President of Pakistan

The president of Pakistan (, 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.

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 Elections Took office Left officePolitical partyNote 1 100px|alt=A black and white portrait of Iskander Mirza Iskander Mirza 1958 Pakistani coup d'état  23 March 1956 27 October 1958 Republican Party 2 100px|alt=A black and white portrait of Ayub Khan Ayub Khan  1958 Pakistani coup d'état 27 October 1958 8 June 1962  Military Dictator  2 January 1965 8 June 1962 29 November 1963 Military Dictator Pakistan Muslim League (C) — 100px  Mohammad Afzal CheemaActing — 1962 1963 Senior Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly 1962-1965 — 100px  Fazlul Qadir ChaudhryActing — 29 November 1963 12 June 1965 Pakistan Muslim League (C)  100px|alt=A black and white portrait of Ayub Khan Ayub Khan 2 January 1965 12 June 1965 31 March 1969 Pakistan Muslim League (C) 3 100px|alt=A portrait of Yahya Khan Yahya Khan —Military Dictator 31 March 1969 20 December 1971 Military Dictator 4 100px  Zulfikar Ali Bhutto 20 December 1971 20 December 1971 13 August 1973 Pakistan Peoples Party 5 100pxFazal Ilahi Chaudhry 14 August 1973 14 August 1973 20 April 1978  Pakistan Peoples Party — 100px  Sheikh Anwarul HaqActing 14 August 1973 20 April 1978  7 May 1978 Pakistan Peoples Party  100px Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry 14 August 1973 7 May 1978 16 September 1978 Pakistan Peoples Party 6  Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq Military Dictator 16 September 1978 17 August 1988 Military Dictator 7 100px  Ghulam Ishaq Khan 13 December 1988 17 August 1988 18 July 1993 Independent — 100px  Wasim SajjadActing1995 Pakistani coup d'état attempt 18 July 1993  14 November 1993 Pakistan Muslim League (N) 8 100px Farooq Leghari 14 November 1993 14 November 1993 2 December 1997 Pakistan Peoples Party — 100px  Wasim SajjadActing — 27 December 1997  1 January 1998 Pakistan Muslim League (N) 9 100px|alt=A side shoot of Muhammad Rafiq Tarar at an award ceremony Muhammad Rafiq Tarar 31 December 1997 1999 Pakistani coup d'état 1 January 1998 20 June 2001 Pakistan Muslim League (N) 10 100px|alt=A portrait of Pervez Musharraf Pervez Musharraf Military Dictator 20 June 2001 6 October 2007 1 January 2004 6 October 2007 6 October 2007 18 August 2008Military Dictator Pakistan Muslim League (Q) — 100px  Muhammad Mian SoomroActing — 18 August 2008 9 September 2008 Pakistan Muslim League (N) 11 100px|alt=A portrait of Asif Ali Zardari Asif Ali Zardari 6 September 2008 9 September 2008 9 September 2013 Pakistan Peoples Party 12 100px Mamnoon Hussain 30 July 2013 9 September 2013 9 September 2018 Pakistan Muslim League (N) 13 100px Arif Alvi 4 September 2018 9 September 2018  10 March 2024  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (11) 100px|alt=A portrait of Asif Ali Zardari Asif Ali Zardari 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

 References 

Other websites
 President of Pakistan: Official Website