National Assembly of Pakistan قومی اسمبلی پاکستان Qọ̄mī Assamblī Pākistān | |
|---|---|
| 16th National Assembly of Pakistan | |
 Emblem of the National Assembly | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | 5 years |
| History | |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 336 |
 | |
Political groups | Government (243)
Opposition (89) |
| Elections | |
| Mixed member majoritarian: | |
First election | July 1947 (indirect) 7 December 1970 (direct) |
Last election | 8 February 2024 |
Next election | 2029 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| National Assembly Secretariat, Islamabad | |
| Website | |
| www | |
 |
|---|
| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Pakistan |
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National Assembly of Pakistan constitutes the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Pakistan, with the Senate serving as the upper house. As per the constitutional framework, the National Assembly comprises a maximum of 336 members. Of these, 266 members are directly elected through universal adult suffrage under the first-past-the-post system from respective constituencies, while 60 seats are reserved for women and 10 for religious minorities (non-Muslims). These reserved seats are allocated to political parties based on their proportional representation in the general seats.
Members serve a term of five years from the date of the first sitting of the house or until its dissolution by the President of Pakistan on the advice of the Prime Minister. The assembly convenes at the Parliament House in the Red Zone of Islamabad. The National Assembly elects the Prine Minister and plays a central role in the legislative process and oversight of the government.
Elections to the general seats occur via the first-past-the-post system in single-member constituencies known as National Assembly constituencies. The Constitution of Pakistan provides for the allocation of reserved seats for women and religious minorities on the basis of proportional representation among political parties.
Each National Assembly is constituted for a five-year term beginning with its first sitting, after which it stands automatically dissolved unless dissolved earlier. The assembly may be dissolved by the President upon the advice of the Prime Minister; the Prime Minister cannot dissolve it independently.
On 3 April 2022, President Arif Alvi dissolved the 15th National Assembly on the advice of then Prime Minister Imran Khan. However, the Supreme Court of Pakistan intervened on 7 April 2022, declaring the dissolution unconstitutional and restoring the assembly. Subsequently, on 10 April 2022, a no-confidence motion was passed against Imran Khan. On 11 April 2022, Shehbaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) was elected as Prime Minister. Prior to the vote, a significant number of members from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had resigned. These events triggered prolonged political instability and crises in Pakistan throughout late 2022 and 2023.
The current 16th National Assembly of Pakistan was elected in the general election held on 8 February 2024 and formally constituted in February-March 2024. The polls were marked by widespread allegations of rigging and irregularities, which led to protests and legal challenges. Independent candidates, largely backed by PTI, secured the largest number of general seats but faced constraints due to the party’s inability to field candidates under its electoral symbol.
The 16th assembly has witnessed significant political realignments. A large bloc of PTI-backed independents initially operated through the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) as a parliamentary platform. Disputes over reserved seats resulted in interventions by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In July 2024, the Court ruled in favour of PTI’s eligibility for reserved seats, leading to the allocation of additional seats to the party (or its aligned platform) and adjustments in the house’s composition. [Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera, Wikipedia summaries drawing from Pakistani judicial records, 2024].
As of mid-2026, the assembly continues its term under Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, with ongoing political dynamics between the ruling coalition led by the PML-N and PPP, and the opposition.
References
- ↑ "Pakistan watchdog disqualifies National Assembly opposition leader, other Imran Khan aides after riot convictions". Express Tribune. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ↑ "National Assembly of Pakistan". www.na.gov.pk.