In this topic (7 tutorials)
Pakistan's Political System
Questions on Pakistan's political and governmental structure are a staple in CSS, PMS, PPSC, and FPSC exams. This covers the constitutional framework, branches of government, and key political developments.
1. Government Structure
- Type: Federal Parliamentary Republic
- Head of State: President (largely ceremonial)
- Head of Government: Prime Minister (executive authority)
- Legislature: Bicameral Parliament (National Assembly + Senate)
- National Assembly: 336 seats (266 general + 60 women + 10 minorities)
- Senate: 96 seats, equal provincial representation
2. Provincial Governments
- Each province has a Governor (appointed by President) and Chief Minister (elected)
- Provincial Assemblies legislate on provincial subjects
- Punjab: 371 seats, Sindh: 168, KP: 145, Balochistan: 65
- Local government system operates under provincial frameworks
3. Judiciary
- Supreme Court - Apex court, Chief Justice heads it
- High Courts - One in each province (Lahore, Sindh, Peshawar, Balochistan, Islamabad)
- Federal Shariat Court - Examines laws against Islamic principles
- Judicial independence ensured under the 18th and 19th Amendments
4. Key Constitutional Amendments
- 8th Amendment (1985) - Gave president power to dissolve NA
- 13th Amendment (1997) - Removed president's dissolution power
- 17th Amendment (2003) - Restored dissolution power under Musharraf
- 18th Amendment (2010) - Major decentralization, restored parliamentary supremacy
- 25th Amendment (2018) - Merged FATA with KP
- 26th Amendment (2024) - Judicial reforms, Changes to appointment procedures
5. Key Political Milestones
- 1956: First constitution adopted (republic declared)
- 1958: First martial law (Ayub Khan)
- 1962: Second constitution (presidential system)
- 1971: Fall of East Pakistan (Bangladesh)
- 1973: Current constitution adopted (parliamentary system)
- 1977-1988: Zia-ul-Haq era and Islamization
- 1988-1999: Democratic era (Benazir/Nawaz governments)
- 1999-2008: Musharraf era
- 2008 onwards: Democratic continuity
Key Takeaways
- Pakistan has a federal parliamentary republic system
- 18th Amendment is the most significant constitutional change
- National Assembly has 336 total seats
- Senate has 96 seats with equal provincial representation
- Know all major constitutional amendments and their impact
Preparation Tips
1
Memorize key amendment numbers and their effects
2
Read the relevant articles of the 1973 Constitution
3
Study Supreme Court landmark judgments for CSS
4
Keep up with current political developments
Recommended Books
Constitutional & Political History of Pakistan
by Hamid Khan
Definitive work on Pakistan's constitutional development
Pakistan Studies
by Ikram Rabbani
Standard reference for political system overview