Prime Minister of Pakistan

Prime Minister of Pakistan
Post	Prime Minister
Body	Pakistan
Insigniacaption	Standard of the Prime Minister
Incumbent	Shehbaz Sharif
Incumbentsince	4 March 2024
Department	Government of Pakistan
Style	The Honourable, Mr. Prime Minister (informal), His Excellency (diplomatic)
Status	Head of government
Abbreviation	PM
Member of	Federal Cabinet, National Security Council, Parliament of Pakistan
Reports to	Parliament of Pakistan
Residence	Prime Minister's House
Seat	Islamabad
Nominator	National Assembly of Pakistan
Appointer	President of Pakistan
Termlength	At the pleasure of the President of Pakistan, 5-year term, subject to the constitution's confidence of the assembly
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Pakistan
Formation	14 August 1947
First	Liaquat Ali Khan
Salary	₨ 2.4 million (US$8,400) annually
Deputy	Deputy Prime Minister

Prime Minister of Pakistan. The Prime Minister of Pakistan serves as the head of government and chief executive of the Government of Pakistan, leading the executive branch of the federal government. The office is constitutionally the most powerful position in the country, with the incumbent responsible for setting national policy, heading the Federal Cabinet, and advising the President of Pakistan on key matters. The prime minister is typically the leader of the majority party or coalition in the National Assembly and must maintain the confidence of that house to remain in power.

History and evolution

The office was established upon Pakistan's independence in 1947, with Liaquat Ali Khan becoming the first prime minister under the Indian Independence Act 1947 and the Government of India Act 1935. The role was initially dominant, but power dynamics shifted significantly following the 1958 Pakistani coup d'état by Ayub Khan, who instituted a presidential system under the Constitution of Pakistan of 1962. The office was revived after the Bangladesh Liberation War and the Constitution of Pakistan of 1973, crafted under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, re-established parliamentary supremacy. Subsequent decades saw repeated interruptions from martial law, notably under Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, and a landmark restoration of the office occurred after the Lawyers' Movement and the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan.

Appointment and tenure

The prime minister is elected by and from the membership of the National Assembly following a general election or a vacancy. The President of Pakistan formally appoints the elected member, who must be a Muslim and demonstrate the confidence of the majority. A term is constitutionally linked to the five-year life of the National Assembly, but the prime minister can be removed earlier by a vote of no confidence or dissolution of the assembly. The Senate does not participate in the election. Notable caretaker appointments, like Moeenuddin Ahmad Qureshi, have occurred during transitional periods overseen by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Powers and responsibilities

As head of government, the prime minister chairs the Federal Cabinet, controls the Civil Service of Pakistan, and is the chief adviser to the President of Pakistan on matters like the dissolution of the National Assembly. The prime minister plays a central role in the National Security Council, oversees the Nuclear Command Authority, and formulates foreign policy, often engaging with bodies like the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Key responsibilities include presenting the federal budget to parliament, appointing officials like the Chief Justice of Pakistan, and administering key departments such as the Finance Division and the Ministry of Defence.

List of prime ministers

Pakistan has had multiple prime ministers since independence, with several serving non-consecutive terms. Liaquat Ali Khan was the inaugural holder, followed by figures like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the first civilian chief martial law administrator, and Benazir Bhutto, the first woman to lead a Muslim-majority nation's government. Nawaz Sharif holds the record for most non-consecutive terms, while Yousaf Raza Gillani was the first to be disqualified by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Recent officeholders include Imran Khan, removed via a no-confidence motion, and the current incumbent, Shehbaz Sharif.

Relationship with other institutions

The prime minister's authority is balanced by several institutions. The President of Pakistan holds ceremonial powers but retains key discretionary authority under Article 58 of the constitution. The prime minister works closely with the Parliament of Pakistan, particularly the National Assembly, and must maintain a working relationship with the Senate. The judiciary, especially the Supreme Court of Pakistan, has increasingly exercised judicial review over executive actions, as seen in cases like the Panama Papers affair. The prime minister also interacts with the Pakistan Armed Forces, the Provincial Governments of Pakistan, and constitutional bodies like the Council of Common Interests.

Removal and succession

A prime minister can be removed from office through a successful vote of no confidence in the National Assembly, as occurred with Imran Khan in April 2022. Other avenues for removal include disqualification by the Supreme Court of Pakistan under Article 62 of the constitution, death, or resignation. Upon a vacancy, the President of Pakistan appoints a successor from the National Assembly; if no member commands confidence, the president may dissolve the assembly. The Deputy Prime Minister or a senior cabinet member may act temporarily, but the line of succession is not explicitly codified, often leading to political consultation as seen during transitions following the assassinations of Liaquat Ali Khan and Benazir Bhutto.

Category:Prime Ministers of Pakistan Category:Heads of government