Prime Minister of Pakistan

The Prime Minister (Vazir-e-Azam) of Pakistan is the Head of Government of Pakistan.

History

The office of Prime Minister was created when Pakistan gained independence in 1947. Originally, the Prime Minister was given executive powers, which were later reduced as the power of the Governor-General grew. The office was discontinued in 1958 and revived in 1973. The power of the Prime Minister's office peaked in the late 1990s, with the removal of institutional check and balances, and the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendments.

Related Topics:
1947 - Governor-General - Check and balances - Thirteenth Amendment - Fourteenth Amendment

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The first Prime Minister of Pakistan was Liaquat Ali Khan who was appointed to the position by the first Governor-General, Muhammmad Ali Jinnah. The office of Prime Minister continued until 1958. Many Prime Ministers were removed by the Head of State. In 1958 martial law was declared by Iskander Mirza, and the office of Prime Minister essentially disappeared until 1973. In 1973 a new constitution was written giving the Prime Minister executive power once again, and making Pakistan a Parliamentary system. The architect of that constitution, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, became the Prime Minister.

Related Topics:
Liaquat Ali Khan - Muhammmad Ali Jinnah - 1958 - Iskander Mirza - 1973 - Parliamentary system - Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto

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However, Bhutto was overthrown in 1977, and martial law declared again, with the office of Prime Minister being suspended until 1985 when Muhammad Khan Junejo was appointed by the newly elected National Assembly. This election also brought the eighth amendment to the 1973 constitution, and gave the President powers that balanced those of the Prime Minister. The President was now able to dismiss the Prime Minister and the National Assembly (effectively calling for new elections) without prior consultation with the Prime Minister.

Related Topics:
1977 - 1985 - Muhammad Khan Junejo - Eighth amendment - Balanced

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In 1988, Benazir Bhutto was elected as Prime Minister, becoming the first female head of government to be democratically elected in a Muslim country.

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From 1990 onwards, the offices of President and Prime Minister would clash, with the President dissolving the National Assembly, and thus dismissing the Prime Minister a total of three times until 1996, with new elections each time. After the coup of Pervez Musharraf in 1999, Musharraf assumed the role of Chief Executive, and was the sole leader of Pakistan. In 2002, general elections were held, with no party gaining a majority of the popular vote or National Assembly. A new Prime Minister was appointed after much political wrangling, Zafarullah Khan Jamali who belongs to the PML-Q, a pro-Musharraf political party.

Related Topics:
1996 - 1999 - 2002 - Popular vote - Zafarullah Khan Jamali

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In December 2003, the National Assembly passed the Seventeenth Amendment, partially restoring the power of the President to dissolve the National Assembly (and thus dismiss the Prime Minister), but making the dissolution subject to Supreme Court approval.

Related Topics:
Seventeenth Amendment - Supreme Court

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Jamali resigned on June 26, 2004. Finance minister and former Citibank EVP Shaukat Aziz has been named to the post by interim prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

Related Topics:
Shaukat Aziz - Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain

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