The Constitution of Pakistan, also known as the 1973 Constitution, is the supreme law of Pakistan. The document guides Pakistan's law, political culture, and system. It sets out the state's outline, the fundamental rights of the population, the state's law and orders, and also the structure and establishment of the institutions and the armed forces. Drafted by the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, with additional assistance from the country's opposition parties, it was unanimously approved by the 5th Parliament on 10 April and ratified on 14 August 1973. The first three chapters establish the rules, mandate, and separate powers of the three branches of the government: a bicameral legislature; an executive branch governed by the Prime Minister as chief executive; and an apex federal judiciary headed by Supreme Court. The Constitution designates the President of Pakistan as a ceremonial Head of State who is to represent the unity of the state. The first six articles of the constitution outline the political system as federal parliamentary republic system; as well as Islam as its state religion. The Constitution also encapsulates provisions stipulating the legal system's compliance with Islamic injunctions contained in the Quran and Sunnah.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a Pakistani barrister, politician, and statesman. He served as the fourth president of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973 and later as the ninth prime minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977. Bhutto founded the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and served as its chairman until his execution for murder.
The Pakistan People's Party is a centre-left political party in Pakistan, currently being the largest in the Senate and second-largest party in the National Assembly. The party was founded in 1967 in Lahore, when a number of prominent left-wing politicians in the country joined hands against the rule of Ayub Khan, under the leadership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It is affiliated with the Socialist International. The PPP's platform was formerly socialist, and its stated priorities continue to include transforming Pakistan into a social-democratic state, promoting egalitarian values, establishing social justice, and maintaining a strong military. It, alongside the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, is one of the three largest political parties of Pakistan.
The president of Pakistan is the head of state of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The president is the nominal head of the executive and the supreme commander of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The presidency is a ceremonial position in Pakistan. The president is bound to act on advice of the prime minister and cabinet. Asif Ali Zardari is the current president since 10 March 2024.
The prime minister of Pakistan is the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen cabinet, despite the president of Pakistan serving as the nominal head of executive. The prime minister is often the leader of the party or the coalition with a majority in the lower house of the Parliament of Pakistan, the National Assembly where he serves as Leader of the House. Prime minister holds office by virtue of their ability to command the confidence of the National Assembly. The prime minister is designated as the "chief executive of the Islamic Republic".
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Pakistan, with the upper house being the Senate. As of 2023, the National Assembly has a maximum membership of 336, of which 266 are directly elected by an adult universal suffrage and a first-past-the-post system to represent their respective constituencies, while 60 are elected on reserved seats for women and religious minorities from all over the country. Members hold their seats for five years or until the house is dissolved by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The house convenes at the Parliament House in Red Zone, Islamabad.
The Parliament of Pakistan is the supreme legislative body of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It is a bicameral federal legislature, composed of the President of Pakistan and two houses: the Senate and the National Assembly. The president, as head of the legislature, has the power to summon or prorogue either house of the Parliament. The president can dissolve the National Assembly, only on the Prime Minister's advice.
Raja Tridiv Roy sometimes spelled Tridev Roy, was a Pakistani politician, diplomat and writer who was the Minister of the Minority Affairs in Zulfikar Ali Bhutto cabinet. He was also the 50th Raja/King of the Chakma tribe in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of present-day Bangladesh from 2 May 1953, until his abdication in 1971 following the Bangladesh Liberation War. He chose to remain a Pakistani when Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971. He became known as a writer, diplomat, Buddhist religious leader and politician in Pakistan.
The Constituent Assembly of Pakistan was established in August 1947 to frame a constitution for Pakistan. It also served as its first interim parliament. It was dissolved by the Governor-General of Pakistan in 1958.
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq's dictatorship after assuming the position of sixth president of Pakistan began on 16 September 1978 and ended with his death in an aircraft crash on 17 August 1988. Zia came to power after a coup, overthrowing prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and imposing martial law in 1977.
The vice presidency of Pakistan was a political office which existed between 1971 and 1973. In practice, it was the second highest office in the country after the presidency of Pakistan, holding the status of the deputy head of state, and ranking first in the presidential line of succession. Established in December 1971, the post remained in effect until the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan was promulgated in August 1973, under which it was formally abolished.
The nationalisation process in Pakistan was a policy measure programme in the economic history of Pakistan that negatively impacted the country's industrialization and undermined the trust of businessmen and investors. The process was first introduced, promulgated and implemented by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Pakistan Peoples Party to lay the foundation of socialist economics reforms to improve the growth of the national economy. Since the 1950s, the country had undergone a speedy industrialisation. But, as time progressed, the labour trade unions and labour-working class had increasingly strained relations with the industrial business oligarch class, having neglected to improve working conditions and failing to provide a healthy and safe environment for the workers in these industrial industries.
Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar is a Pakistani politician and feudal lord who has previously served as the Chief Minister of Punjab and Governor of Punjab.
Yahya Bakhtiar was a Pakistani lawyer and politician who served as the Attorney General of Pakistan. Yahya was born in 1921 at Quetta, Balochistan, British India. Yahya Bakhtiar died on June 27, 2003, in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Syed Nasir Ali Rizvi was a Pakistani politician.
Muhammad Abdul Khaleque was a Pakistani politician who served as a member of Parliament of Pakistan representing East Bengal. He was the Federal Minister of Labour and Works from 12 September 1956 to 18 October 1957 during Suhrawardy government.
Second Zulfikar Ali Bhutto government was formed on 30 March 1977 after Zulfikar Ali Bhutto gained a large majority in the 1977 Pakistani general election. The government was dissolved on 5 July 1977 when Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq declared martial law.
S. M. Masood was a Pakistani lawyer and a founding member of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), as well as a close aide to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
The Junejo government was formed on April 10, 1985, when Muhammad Khan Junejo became the prime minister of Pakistan. His tenure began under the influence of military president Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, who maintained control over key appointments, including several federal cabinet ministers.
Malik Muhammad Akhtar (1915–1999) was a Pakistani politician, former Federal Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs and for Fuel Power and Natural Resources, human rights advocate and lawyer.
