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List of heads of state of Pakistan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of the heads of state of Pakistan, from the foundation of Pakistan in 1947 to the present day. The current head of state of Pakistan is Asif Ali Zardari, elected in 2024 after being nominated by the Pakistan People's Party.

From 1947 to 1956 the head of state was the Pakistani monarch, who was the same person as the monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The Monarch was represented in Pakistan by the Governor-General. Pakistan became a republic under the Constitution of 1956 and the Monarch and Governor-General were replaced by a ceremonial President.

Monarchy (1947–1956)

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The succession to the throne of Pakistan was the same as the succession to the British throne.

No. Portrait Monarch
(Birth–Death)
Reign Prime ministers
Start End Total
1 George VI
(1895–1952)
14 August 1947 6 February 1952 4 years, 176 days Khan
Nazimuddin
2 Elizabeth II
(1926–2022)
6 February 1952 23 March 1956 4 years, 46 days
Bogra
Ali

Governors-General

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The Governor-General was the representative of the monarch in Pakistan and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The Governor-General was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Pakistan without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Monarch
(Reign)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Muhammad Ali Jinnah
(1876–1948)
14 August 1947 11 September 1948 1 year, 28 days
George VI
(1947–1952)
2 Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin
(1894–1964)
14 September 1948 17 October 1951 3 years, 33 days
3 Sir Ghulam Muhammad
(1895–1956)
17 October 1951 7 August 1955 3 years, 294 days

Elizabeth II
(1952–1956)
4 Iskandar Ali Mirza
(1899–1969)
7 August 1955 23 March 1956 229 days

Republic (1956–present)

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Under the 1956 Constitution, the first constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state. The President was elected by the Electoral College for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Chairman of the Senate served as Acting President.

Presidents

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Elected Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Iskandar Ali Mirza
(1899–1969)
23 March 1956 27 October 1958 2 years, 218 days Republican Party [1]
2 Ayub Khan
(1907–1974)
27 October 1958 8 June 1962 3 years, 224 days Military
8 June 1962 25 March 1969 6 years, 290 days Pakistan Muslim League PML (C) 1965
3 Yahya Khan
(1917–1980)
25 March 1969 20 December 1971 2 years, 270 days Military [1][2][page needed]
4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
(1928–1979)
20 December 1971 14 August 1973 1 year, 237 days Pakistan People's Party [1]
5 Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry
(1904–1982)
14 August 1973 16 September 1978 5 years, 33 days Pakistan People's Party 1973
6 Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
(1924–1988)
16 September 1978 17 August 1988 9 years, 336 days Military
7 Ghulam Ishaq Khan
(1915–2006)
17 August 1988 18 July 1993 4 years, 335 days Independent 1988
Wasim Sajjad
(born 1941)
acting
18 July 1993 14 November 1993 119 days Pakistan Muslim League (N)
8 Farooq Leghari
(1940–2010)
14 November 1993 2 December 1997 4 years, 18 days Pakistan People's Party 1993
Wasim Sajjad
(born 1941)
acting
2 December 1997 1 January 1998 30 days Pakistan Muslim League (N)
9 Muhammad Rafiq Tarar
(1929–2022)
1 January 1998 20 June 2001 3 years, 170 days Pakistan Muslim League (N) 1997
10 Pervez Musharraf
(1943–2023)
20 June 2001 15 October 2007 6 years, 117 days Military 2004 [1][3]
19 November 2007 18 August 2008 273 days Pakistan Muslim League (Q) 2007 [1]
Muhammad Mian Soomro
(born 1950)
acting
18 August 2008 9 September 2008 22 days Pakistan Muslim League (N)
11 Asif Ali Zardari
(born 1955)
9 September 2008 9 September 2013 5 years Pakistan People's Party 2008
12 Mamnoon Hussain
(1940–2021)
9 September 2013 9 September 2018 5 years Pakistan Muslim League (N) 2013
13 Arif Alvi
(born 1949)
9 September 2018 10 March 2024 5 years, 183 days Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf 2018
14 Asif Ali Zardari
(born 1955)
10 March 2024 Incumbent 268 days Pakistan People's Party 2024

Timeline

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Arif AlviMamnoon HussainAsif Ali ZardariMuhammad Mian SoomroPervez MusharrafMuhammad Rafiq TararFarooq LeghariWasim SajjadGhulam Ishaq KhanMuhammad Zia-ul-HaqFazal Ilahi ChaudhryZulfikar Ali BhuttoYahya KhanAyub KhanIskander Mirza

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Presidents". National Assembly of Pakistan. 11 August 2023. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ Burki, Shahid Javed; Baxter, Craig (1991). Pakistan Under The Military: Eleven Years Of Zia Ul-haq. Westview Press. ISBN 978-0813379852.
  3. ^ Waldman, Amy (2 January 2004). "Pakistan gives Musharraf confidence vote as president". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
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