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 | |
|
|---|
| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Pakistan |
.svg)
|
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[edit | edit source]
Creation[edit | edit source]
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.
1949 Objectives Resolution[edit | edit source]
The primary responsibility confronting the first Constituent Assembly was the formulation of a constitution for the nascent nation. On 7 March 1949, the Objectives Resolution was introduced by Prime Minister Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan, subsequently adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 12 March 1949. This resolution now functions as Pakistan's foundational legal framework. Concurrently, a 24-member Basic Principles Committee was established on the same date to prepare a constitutional draft based on the Objectives Resolution.
On 16 October 1951, Liaquat Ali Khan, the Objectives Resolution's proponent, was assassinated, with Khawaja Nazimuddin assuming the premiership on 17 October 1951. The final constitutional draft was completed in 1954, by which time Muhammad Ali Bogra had become Prime Minister. However, immediately preceding the draft's presentation for parliamentary approval, Governor General Ghulam Muhammad dissolved the Assembly on 24 October 1954. The Prime Minister was not dismissed but was required to administer the government with a reconstituted Cabinet until elections could be conducted.
Maulvi Tamizuddin, Assembly President, contested this dissolution before the Sindh Chief Court, prevailing in his case. The Government subsequently appealed to the Federal Court, where Chief Justice Muhammad Munir delivered the landmark judgment ruling against Maulvi Tamizuddin.
According to Nigel Kelly's account, the Objectives Resolution was presented on 12 March 1949, by Khwaja Nazimuddin and Liaquat Ali Khan alongside 25 Basic Principles Committee members. The resolution articulated several objectives, including establishing an independent legal system separate from governmental control, while incorporating references to Islamic principles.
1955 Second Constituent Assembly[edit | edit source]
The second Constituent Assembly of Pakistan was constituted on May 28, 1955, pursuant to Governor General's Order No. 12 of 1955, with Provincial Assemblies serving as the electoral college. The Assembly comprised 80 members, evenly distributed between East Pakistan and West Pakistan. One of its principal achievements was the establishment of West Pakistan (One Unit) to create parity between the two wings of the country, alongside its primary accomplishment of delivering Pakistan's first constitution in 1956 under Prime Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Ali.
The constitutional draft was introduced on 9 January 1956, passed on 29 February 1956, and received Governor General's assent on 2 March 1956, becoming effective from 23 March 1956. Under this framework, Pakistan was designated an Islamic Republic, with 23 March commemorated as Republic Day, coinciding with the 1940 Pakistan Resolution adoption at Minto Park, Lahore. On 5 March 1956, Major General Iskandar Mirza became Pakistan's first President, with the constitution establishing a parliamentary system concentrating executive authority in the Prime Minister's office. The President served as Head of State, elected by National and Provincial Assembly members for a five-year term, generally acting on the Prime Minister's advice except in discretionary matters. The 1956 constitution established a unicameral Parliament consisting of the President and a 300-member National Assembly (150 each from East and West Pakistan), with five seats reserved for women in each wing for a decade, totaling 310 members.
However, the absence of political party regulation and floor crossing controls resulted in persistent political instability. Despite scheduled general elections for early 1959, President Iskandar Mirza abrogated the constitution, dissolved both chambers, and imposed Martial Law on 7 October 1958, appointing General Muhammad Ayub Khan as Chief Martial Law Administrator. Subsequently, on 26-27 October 1958, Ayub Khan removed Mirza and exiled him to England.
1960 Constitution Commission[edit | edit source]
On 27 October 1958, General Muhammad Ayub Khan assumed the presidency of Pakistan as its second head of state. One of his initial major initiatives was the appointment of a Constitution Commission on 17 February 1960, tasked with developing proposals to strengthen democracy according to Pakistan's socio-political environment and Islamic principles of justice. The Commission submitted its report on 29 April 1961, leading to the framing of a new constitution, which was presented to the nation on 01 March 1962.
General elections under this new constitutional framework were conducted on 28 March 1962, with elections for reserved women's seats held on 29 May 1962. The inaugural session of the third National Assembly convened on 08 June 1962 at Ayub Hall, Rawalpindi. The 1962 Constitution established a Federal State with a Presidential system of government, featuring a unicameral National Assembly at the center and unicameral Provincial Assemblies in the provinces. The Federal structure was significantly centralized through the direct presidential appointment of Provincial Governors. All executive authority vested in the President's office, with Cabinet members appointed by and directly accountable to the President.
The electoral system was restructured as indirect, with the 'Basic Democrats' serving as the Electoral College for both wings, 80,000 members (40,000 each from East and West Pakistan). The National Assembly's total membership stood at 156 members (78 from each wing), with three seats reserved for women from each province. The Assembly's term was three years, establishing a convention that if the President hailed from West Pakistan, the Speaker would be from East Pakistan, and vice versa. Major legislative achievements included the passage of the Political Parities Act, 1962.
On 25 March 1969, the second Martial Law was declared, with General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan assuming the presidency and Chief Martial Law Administrator role. He subsequently issued a Legal Framework Order (LFO), under which Pakistan's first-ever general elections were held on 07 December 1970, conducted on the basis of adult franchise and population distribution. The resulting Assembly comprised 313 members (169 from East Pakistan and 144 from West Pakistan), including 13 reserved seats for women (6 from West Pakistan and 7 from East Pakistan).
Subsequently, due to profound political differences, East Pakistan seceded to become Bangladesh. On 20 December 1971, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto assumed the presidency and became the first civil Chief Martial Law Administrator.
Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973[edit | edit source]
The inaugural session of the National Assembly, postponed due to East Pakistan's separation, convened on 14 April 1972 at the State Bank Building, Islamabad. This session included all 144 Members from West Pakistan and two representatives from former East Pakistan—Mr. Noor-ul-Amin and Raja Tridev Roy, who had chosen to align with Pakistan. On 17 April 1972, the National Assembly adopted the Interim Constitution, establishing a Presidential form of Government and prohibiting dissolution before 14 August 1973. The Interim Constitution comprehensively addressed power distribution between the Centre and Provinces.
Simultaneously, the Assembly established a Constitution Committee on 17 April 1972 to draft the first constitutional framework. The committee presented its report and draft Constitution on 31 December 1972. The Assembly unanimously passed the draft on 10 April 1973, with presidential authentication following on 12 April 1973. The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 was promulgated on 14 August 1973, with Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto assuming the Prime Ministership and Mr. Fazal Illahi Choudhary taking the presidential oath.
The 1973 Constitution established a parliamentary system concentrating executive authority in the Prime Minister's office, with the President representing national unity at the apex. This marked Pakistan's transition from a unicameral to bicameral federal legislature, comprising the President, Senate, and National Assembly. Initially, the National Assembly comprised 200 general seats plus 10 reserved for women (totaling 210), while the newly created Senate contained 63 members. Subsequent amendments in 1985 through Presidential Order No. 14 of 1985 increased the National Assembly to 237 members (adding seven general seats and ten reserved for women) and expanded the Senate to 87 members, with ten seats exclusively reserved for minorities through separate electorate.
Under the 1973 Constitution, National Assembly members serve five-year terms unless dissolved earlier. Assembly seats are allocated to provinces and other federal units based on population. The constitutional provision for 20 special seats for women lapsed in 1990, reducing the Assembly's strength from 237 to 217 members. Despite the five-year constitutional mandate, Mr. Z.A. Bhutto announced early dissolution on 07 January 1977, advising presidential dissolution on 10 January 1977. Elections were conducted on 07 March 1977, with opposition allegations of electoral rigging leading to boycott of Provincial Assembly elections and non-acceptance of results. This political crisis culminated in Martial Law imposition by Army Chief General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq on 05 July 1977.
References[edit | edit source]
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Romanisation: Majlis-e-Shūrā Pākistān
Nagarisation: मजलिस-ए-शूरा
- ↑ Under the constitution, the President serves as the nominal head of the Parliament.