Prime Minister of Pakistan

The office of Prime Minister has existed since Pakistan gained independence in 1947. Originally, the Prime Minister was given executive powers, but this was later eroded as the power of the Governor General grew. The Prime Minister is appointed by the National Assembly. The National Assembly is voted in by popular vote, and the leader of the party with the most votes is made the Prime Minister for a four year term. The Prime Minister is responsible for appointing a cabinet. The President has the power remove the Prime Minister, through a dissolution of the National Assembly.

Outside of being removed by the President, the office of Prime Minister has been suspended at times. This has occured during the various times that Pakistan has been under martial law, and after the coup of Pervez Musharraf. During such times, the President, who was often the martial law administrator, essentially held the position of Prime Minister as he was the head of government, but he was not called the Prime Minister.

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 would exist until 1958, but it would see a lot of change, as 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 would essentially disappear 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 was made the Prime Minister.

However, Bhutto would be 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 new National Assembly that had been elected in new elections. This election would also bring the eighth amendment that essentially undid the 1973 constitution, and gave the President powers that paralelled with the Prime Minister. The President was now able to act without consultation from the Prime Minister, to remove the Prime Minister, and to dismiss the National Assembly as he saw fit.

From 1985 onwards, the two offices would clash often, with the President dissolving the National Assembly, and thus removing the Prime Minister a total of four times until 1996. After the coup of Pervez Musharraf in 1999, Musharraf assumed the role of Cheif Executive, and was the sole leader of Pakistan. In 2002, general elections were held, with no party gaining the majority. Thus a new Prime Minister was appointed after much political wrangling, Zafarullah Khan Jamali who belongs to the political party of Musharraf.

List of Prime Ministers

• Liaquat Ali Khan (August 14, 1947 to October 16, 1951)
• Khawaja Nazimuddin (October 17, 1951 - April 17, 1953)
• Muhammad Ali Bogra (April 17, 1953 - August 12, 1955)
• Chaudhry Muhammad Ali (August 12, 1955 - September 12, 1956)
• Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy (September 12, 1956 - October 17, 1957)
• Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar (October 17, 1957 - December 16, 1957)
• Feroz Khan Noon (December 16, 1957 - October 7, 1958)

From October 7, 1958 until July 3, 1972, no person held the title of Prime Minister due to martial law

• Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (July 3, 1972 - July 5, 1977)

The office was again suspended from July 5, 1977 until March 24, 1985 due to martial law.

• Muhammad Khan Junejo (March 24, 1985 - May 29, 1988)
• Benazir Bhutto (May 29, 1988 - August 6, 1990)
• Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi (August 6, 1990 - November 1, 1990)
• Nawaz Sharif (November 1, 1990 - April 18, 1993)
• Balakh Sher Mazari (April 18, 1993 - May 26, 1993)
• Nawaz Sharif (May 26, 1993 - July 18, 1993)
• Moin Qureshi (July 18, 1993 - October 19, 1993)
• Benazir Bhutto (October 19, 1993 - November 5, 1996)
• Miraj Khalid (November 5, 1996 - February 17, 1997)
• Nawaz Sharif (February 17, 1997 - October 12, 1999)

On October 12, 1999, Pervez Musharraf overthrew Nawaz Sharif, and took the title of Chief Executive. On June 20, 2001, he was made the President of Pakistan. Elections were held on October 10, 2002 leading to the return of the position of Prime Minister

• Zafarullah Khan Jamali (November 21, 2002 - present

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