Pakistanportal |
Pakistan is a multi-party democracy. The country has many political parties and many times in the past the country has been ruled by a coalition government.
The Parliament of Pakistan is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate.
The military-dominated Establishment has directly ruled Pakistan for nearly half of its existence since its creation in 1947, while frequently exerting covert dominance over the political leadership during the remainder. [1] [2] The Establishment in Pakistan includes the key decision-makers in the country's military and intelligence services, national security, as well as its foreign and domestic policies, including the state policies of aggressive Islamization during the military dictatorship of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. However, the military establishment later reversed its support of political Islam under General Pervez Musharraf, who pursued enlightened moderation in the 2000s.
Till 1990, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was the only major party of Pakistan. After Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto died, Benazir Bhutto took control and they remained a strong position throughout Pakistan. In 1990, Nawaz Sharif of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) won the elections. Two major parties were in Pakistan. After IJI dissolved and Nawaz Sharif founded Pakistan Muslim League (N), PPP and PML(N) were the major two parties of Pakistan. In 1993, Peoples Party won the election again. In 1996, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was formed. In 2013, PTI took part in the elections and won 35 seats in the National Assembly of Pakistan. After the 2018 Pakistan elections, PTI became the government and became one of the three major parties of Pakistan.
In 2020, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was formed of many parties as a movement against then prime minister Imran Khan. Following Imran Khan’s removal, political unrest broke out throughout the country, and in the events leading up to the Pakistani 2024 election, many new parties were formed. The country’ largest party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, would be subject to legal issues, and an alleged crackdown and therefore was forced to register with their alliance member, the Sunni Ittehad Council, which is a minor religious party.
Punjab is generally considered as the most important political province and has been used by major parties such as the PML(N) and PTI in the past to gain legitimacy and as a political stronghold. The Punjab provincial assembly has usually been split between the Pakistan Muslim League N (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Sindh has been used as a political stronghold for the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) since the party’s creation. The PPP has almost always won landslide victories in provincial elections in Sindh, and has almost always held the province’s seats. Throughout the early 2000s the PML-Q saw minor successes in Sindh, but the province quickly came under the control of the PPP again. The PPP has been accused of bad governance by several Sindhi parties, leading to the creation of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), a coalition of several anti-PPP parties, although the PPP still holds sweeping majorities in Sindhi provincial seats. [3]
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is full of Pashtun nationalist and regionalist parties favoring Afghan tribalism, such as the ANP and PMAP. The region has also been full of religious parties, like the JUI-F especially throughout the north western areas near Afghanistan. There are several political parties in KPK, and most of them favor Pashtun nationalism with feudal aspects, but ever since Imran Khan’s entrance into politics, the PTI has almost always won landslide election victories in the province and has KPK as a political stronghold and base of power.
The province of Balochistan, Pakistan is full of Baloch nationalist parties, with some demanding autonomy for Balochistan, and some extreme groups demanding secession from Pakistan. Most parties from Balochistan follow the same pattern as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, high levels of regionalism and ethnic nationalism, with most ethnic nationalists being left-wing, as well as right-wing religious groups usually gaining victories near the Afghan border. Balochistan is the only province in which no party regularly gains a clear majority, and the provincial assembly is usually split between Baloch nationalist parties. [4]
The Pakistan Peoples Party won the first Gilgit-Baltistan elections and was the only major party of Gilgit-Baltistan with 20 seats out of 33. However, in 2015, Pakistan Muslim League (N) won 15 seats and became the major party of Gilgit-Baltistan and PPP only received one seat in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly. However, in the 2020 elections, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 16 seats and became the only major party of Gilgit-Baltistan with PPP winning 3 and PML(N) winning two seats.
Party | Abrr. | Flag | Founded | Political position | Central leader | Ideology | National Assembly [a] | Senate | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf پاکستان تحريکِ انصاف Pakistan Movement for Justice | PTI | 1996 | Centre [5] to centre-right | Gohar Ali Khan | 80 / 336 | 17 / 96 | ||||
Pakistan Muslim League (N) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) Pākistān Muslam Lig (Nūn) | PMLN | 1993 | Centre-right [5] | Nawaz Sharif | 106 / 336 | 19 / 96 | ||||
Pakistan Peoples Party پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی Pākistān Pīplz Pārṭī | PPP | 1967 | Centre-left [5] | Bilawal Bhutto Zardari | 68 / 336 | 24 / 96 | ||||
Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan متحدہ قومی موومنٹ پاکستان Muttaḥidah Qọ̄mī Mūwmaṅṫ Pākistān United National Movement-Pakistan | MQM-P | 2016 | Centre-left to Centre [5] | Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui | 21 / 336 | 3 / 96 | ||||
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazl [b] جمیعت علمائے اسلام (ف) Assembly of Islamic Clerics | JUI-F | 1980 | Right-wing [5] | Fazl-ur-Rahman | 8 / 336 | 5 / 96 | ||||
Pakistan Muslim League (Q) [c] پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ق) Pākistān Mislam Lig (Q) | PML-Q | 2002 | Centre-right | Shujaat Hussain | 4 / 336 | 1 / 96 | ||||
Awami National Party عوامي نېشنل ګوند عوامی نيشنل پارٹی ʿAwāmī Nīšonal Pārṭī People's National Party | ANP | 1986 | Center-left [5] to left-wing | Aimal Wali Khan | — | 3 / 96 | ||||
Sunni Ittehad Council سنی اتحاد کونسل Sunni Unity Council | SIC | 2009 | Right-wing | Sahibzada Hamid Raza [6] | — | 1 / 96 | ||||
Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party پښتونخوا ملي عوامي ګوند پشتونخوا ملی عوامی پارٹی Pakhtunkhwa National People's Party | PkMAP | 1989 | Centre-left [5] to Left-wing | Mahmood Achakzai | 1 / 336 | — | ||||
National Party نيشنل پارٹی Nīšonal Pārṭī | NP | 2003 | Centre-left | Abdul Malik Baloch | 1 / 336 | 1 / 96 | ||||
Balochistan National Party بلوچستان نيشنل پارٹی Balōčistān Nīšonal Pārṭī | BNP | 1996 | Left-wing | Akhtar Mengal | 1 / 336 | 1 / 96 | ||||
Balochistan Awami Party بلوچستان عوامی پارٹی Balōčistān Awāmī Pārṭī Balochistan People's Party | BAP | 2018 | Centre [5] | Khalid Hussain Magsi | 1 / 336 | 4 / 96 | ||||
Grand Democratic Alliance گرانڈ جمہوری اتحاد Grānd Jumhuuri Ittehaad | GDA | 2018 | Big tent | Pir of Pagaro VIII | — | — | ||||
Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party استحکامِ پاکستان Pakistan Stability Party | IPP | 2023 | Radical centre | Aleem Khan | 4 / 336 | — | ||||
Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen مجلس وحدتِ مسلمین Muslim Unity Assembly | MWM | 2009 | Centre to Right-wing [d] [7] | Raja Nasir Abbas | 1 / 336 | 1 / 96 | ||||
Pakistan Muslim League (Z) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ض) | PML (Z) | 2002 | Far-right | Ijaz-ul-Haq | 1 / 336 | — | ||||
Awaam Pakistan عوام پاکستان People of Pakistan | AP | 2024 | Islamic and democracy | Shahid Khaqan Abbasi | 15 / 371 | — | ||||
The Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz is a Pakistani conservative political party that was founded in 1993 by senior politician, Nawaz Sharif. [8] The party was founded as an offshoot of the Pakistan Muslim League, but is now its largest faction. It is currently still led by its founder Nawaz Sharif and is ideologically conservative as well as shares similarities with Nawaz's previous party, the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad. [8] It saw rapid growth under Nawaz Sharif in the 1990s as it entered a two-party system with the Pakistan People's Party. [9] It is also advocates for economic privatization, as Nawaz himself was a business owner. The party follows a free market capitalist and economically liberalist approach. [10] It has developed a somewhat ideology around its leader Nawaz Sharif and has been led by members of the Sharif family. It has been right-wing for most of its existence but has shifted to a center-right position in recent years. It holds is base of power in Punjab, more specifically Lahore and has had 3 different prime ministers including Nawaz himself who served for the longest non-consecutive time (9 years). The prime ministers from the PML-N include Nawaz Sharif (3 terms), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (1 term) and Nawaz's younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif (2 terms), who is serving right now.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is a political party founded in 1996 by cricketer-turned-politician, Imran Khan. The party was founded on the premise of bringing change to Pakistan and to bring a new face to Pakistani politics, as when the party was founded the PPP and PML-N ruled Pakistan in a de-facto two party system. [9] It advocates for welfarism and has promoted turning Pakistan into a modern welfare state. [11] It has often seen populism around Imran Khan, a former cricket star. It launched a large-scale anti-corruption campaign across Pakistan in the 2000s and 2010s which led to its victory in the 2018 Pakistani general election. [12] It holds its base of power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but also holds significant popularity and influence across western Punjab, where Imran Khan is from. It has been widely seen as an anti-establishment party since 2022 as it clashed with Pakistan's military establishment. It was founded as a centrist party, though in 2024, some sources indicated that the party had shifted center-right due to its pro-islamic unity teachings. [13] Besides this it has advocated for rule of law and constitutionalism as part of its political alliance, the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin. Despite being the largest political party in Pakistan in terms of membership, and in the top 10 largest parties worldwide, it has only had one prime minister, being Imran Khan himself who served for one term.
The Pakistan People's Party is a political party founded in 1967 by statesman, barrister and senior politician, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It is by far the oldest out of the top ruling parties in Pakistan and was the first Pakistani political party to lay out a manifesto and ideology. [14] It was founded on the premise of socialism and to struggle against the military rule of Field Marshal Ayub Khan (1958-1969). It has also been characterized as Pakistan's first democratic party [14] and has been left-wing for most of its existence with its founder, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto being a left-wing populist, though in the 21st century it has shifted to a center-left position. Zulfikar ruled Pakistan from 1971 until 1977, when he was overthrown and later hanged in 1979. The party has been widely seen as a dynastic political family party as it has seen its leadership pass down through the Bhutto family, which has seen a devoted cult of personality. After Zulfikar's death the party abandoned its socialist ideology and instead shifted to progressivism under Zulfikar's daughter, Benazir Bhutto. Benazir would be assassinated in 2007 and since then the party has been controlled by her husband, Asif Ali Zardari as well as her son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The party has been rivals with the PML-N for most of its existence but has joined hands with the PML-N against the PTI. Its main base of power is Sindh. The PPP is led by the Central Executive Committee and has seen 4 different prime ministers including: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (1973-1977), Benazir Bhutto (1988-1990, 1993-1996), Yusuf Raza Gillani (2008-2012) and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf (2012-2013).
This is the list of parties that are currently represented in any of the 5 Provincial Assemblies of Pakistan, which includes, the Provincial assembly in Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, KPK and Gilgit-Baltistan
Party | Abrr. | Flag | Sindh | Punjab | Balochistan | KPK | Gilgit-Baltistan | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf پاکستان تحريکِ انصاف Pakistan Movement for Justice | PTI | 6 / 168 | 132 / 371 | — | 117 / 145 | 21 / 33 | ||
Pakistan Muslim League (N) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) | PML-N | — | 207 / 371 | 17 / 65 | 9 / 145 | 3 / 33 | ||
Pakistan Peoples Party پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی | PPP | 118 / 168 | 14 / 371 | 17 / 65 | 5 / 145 | 5 / 33 | ||
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) جمیعت علمائے اسلام (ف)} Assembly of Islamic Clerics (F) | JUI (F) | — | — | 13 / 65 | 9 / 145 | 1 / 33 | ||
Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan متحدہ قومی موومنٹ پاکستان United National Movement - Pakistan | MQM-P | 37 / 168 | — | — | — | — | ||
Awami National Party عوامی نيشنل پارٹی People's National Party | ANP | — | — | 3 / 65 | 2 / 145 | — | ||
Pakistan Muslim League (Q) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ق) | PML (Q) | — | 10 / 371 | — | — | — | ||
Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party استحکامِ پاکستان Pakistan Stability Party | IPP | — | 6 / 371 | — | — | — | ||
Awaam Pakistan عوام پاکستان People of Pakistan | AP | — | — | 10 / 371 | — | — | ||
Balochistan National Party بلوچستان نيشنل پارٹی | BNP | — | — | 1 / 65 | — | — | ||
Balochistan Awami Party بلوچستان عوامی پارٹی Balochistan People's Party | BAP | — | — | 5 / 65 | — | — | ||
National Party نيشنل پارٹی Nīšonal Pārṭī | NP | — | — | 4 / 65 | — | — | ||
Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen مجلس وحدت مسلمین Muslim Unity Assembly | MWM | — | 1 / 371 | — | — | 1 / 33 | ||
Parties that are unrepresented in the Parliament and are only represented through Provincial assemblies | ||||||||
Grand Democratic Alliance گرانڈ جمہوری اتحاد | GDA | 3 / 168 | — | — | — | — | ||
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians پاکستان تحریکِ انصاف پارلیمنٹرینز Pakistan Movement for Justice Parliamentarians | PTI-P | — | — | — | 2 / 145 | — | ||
Jamaat-e-Islami جماعتِ اسلامی Islamic Party | JI | 1 / 168 | — | 1 / 65 | — | — | ||
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan تحریک لبیک پاکستان Here-I-Am Movement Pakistan | TLP | — | 1 / 371 | — | — | — | ||
Balochistan National Party (Awami) بلوچستان نیشنل پارٹی (عوامی) Balochistan National Party (People's) | BNP-A | — | — | 1 / 65 | — | — | ||
Haq Do Tehreek Balochistan Give Rights Movement Balochistan | HDTB | — | — | 1 / 65 | — | — | ||
Balawaristan National Front [e] بلاورستان نيشنل فرنٹ Balāwaristān Naishanal Franṭ | BNF | — | — | — | — | 1 / 33 | ||
Islami Tehreek Pakistan اسلامی تحریک پاکستان Islamic Movement Pakistan | ITP | — | — | — | — | 1 / 33 | ||
Independent آزاد اراکین | IND | — | — | 1 / 371 | — | 1 / 145 | 1 / 33 |
This is the list of registered parties that are currently unrepresented in Parliament and any of the provincial assemblies of Pakistan since 2024. [6]
Party | Abrr. | Flag | Founded | Political position | Leader | Core ideology | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek الله اکبر تحریک God is Great Movement | AAT | Muhammad Aslam Rabbani [16] | ||||||
Awami Muslim League عوامی مسلم لیگ پاکستان Awāmī Musallam League Pākistān People's Muslim League | AML | 2008 | Centre | Sheikh Rashid Ahmed | ||||
Awami Workers Party عوامی ورکرز پارٹی People's Workers Party | AWP | 2012 | Left-wing [5] | Akhtar Hussain | ||||
Barabri Party Pakistan برابری پارٹی پاکستان Equality Party Pakistan | BPP | 2018 | Left-wing | Jawad Ahmad | ||||
Haqooq-e-Khalq Party حقوقِ خلق پارٹی پاکستان Rights of the People Party | HKP | 2022 | Left-wing [5] | Ammar Ali Jan | ||||
Hazara Democratic Party ہزارہ ڈیموکریٹک پارٹی | HDP | 2003 | Centre-left | Abdul Khaliq Hazara | ||||
Jamhoori Wattan Party جمہوری وطن پارٹی Democratic National Party | JWP | 1990 | Centre-left [17] to Left-wing | Shahzain Bugti | ||||
Jamiat Ahle Hadith [f] جمیعت اہلِ حدیث المركزى جمعية اهلحديث الباكستان Assembly of People of Hadith | JAH | 1986 | Far-right | Sajid Mir | ||||
Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Imam Noorani) جمعیت علماء پاکستان (امام نورانی) Assembly of Islamic Clerics (Imam Noorani) | JUP-IN | 1948 | Right-wing | Shah Owais Noorani [18] | Religious politics (specifically Islamic) | |||
Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Noorani) جمعیت علماء پاکستان (نورانی) Assembly of Islamic Clerics (Noorani) | JUP-N | 1948 | Abul Khair Muhammad Zubair [16] | Religious politics (specifically Islamic) | ||||
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (S) جمعیت علمائے اسلام (س) Assembly of Islamic Clerics (S) | JUI-S | 1980 | Far-right | Hamid Ul Haq Haqqani [19] | ||||
Jamote Qaumi Movement جاموٹ قومی موومنٹ Jamote National Movement | JQM | 1996 | Mir Abdul Majid Abro | |||||
Muhajir Qaumi Movement – Haqiqi [g] مہاجر قومی موومنٹ حقیقی Muhajir National Movement - True | MQM-H | 1992 | Center-left | Afaq Ahmed | ||||
Mustaqbil Pakistan مستقبل پاکستان Future Pakistan | MP | 2010 | Nadeem Mumtaz Qureshi [20] | |||||
National Democratic Movement ملي جمهوري غورځنګ Millī Jumhūrī Ghōrźang قومی جمہوری تحریک | NDM | 2021 | Centre-left | Mohsin Dawar | ||||
National Democratic Party نیشنل ڈیموکریٹک پارٹی | NDP | 2018 | — | |||||
Pakistan Awami Tehreek پاکستان عوامی تحريک Pakistan People's Movement | PAT | 1989 | Centrism Fiscal: Centre-left Social: Centre-right | Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri | ||||
Pakistan Muslim League (J) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ج) | PML-J | 1988 | Muhammad Iqbal Dar [16] | |||||
Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto) پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی (شہید بھٹو) پيپلزپارٽي شهيدڀٽو Pakistan Peoples Party (Martyr Bhutto) | PPP-S | 1997 | Left-wing | Ghinwa Bhutto | ||||
Pakistan Peoples Party Workers پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی ورکرز | PPP-W | 2014 | Centre-left | Safdar Ali Abbasi | ||||
Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party پاکستان راہِ حق پارٹیي Pakistan Path of Truth Party | PRHP | 2012 | Far-right | Ibrahim Khan Qasmi | ||||
Pakistan Sunni Tehreek پاکستان سنی تحریک Pakistan Sunni Movement | PST | 1990 | Far-right | Sarwat Ejaz Qadri [6] | ||||
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Nazriati پاکستان تحریک انصاف نظریاتی Pakistan Movement for Justice Ideological | PTI-N | 2012 | Akhtar Iqbal Dar | |||||
Pasban-e-Pakistan [h] پاسبان پاکستان Guardians of Pakistan | PP | 2015 | Single-issue | Altaf Shakoor | ||||
Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party Pakistan پشتونخوا نیشنل عوامی پارٹی Pashtunkhwa National People's Party | PKNAP | 2022 | Left-wing | Khushal Khan Kakar | ||||
Qaumi Awami Tahreek قومی عوامی تحریک National People's Movement | QAT | 1970 | Left-wing to far-left | Ayaz Latif Palijo [16] | ||||
Qaumi Watan Party قومی وطن پارٹی قومي وطن ګوند National Homeland Party | QWP | 2012 | Centre-left | Aftab Ahmad Sherpao | ||||
Rabita Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam رابطہ جمعیت علمائے اسلام Associated Assembly of Islamic Clerics | RJUI | 2020 | Far-right | Muhammad Khan Sherani | ||||
Sindh United Party سندھ یونائیٹڈ پارٹی سنڌ يونائيٽڊ پارٽي | SUP | 2006 | Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah | |||||
Tabdeeli Pasand Party Pakistan تبدیلی پسند پارٹی پاکستان Progressive Party Pakistan | TPPP | 2012 | Ali Kazi [21] |
Party | Abrr. | Flag | Founded | Dissolved | Political position | Founder/Leader(s) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All Pakistan Awami Muslim League آل پاکستان عوامی مسلم لیگ নিখিল পাকিস্তান আওয়ামী মুসলিম লীগ All Pakistan People's Muslim League | APAML | 1950 | 1971 | Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy | ||||
Awami Jamhuri Ittehad Pakistan عوامی جمهوری اتحاد People's Democratic Alliance Pakistan | AJIP | 2012 | 2015 | Liaqat Khan Tarakai | ||||
Awami Raj Party [i] عوامی راج پارٹی People's Rule Party | ARJ | 2023 | Jamshed Dasti | |||||
Azad Pakistan Party آزاد پاکستان پارٹی Free Pakistan Party | APP | 1949 | 1957 | Left-wing | Mian Iftikharuddin | |||
Combined Opposition Parties اپوزیشن جماعتوں کی مشترکہ | COP | 1965 | 1965 | Big tent | Fatima Jinnah | |||
Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party کمیونسٹ مزدور کسان پارٹی Communist Workers and Farmers Party | CMKP | 1995 | 2015 | Far-left | ||||
Convention Muslim League کنونشن مسلم لیگ | ML-C | 1962 | 1970s | Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman [22] | ||||
Council Muslim League کونسل مسلم لیگ | ML-Co | 1962 | 1970s | Khawaja Nazimuddin [22] | ||||
Ganatantri Dal গণতন্ত্রী দল Democratic Party | GD | 1953 | 1957 | Mahmud Ali Haji Mohammad Danesh | ||||
Islami Jamhoori Ittehad اسلامی جمہوری اتحاد Islamic Democratic Alliance | IJI | 1988 | 1990 | Right-wing | Nawaz Sharif | |||
Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Nazryati جمعیت علمائے اسلام (نظریاتی) Assembly of Islamic Clerics (Ideological) | JUI-N | 2007 | 2016 | Maulvi Asmatullah | ||||
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam جمیعت علمائے اسلام Assembly of Islamic Clerics | JUI | 1945 | 1980 | Shabbir Ahmad Usmani | ||||
Khaksar movement تحریکِ خاکسار | KM | 1931 | 1970s | Inayatullah Khan Mashriqi | ||||
Labour Party Pakistan لیبر پارٹی پاکستان | LPP | 1986 | 2012 | Left-wing to far-left | ||||
Millat Party ملت پارٹی Nation Party | MP | 1997 | 2004 | Farooq Leghari | ||||
Muslim League مسلم لیگ মুসলিম লীগ | ML | 1947 | 1958 | Big tent | Muhammad Ali Jinnah | |||
National Awami Party نیشنل عوامی پارٹی ন্যাশনাল আওয়ামী পার্টি National People's Party | NAP | 1957 | 1962 | Left-wing | Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani | |||
National Awami Party (Wali) نیشنل عوامی پارٹی (ولي) National People's Party (Wali) | NAP-W | 1967 | 1986 | Left-wing | Khan Abdul Wali Khan | |||
National Peoples Party نیشنل پیپلز پارٹی | NPP | 1986 | 2013 | Mustafa Jatoi | ||||
National Workers Party نیشنل ورکرز پارٹی | NWP | 1999 | 2010 | Left-wing | Abid Hassan Minto | |||
Pakistan Democratic Party پاکستان جمہوری پارٹی | PDP | 1967 | 2012 | Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan | ||||
Pakistan Hindu Party پاکستان ہندو پارٹی | PHP | 1990 | Rana Chandra Singh | |||||
Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party پاکستان جسٹس وڈیموکریٹک پارٹی | PJDP | 2015 | 2023 | Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry | ||||
Pakistan Mazdoor Kissan Party پاکستان مزدور کسان پارٹی Pakistan Labourers and Farmers Party | PMKP | 1974 | 2015 | Afzal Shah Khamosh | ||||
Pakistan Muslim League پاکستان مسلم لیگ | PML | 1962 [j] 1969 [k] 1977 [l] | 1969 [j] 1977 [k] 1985 [l] | Ayub Khan | ||||
Pakistan Muslim League (Jinnah) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (جناح) | PML-J | 1995 | 2004 | Manzoor Wattoo | ||||
Pakistan Muslim League (Qayyum) پاکستان مسلم ليگ (قيوم) | PML-Qy | 1970 | 1993 | Abdul Qayyum Khan | ||||
Pakistan Peoples Muslim League پاکستان پیپلز مسلم لیگ Formerly Pakistan Muslim League (Like-Minded) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ہم خیال) | PPML | 2009 | 2013 | Arbab Ghulam Rahim | ||||
Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian (Patriots) | PPP-PP | 2002 | 2017 | Rao Sikander Iqbal Faisal Saleh Hayat | ||||
Pakistan Socialist Party پاکستان سوشلسٹ پارٹی | PSP | 1948 | 1958 | Left-wing | ||||
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Gulalai) [m] پاکستان تحريکِ انصاف (گلالئی) Pakistan Movment for Justice (Gulalai) | PTI-G | 2018 | 2023 | Ayesha Gulalai | ||||
Pak Sarzameen Party پاک سر زمین پارٹی Pure Homeland Party | PSP | 2016 | 2023 | Centre-left | Mustafa Kamal | |||
Pukhtoonkhwa Mazdoor Kissan Party پختونخواہ مزدور کسان پارٹی Pakhtunkhwa Labourers and Farmers Party | PkMKP | 1979 | 1989 | Sher Ali Bacha [23] | ||||
Qaumi Inqilabi Party قومی الانقلابی پارٹی National Revolutionary Party | QIP | 1987 | Left-wing | |||||
Republican Party ریپبلکن پارٹی | RP | 1955 | 1958 | Centre-right | Feroz Khan Noon | |||
Sindh Awami Ittehad سندھ عوامي اتحاد سنڌ عوامي اتحاد Sindh People's Alliance | SAI | 2012 | 2017 | Liaquat Ali Jatoi | ||||
Sindh Hari Committee سنڌ هاري ڪاميٽي Sindh Farmer Committee | SHC | 1930 | Left-wing | G. M. Syed | ||||
Sindh Mohajir Punjabi Pathan Muttahida Mahaz سندھ مہاجر پنجابی پٹھان متحدہ محاذ Sindh Muhajir Punjabi Pashtun United Front | SMPPMM | 1969 | Nawab Muzaffar Khan [24] | |||||
Sindh National Front سندھ نیشنل فرنٹ سنڌ نيشنل فرنٽ | SNF | 1989 | 2017 | Mumtaz Bhutto | ||||
Tehreek-e-Istiqlal تحریک استقلال Solidarity Movement | TI | 1970 | 2012 | Asghar Khan | ||||
Tehreek-e-Jafaria تحریک جعفریہ پاکستان Movement for Shia Law | TJ | 1979 | Far-right | Arif Hussain Hussaini | ||||
Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Pakistan تحریک تحفظ پاکستان Movement for the Protection of Pakistan | TTP | 2012 | 2013 | Centre | Abdul Qadeer Khan | |||
Workers Party Pakistan ورکرز پارٹی پاکستان | WPP | 2010 | 2012 | Far-left | Abid Hassan Minto |
Party | Abrr. | Flag | Date of foundation | Political position | Leader(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mazdoor Kisan Party مزدور کسان پارٹی Workers and Peasants Party | MKP | 1968 | Far-left | Afzal Shah Khamosh [25] | ||
Pakistan Christian Congress پاکستان کرسچین کانگریس | PCC | 1985 | Centre-right | Nazir S Bhatti | ||
Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party سنڌ ترقي پسند پارٽي سندھ ترقی پسند پارٹی Sindh Progressive Party | STP | 1991 | Left-wing | Qadir Magsi | ||
Pakistan Green Party پاکستان گرین پارٹی | PGP | 2002 | Green | Liaquat Ali Shaikh | ||
Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam مجلسِ احرارِ اسلام Assembly of the Free of Islam | MAI | 1929 | Far-right | Syed Muhammad Kafeel Bukhari [26] | ||
Communist Party of Pakistan کمیونسٹ پارٹی آف پاکستان | CPP | 1948 | Far-left | Jameel Ahmad Malik [27] | ||
Pakistan Social Democratic Party پاکستان سوشل ڈیموکریٹک پارٹی | PSDP | 2002 | Centre-left | Mujeeb ur Rehman Kiani | ||
Communist Party of Pakistan (Thaheem) کمیونسٹ پارٹی آف پاکستان (تھہیم) | CPP | 2002 | Far-left | Khadim Thaheem [28] | ||
All Pakistan Muslim League آل پاکستان مسلم لیگ | APML | 2010 | Centre to centre-right | — | ||
Bahawalpur National Awami Party بہاولپور نیشنل عوامی پارٹی Bahawalpur National People's Party | BNAP | 2010 | Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi | |||
Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement | GBUM | — | — | — | ||
All Pakistan Minorities Alliance آل پاکستان اقلیتی اتحاد | APML | Paul Bhatti | ||||
Muttahida Qaumi Movement – London متحدہ قومی موومنٹ لندن Muttaḥidah Qọ̄mī MūwmaṅṫUnited National Movement - London | MQM-L | 1984 | Altaf Hussain |
The Pakistan Muslim League (N) abbreviated as PML (N), (Urdu: پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن)) is a centre-right, conservative political party in Pakistan. It is currently the third-largest party in the Senate and the largest in the National Assembly. The party was founded in 1993, when a number of prominent conservative politicians in the country joined hands after the dissolution of Islamic Democratic Alliance, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The party's platform is generally conservative, which involves supporting free markets, deregulation, lower taxes and private ownership. Although the party historically supported social conservatism, in recent years, the party's political ideology and platform has become more liberal on social and cultural issues; however, members have been accused of using Islamist populist rhetoric. Alongside the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP), it is one of the three major political parties of the country.
The Pakistan Muslim League Urdu: پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ق); Pākistān Muslim Līg (Qāf), Acronyms: PML(Q), PML-Q, PMLQ, "Q League" is a political party in Pakistan. As of the 2024 parliamentary election, it has a representation of five seats. It previously served as an ally of former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf's government, and led a joint election campaign in 2013 alongside Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Punjab and Balochistan provinces against its rival Pakistan Muslim League (N), a fiscally conservative and centre-right force.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is a political party in Pakistan established in 1996 by Pakistani cricketer and politician Imran Khan, who served as the country's prime minister from 2018 to 2022. The PTI ranks among the three major Pakistani political parties alongside the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML–N) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), and it is the largest party in terms of representation in the National Assembly of Pakistan since the 2018 general election. With a claimed membership of over 10 million in Pakistan, it claims to be one of the country's largest political parties by primary membership.
The Awami National Party is a Pashtun nationalist, secular and leftist political party in Pakistan. The party was founded by Abdul Wali Khan in 1986 and its current president is Aimal Wali Khan, great-grandson of Bacha Khan, with Mian Iftikhar Hussain serving as the Secretary-General. Part of the PPP-led cabinet of the Pakistani government during 2008−13, ANP's political position is considered left-wing, advocating for secularism, public sector government, and social egalitarianism.
Chaudhry Parvez Elahi Warraich is a Pakistani politician who was the Chief Minister of Punjab from late 2002 to late 2007 and again from late 2022 to early 2023. He was a member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab from August 2018 till January 2023, when he, as chief minister, dissolved the assembly. In 2023, he left the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) along with his son, Moonis Elahi, and 10 other former PML(Q) MPAs over political rifts with the party president and cousin, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. He was appointed as, and is currently serving as the president of the PTI. He also served as the president of the Punjab Division of the PML(Q).
Tehreek-e-Istiqlal was a political party in Pakistan. It was once the second most popular political party in Pakistan. It was formed by Air Marshal Retd. Asghar Khan in 1970.
General elections were held in Pakistan on 10 October 2002 to elect the 12th National Assembly and four Provincial Assemblies. The elections were held under the military government of Pervez Musharraf. The two mainstream parties, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) had several restrictions imposed on them and their leaders Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were in exile. In order to address the restrictions, PPP created the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) under the leadership of Ameen Faheem, to contest the elections on its behalf. The PML-N meanwhile, suffering from the party's division into two factions: one that remained loyal to Sharif and were contesting the elections under the leadership of Javed Hashmi, and the other which had broken away to form the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML-Q) under the leadership of Mian Muhammad Azhar. The emergence of the PML-Q marked the beginning of multi-party politics in the country, bringing an end to the decade-long two-party system between the PPP and PML-N.
Liaquat Ali Jatoi is a Pakistani politician who was chief minister of Sindh from 1997–1998.
General elections were held in Pakistan on Saturday 11 May 2013 to elect the members of the 14th National Assembly and the four Provincial Assemblies. The three major parties were the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) led by Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) led by President Asif Ali Zardari and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by Imran Khan. Prior to the elections, the ruling PPP formed an alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and Awami National Party, while the main opposition party, the PML-N allied with the Pakistan Muslim League (F) and Baloch parties. The PTI led by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, also emerged as a key-player.
General elections were held in Pakistan on 25 July 2018 to elect the members of the 15th National Assembly and the four Provincial Assemblies. The three major parties were Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by Imran Khan, the Pakistan Muslim League, led by Shehbaz Sharif, and the Pakistan People's Party, led by Bilawal Bhutto. The PTI won the most seats in the National Assembly but fell short of a majority; the party subsequently formed a coalition government with several smaller parties. At the provincial level, the PTI remained the largest party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP); the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) retained its dominance in Sindh; and the newly formed Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) emerged as the largest party in Balochistan. In Punjab, the result was a hung parliament, with the Pakistan Muslim League (N) winning the most seats. However, after several independent MPAs joined the PTI, the latter became the largest party and was able to form a government.
Triennial Senate elections were in Pakistan held on 3 March 2018 to replace 52 retiring senators - half of the Senate's strength - with the winning candidates serving six-year terms. Overall, Pakistan Muslim League (N) came out as the largest party, followed by the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The results of these elections were steeped in controversy due to rampant allegations of horse trading and vote-buying, which lead to the Prime Minister and opposition leader Imran Khan calling for reforms. Prior to this election, PML (N) candidates were declared as independents by the Election Commission of Pakistan owing to a Supreme Court judgment.
Provincial elections were held in the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to elect the members of the 10th Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 11 May 2013, alongside nationwide general elections and three other provincial elections in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab. The remaining two territories of Pakistan, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, were ineligible to vote due to their disputed status.
Provincial elections were held in the Pakistani province of Punjab to elect the 16th Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 11 May 2013, alongside nationwide general elections and three other provincial elections in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The remaining two territories of Pakistan, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, were ineligible to vote due to their disputed status.
Provincial elections were held in the Pakistani province of Punjab on to elect the members of the 17th Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 25 July 2018, alongside nationwide general elections and three other provincial elections in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The remaining two territories of Pakistan, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, were ineligible to vote due to their disputed status.
Provincial elections were held in the Pakistani province of Sindh to elect the members of the 13th Provincial Assembly of Sindh on 25 July 2018, alongside nationwide general elections and three other provincial elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Punjab. The remaining two territories of Pakistan, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, were ineligible to vote due to their disputed status.
The 2020 Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections were held on 15 November 2020. Elections were held in 24 constituencies, each electing one member to the 3rd Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly. 330 candidates contested these elections, either representing one of the political parties of Gilgit-Baltistan or being an independent candidate.
The Pakistan Democratic Movement was a coalition of political parties in Pakistan. It was founded in September 2020 as a opposition movement against Imran Khan, accusing his administration of poor governance, political victimization of opponents, and mismanaging the economy and foreign policy. Khan rebuked these allegations, during and after his tenure as Prime Minister
Raja Azam Khan Amacha is a Pakistani politician and has been a member of the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly since November 2020. He became Head of the ruling family of the former princely state of Shigar after the death of his father Raja Muhammad Ali Shah Saba. He is the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate for the position of Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Muhammad Khalid Khurshid Khan is a politician who served as the President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Gilgit-Baltistan from May 2022 to December 2023 and as the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, a territory in Northern Pakistan until he was disqualified from his post on 4 July 2023 by the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court. He was also a member of the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly from 25 November 2020 until his disqualification.
General elections were held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday, 25 July 2018 to elect the 51 members of 15th National Assembly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) obtained a landslide victory in the province by winning 37 general seats and increased their margin of victory from 2013. The PTI also won 8 out of 10 reserved seats while the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) won 1 reserved seat each.
The civil-military establishment ruled Supreme for 60 years - from 1947 to 2007 - by crushing or betraying social movements and preventing the development of society.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)... Over the next decade, she alternated power with the conservative Pakistan Muslim League-N(PML(N)) led by Nawaz Sharif, as the country's political and economic situation deteriorated. ...
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)