President of Pakistan facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids President of Pakistan
Presidential Standard of Pakistan
State emblem of Pakistan
Incumbent Asif Ali Zardari since 10 March 2024
Head of state of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Executive branch of the Government of Pakistan
Style	Honourable President (formal) His Excellency (diplomatic) Mr President (informal)
Residence	Aiwan-e-Sadr, Red Zone, Islamabad-44040
Seat	Aiwan-e-Sadr, Red Zone, Islamabad-44040
Appointer	Electoral College
Term length	Five years (Renewable once)
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Pakistan
Precursor	Monarch of Pakistan
Inaugural holder	Iskander Mirza
Formation	23 March 1956; 69 years ago (1956-03-23)
Succession	Line of succession
Deputy	Chairman of the Senate
Salary	Rs 847,000 per month
Website	President of Pakistan

The President of Pakistan (Urdu: صدرِ پاکستان, romanized: s̤adr-i Pākistān) is the head of state for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. This means the president is the main representative of the country. The president is also the commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces, which means they are the supreme leader of the military.

The president's role is mostly ceremonial. They are expected to follow the advice of the prime minister and the cabinet. Asif Ali Zardari is the current president, taking office on March 10, 2024.

The position of president was created when Pakistan became an Islamic Republic on March 23, 1956. The first president was Iskander Mirza. Over time, the president's powers have changed. In 1973, a new Constitution made the president's role mostly ceremonial. However, military takeovers sometimes gave the president more power. In 2010, the 18th Amendment again made the president's role ceremonial, giving more power to the prime minister and parliament.

The Constitution says the president cannot directly run the government. The prime minister handles daily government tasks and keeps the president informed. The president can grant pardons and has some control over the military. However, important military appointments need the prime minister's approval.

The president is chosen by an Electoral College for a five-year term. To be president, a person must be a Muslim and at least 45 years old. The president lives in a special building in Islamabad called Aiwan-e-Sadar. If the president is away, the Chairman of the Senate takes over until the president returns or a new one is elected.

Pakistan has had 14 presidents. The first was Iskander Ali Mirza in 1956.

What the President Does

The President's Role

The president's main home and office is Aiwan-e-Sadr, a large palace in Islamabad. The president is an important part of Pakistan's Parliament, which has two parts (the Senate and the National Assembly).

The president's powers are mostly for show. They give speeches to Parliament about national policies.

The president is also the civilian commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces. This means they are the highest civilian authority over the military. The president also approves judicial appointments in the national court system, after the prime minister confirms them. The president can also grant pardons for crimes. The president is protected from legal action while in office.

There shall be a President of Pakistan who shall be the Head of State and shall represent the "unity of the Republic."

—Article 41 in Chapter 1: The President of Part III: The Federation of Pakistan in the Constitution of Pakistan, source

The Ceremonial guard of honour at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Making Laws

The Parliament of Pakistan includes the president, the National Assembly, and the Senate.
The president must approve a new law within ten days after Parliament sends it. If they don't, it automatically becomes law.
The president can start and end meetings of both the National Assembly and the Senate.
The president can speak to Parliament and ask members to attend.
The president can send a law back to Parliament for changes.
The president can send messages to Parliament about a bill.
The president can dissolve (close) the National Assembly if the prime minister advises it. This can also happen if the prime minister loses a vote of no-confidence and no one else can form a government.
The president can issue temporary laws (ordinances) when Parliament is not meeting, if the cabinet or prime minister advises it.
The president can call a joint meeting of both the National Assembly and Senate.
The president approves money bills and changes to the Constitution passed by Parliament.

Running the Government

The president is the ceremonial head of state. The real power to run the government is with the prime minister and cabinet. The president must follow their advice.
The president's job is to protect the Constitution and laws.
The president appoints federal ministers and state ministers from Parliament, based on the prime minister's advice.
The president also appoints advisors and caretaker governments (temporary governments before elections) on the prime minister's advice.
The president appoints provincial governors based on the prime minister's advice.
The president appoints the chief election commissioner and members of the Election Commission of Pakistan after talking with the prime minister and opposition leader.
The prime minister must keep the president informed about all important matters, including national and international policies.
The president welcomes foreign ambassadors.
The president also gives rights to ambassadors sent to other countries and hosts visiting heads of state.
The president gives oaths of office to the prime minister, ministers, and other officials.
The president can ask for a public vote (referendum) on important questions, if the prime minister advises it.
The president can issue orders based on the prime minister's or ministries' advice.
The president also gives oaths to the heads of various organizations, like the chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission.
When the National Assembly is dissolved, the president must set a date for new elections within 90 days.
The president oversees general elections when the National Assembly is dissolved or finishes its term.

Court Powers

The president appoints the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court based on recommendations from a parliamentary committee.
The president appoints Chief Justices for the High Courts in provinces and Islamabad.
The president also appoints other judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts.
The president can remove a judge if the Supreme Judicial Council recommends it, after the judge is found guilty of wrongdoing.
The president sets the salaries for Supreme Court and High Court judges.
The president can move a High Court judge from one court to another, but only with the judge's agreement and after talking with the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Chief Justices of both High Courts.
The president can grant pardons or reduce punishments given by any court.
The president appoints the Chief Justice and judges of the Federal Shariat Court.
The president can ask the Islamic Ideology Council to review laws.
The president gives oaths to the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court.

Appointment Powers

The president appoints many important officials, usually on the prime minister's advice:

Attorney General
Auditor General
Controller General of Accounts
Advocate General Islamabad
Members and chairmen of the Council of Islamic Ideology, Council of Common Interest, National Economic Council, and National Finance Commission.
Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan.
Federal Ombudsman, Federal Insurance Ombudsman, Federal Tax Ombudsman, Banking Mohtasib Pakistan, and Federal Ombudsperson for Women and Workplace.
Vice-chancellors of federal public universities.
Chairman and members of the Federal Public Service Commission.

Military Powers

The president is the Supreme Commander of the country's Armed Forces.
The president appoints the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, based on the prime minister's advice.
The president has the power to create and maintain Pakistan's military forces and reserves.
The president sets their salaries and allowances.
The president grants commissions to military officers.
The president can send military troops to other countries or for United Nations missions, if the prime minister advises it.
The president can declare war and peace, based on the prime minister's advice.

Emergency Powers

The president can declare an emergency in certain serious situations:

War or Danger: If Pakistan's safety is threatened by war, outside attacks, or serious internal problems that a provincial government cannot control, the president can declare an emergency.
Suspending Rights: During an emergency, the president can temporarily suspend some basic rights, but this order needs Parliament's approval.
Government Breakdown: If a provincial government cannot function (for example, if no party has enough votes to form a government, or if law and order breaks down), the president can declare an emergency in that province and take direct control.
Money Problems: If the country's economy or financial stability is in danger, the president can issue an emergency order to guide provinces on financial matters. Salaries might even be reduced.

The president can impose "governor rule" in a province, meaning they can run the provincial government directly. All emergency powers are used on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet.

Before 2010, the president had more power, including control over nuclear weapons. However, after the 18th Amendment in 2010, Pakistan returned to a parliamentary democracy, and the president's powers became much more limited.

Powers Before 2010

Before the 18th Amendment in 2010, the president was very powerful.

The president could choose and appoint the prime minister.
The president could dissolve the National Assembly if they felt the government was not following the Constitution. Presidents like Zia Ul Haq, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, and Farooq Leghari used this power to dismiss elected prime ministers. This made the president more powerful than the prime minister.
The president could appoint provincial governors.
The president could appoint the heads of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
The president was the chairman of the National Security Council and the National Command Authority, giving them control over national security and nuclear weapons.
The president could appoint the Chief Election Commissioner without needing to consult anyone.
The president could appoint caretaker prime ministers and cabinets without consultation.
The president could appoint Supreme Court and High Court judges.
The president could call for a public referendum on important matters.
The president could make decisions about the country's foreign policy.

Becoming President

Who Can Be President?

The Constitution of Pakistan sets out the main rules for who can become president:

They must be a citizen of Pakistan.
They must be a Muslim.
They must be at least 45 years old.
They must be qualified to be a member of the National Assembly.

How the President is Chosen

When the presidency is empty, the president is chosen by an electoral college. This group includes members from both parts of Parliament (the Senate and National Assembly) and the four provincial assemblies. The chief election commissioner organizes the election, which is done by secret vote.

Each voter in the Electoral College has a different number of votes. The total votes from Parliament members equal the total votes from provincial lawmakers. Each provincial assembly has the same number of votes, based on the smallest assembly (Balochistan Assembly with 65 seats).

The Constitution also says that the election for president must happen between 30 and 60 days before the current president's term ends.

Election and Oath

The president is elected for a five-year term. A president can be re-elected, but only for a maximum of two terms in a row. When a new president takes office, they must take an oath in front of the Chief Justice. In this oath, the president promises to protect and defend the Constitution and serve Pakistan.

I, (The name of the President-elect), do solemnly swear that I am a Muslim and believe in the Unity, and Oneness of Almighty Allah, the Books of Allah, the Holy Qur'an being the last of them, the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the last of the Prophets and that there can be no Prophet after him, the Day of Judgment, and all the requirements and teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah:

That I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan:

That, as President of Pakistan, I will discharge my duties, and perform my functions, honestly, to the best of my ability, faithfully in accordance with the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the law, and always in the interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well- being and prosperity of Pakistan:

That I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions:

That I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan:

That, in all circumstances, I will do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill- will:

And that I will not directly or indirectly communicate or reveal to any person any matter which shall be brought under my consideration or shall become known to me as President of Pakistan, except as may be required for the due discharge of my duties as President. May Allah Almighty help and guide me (Ameen).

Who Takes Over and How to Remove a President

If the president's office becomes empty, certain officials can act as president because Pakistan does not have a vice president:

The Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan.
The speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan.

A president can be removed from office before their term ends through a process called impeachment. This can happen if the president breaks the Constitution of Pakistan.

The impeachment process can start in either the Senate or the National Assembly. Charges against the president are written in a notice. This notice must be signed by two-thirds of the members of the house. The notice is then sent to the president. After 14 days, the charges are discussed.

A resolution to impeach the president needs to be passed by a two-thirds majority. The Speaker of the National Assembly then calls a joint meeting of both houses. The president has the right to defend themselves.

If two-thirds of the members at the joint meeting vote that the president is unfit or has broken the Constitution, the president must leave office immediately. No president has ever been impeached, but the process was started against Pervez Musharraf in 2008, and he resigned.

List of presidents

History of the Presidency

How it Started

Presidential standard (1956–1967)

From 1947 to 1956, Pakistan had a governor-general who represented the British King or Queen. When Pakistan became an Islamic republic in 1956, the governor-general was replaced by the president. The last governor-general, Iskander Mirza, became Pakistan's first president.

In 1958, Iskander Mirza reportedly suspended the Constitution. He appointed General Ayub Khan as the chief martial law administrator. Two weeks later, Ayub Khan took over as president.

Iskander Mirza became the 1st President of Pakistan in 1956

The Constitution of Pakistan of 1962, introduced by President Ayub Khan, made Pakistan a presidential republic without direct elections. However, due to public pressure, Khan held the 1965 Pakistani presidential election. He won a second term against Fatima Jinnah.

Presidential standard (1974–1998)

After some difficult events, including a war with India in 1965, Ayub Khan handed over the presidency to army chief General Yahya Khan. Yahya Khan announced national elections for 1970. These elections led to the PPP winning in West Pakistan and the Awami League winning in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

When a compromise could not be reached between the two parties, violence grew in East Pakistan. This led to a war with India in 1971, which resulted in East Pakistan becoming the independent country of Bangladesh.

After this, President Yahya Khan stepped down, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took power. President Bhutto created the current Constitution of Pakistan in 1973. This made Pakistan a parliamentary democracy and reduced the president's powers to a ceremonial role.

Past Changes to Power

In 1977, general elections led to public unrest. This resulted in military intervention by General Zia-ul-Haq. He suspended the Constitution and became president in 1978. During his time, he increased the influence of religious ideas in the country.

After public demand, President Zia-ul-Haq held a referendum in 1984 and general elections in 1985. He appointed Mohammad Junejo as prime minister and gained more powers through a constitutional change. After dismissing Prime Minister Junejo, President Zia-ul-Haq died in a plane crash in 1988.

In 1988, PPP won the general elections, and Ghulam Ishaq Khan became president. There were conflicts between Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and President Ghulam Ishaq Khan. President Khan dismissed Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1990.

After new elections in 1990, Nawaz Sharif became prime minister. President Ghulam Ishaq Khan tried to dismiss Sharif but was unsuccessful. Eventually, both President Khan and Prime Minister Sharif resigned in 1993.

After elections in 1993, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto formed a strong government. However, due to issues like corruption charges, President Farooq Leghari dismissed Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1996. In 1997, President Leghari resigned after conflicts with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

After Rafiq Tarar became president, Parliament passed a constitutional change to limit the president's powers. In 1999, General Pervez Musharraf took power, dismissing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Rafiq Tarar. Musharraf then took on more powers as president. In 2004, he was elected president.

President Musharraf's actions led to conflicts with the courts. He declared a state of emergency in 2007. Although he was elected again in 2007, his rule faced legal challenges. A public movement eventually led to Musharraf's resignation in 2008.

The President's Current Role

President Arif Alvi visits Maritime Ministry, flanked by Ali Zaidi and Rizwan Ahmed

After the presidential election in 2008, Asif Ali Zardari worked to change the Constitution back to how it was in 1973. In 2010, Parliament passed the 18th Amendment. This change removed many presidential powers and made Pakistan a parliamentary republic again. This means the prime minister and Parliament have more power, aiming for more stable government.