Parliament of Pakistan
| |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | Senate National Assembly |
| History | |
| Founded | 23 March 1956 |
| Preceded by | Constituent Assembly of Pakistan |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 432 Parliamentarians 96 Senators 336 MNAs |
 | |
Senate political groups | Government (71)
Opposition (15) |
 | |
National Assembly political groups | Government (243)
Opposition (89) |
| Elections | |
| Single Transferable Vote | |
| Mixed member majoritarian | |
Senate last election | 2 April 2024 |
National Assembly last election | 8 February 2024 |
Senate next election | TBD |
National Assembly next election | TBD |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Parliament House, Islamabad | |
| Website | |
| Senate www National Assembly www | |
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Pakistan |
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Parliament of Pakistan is considered to be the supreme legislative authority of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, functioning as a bicameral federal institution composed of the Senate and the National Assembly, with the President of Pakistan presiding as the head of the legislature. The President, acting on the PM's advice, possesses comprehensive authority to summon and prorogue either parliamentary house or conduct joint sessions, including the power to dissolve the National Assembly.
Both parliamentary houses convene within the Parliament House situated in Islamabad's governmental Red Zone, the federal capital territory. Each house maintains its own distinct chamber, with joint sessions utilising the National Assembly chamber.
The National Assembly's composition features approximately 80 percent directly elected Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) through citizen voting in single-member constituencies employing the first-past-the-post electoral system. The remaining 20 percent consist of reserved seats allocated to women and religious minorities based on respective political parties' parliamentary standing. Senators are elected by members of provincial assemblies through proportional representation, with four senators specifically representing the federal capital. As of 2024, the Parliament maintains a total strength of 432 members, comprising 336 MNAs and 96 senators. The electoral terms differ between the houses, with MNAs serving five-year terms while senators serve six-year terms.
History
Creation
The All-India Muslim League], since the mid-twentieth century, advocated for a separate homeland predicated on the Two-nation theory. The British authorities ultimately acknowledged the Muslim demand that Hindus and Muslims constituted separate and distinct nations and socio-cultural entities, leaving them with no alternative but to accept this position. On 3 June 1947, Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, convened a conference with all Indian leaders and communicated his Government's planned transfer of power. Subsequently, a notification published in the Gazette of India on 26 July 1947, established the first Constituent Assembly of the proposed state of Pakistan, initially comprising 69 members (later expanded to 79, including one female representative).
The Pakistan was formally created under the Indian Independence Act of 1947, which designated the existing Constituent Assemblies as dominion legislatures. These assemblies were granted all powers previously exercised by the Central Legislature, supplemented by authority to frame a new Constitution, with all territories to be governed under the Government of India Act 1935 until constitutional completion. The inaugural session of Pakistan's first Constituent Assembly convened on 10 August 1947, at the Sindh Assembly Building in Karachi.
On 11 August 1947, Muhammad Ali Jinnah was unanimously elected as President of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, and the National Flag received formal approval. The following day, 12 August 1947, a resolution was adopted regarding the official designation of Jinnah as Quaid-i-Azam, alongside the appointment of the "Committee on Fundamental Rights of Citizens and Minorities of Pakistan" to advise the Assembly on fundamental rights matters, particularly concerning minorities.
On 14 August 1947, the Transfer of Power ceremony took place, with Lord Mountbatten, Governor General of India, addressing the Constituent Assembly of the newly created Pakistan. Jinnah responded to this address, establishing the foundational principles of the Pakistani state. On 15 August 1947, Jinnah was sworn in as Pakistan's first Governor General, administered by Mian Sir Abdur Rashid, Chief Justice of Pakistan, a position he held until his death on 11 September 1948.
References
Notes
- ↑ Romanisation: Majlis-e-Shūrā Pākistān
Nagarisation: मजलिस-ए-शूरा
- ↑ Under the constitution, the President serves as the nominal head of the Parliament.