. Apart from these twelve, two acting presidents have also been in office for short periods of time. One of them, Wasim Sajjad, served as acting president on two non-consecutive occasions during 1993 and 1997–98.^[7] The president may remain in office for a tenure of five years. In the case where a president's term of office is terminated early or during the absence of the president, the Chairman of the Senate assumes office.^[3]

Six presidents have been members of a political party and four of them were active party members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The first president was a retired military officer, four others were incumbent military officers of which three gained power through successful military coups in Pakistan's history – Ayub Khan in 1958, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq in 1977 and Pervez Musharraf in 1999.^[4]^[8] President Zia died in office when his aircraft crashed while returning from Bahawalpur to Islamabad on 17 August 1988.^[9]^[10] Ayub Khan, during his two terms, remained in the office for the longest period with ten years and five months approximately.^{[n 1]}^[11]

The current president of Pakistan is Arif Alvi of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf.^[12]

Line of succession and removal[]

The Constitution discusses the possibility of an acting president. in Chapter 1: The President, Part III: The Federation of Pakistan in the Constitution of Pakistan. Certain office-holders, however, are permitted to stand as presidential candidates in case of vacancy as the constitution does not include a position of vice president:

The Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan
The Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan. in Chapter 1: The President, Part III: The Federation of Pakistan in the Constitution of Pakistan.

Territory[]

The dominion began as a federation of five provinces: East Bengal (later to become Bangladesh), West Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, and the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). Each province had its own governor, who was appointed by the Governor-General of Pakistan. In addition, over the following year the princely states of Pakistan, which covered a significant area of West Pakistan, acceded to Pakistan. They included Bahawalpur, Khairpur, Swat, Dir, Hunza, Chitral, Makran, and the Khanate of Kalat.

Radcliffe Line[]

The controversial Radcliffe Award, not published until 17 August 1947 specified the Radcliffe Line which demarcated the border between the parts of British India allocated to the two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan. The Radcliffe Boundary Commission sought to separate the Muslim-majority regions in the east and northwest from the areas with a Hindu majority. This entailed the partition of two British provinces which did not have a uniform majority — Bengal and Punjab. The western part of Punjab became the Pakistani province of Punjab and the eastern part became the Indian state of Punjab. Bengal was similarly divided into East Bengal (in Pakistan) and West Bengal (in India).

The Radcliffe commission had no power to divide the territory of the princely states of India.

Monarchy of Pakistan[]

Under the Indian Independence Act 1947, British India was to be divided into the independent sovereign states of India and Pakistan. From 1947 to 1952, George VI was the sovereign of Pakistan, which shared the same person as its sovereign with the United Kingdom and the other Dominions in the British Commonwealth of Nations.^[13]^[14]

Following George VI's death on 6 February 1952, his daughter Princess Elizabeth, who was in Kenya at that time, became the new monarch of Pakistan. During the Queen's coronation in 1953, Elizabeth II was crowned as Queen of seven independent Commonwealth countries, including Pakistan.^[15] In her Coronation Oath, the new Queen promised "to govern the Peoples of ... Pakistan ... according to their respective laws and customs".^[16] The Standard of Pakistan at the Coronation was borne by Mirza Abol Hassan Ispahani.^[17]

Pakistan abolished the monarchy on the adoption of a republican constitution on 23 March 1956.^[18] However, Pakistan became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations. The Queen sent a message to Pakistanis which said, "I have followed with close interest the progress of your country since its establishment ... It is a source of great satisfaction to me to know that your country intends to remain the Commonwealth. I am confident that Pakistan and other countries of the Commonwealth will continue to thrive and to benefit from their mutual association".^[19]

The Queen visited Pakistan as Head of the Commonwealth in 1961 and 1997, accompanied by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.^[20]

Islamic Republic (1956–present)[]

Under the 1956 Constitution, the first constitution of the Republic of Pakistan, the president replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state. The president was elected by the Electoral College for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the speaker of the National Assembly served as acting president.

Key[]

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