Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan

The deputy prime minister of Pakistan, previously known as the senior minister of Pakistan, is the second-most senior minister of the Government of Pakistan, deputy to the prime minister. The main purpose of the post was to give a backup to the government in the absence of the Prime Minister.
As a result of a 2012 agreement between the ruling Pakistan People's Party and the PML-Q to share ministries in the federal cabinet, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was made the first deputy prime minister. For eleven years the office remained vacant until Shehbaz Sharif appointed Ishaq Dar as Deputy Prime Minister as an additional charge to Dar's portfolio of Foreign Minister.

WWW pakistan.gov.pk

History

Nusrat Bhutto served as Senior Federal Minister of the Cabinet in her daughter's government. She is often described as deputy prime minister. Before that Z.A. Bhutto served as the first deputy prime minister of Pakistan in Nurul Amin's regime.
On 25 June 2012, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi was appointed as the deputy prime minister of Pakistan. He also held different offices in the federal cabinet. The post, for which there is no constitutional provision, was a result of the agreement between the government and PML-Q leadership. The notification described that Elahi's appointment was carried out on immediate basis and will be valid until a new order is issued. The notification further stated that "Elahi will not possess the powers of the prime minister". Following negotiations between the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and 15 members of his party were inducted into the Federal Cabinet.
On April 28, 2024, Shehbaz Sharif through a notification issued by the Cabinet Division appointed Ishaq Dar as Deputy Prime Minister.

Powers and responsibilities

The post is symbolic, non-constitutional and without specific authorities, created only to ceremonially protect the space of the prime minister in his/her absence. The post does not carry particular responsibilities, although it is granted oversight over a number of ministries in the cabinet and the deputy prime minister works in his/her capacity as a "Senior federal minister". Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had worked as a Senior minister in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, another post without any reasonable powers. Previously, the Senior minister post was occupied by Begum Nusrat Bhutto and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, in the governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, respectively. Due to the ambiguity of any constitutional definition of Ishaq Dar's role as Deputy Prime Minister, his current duties and authorities are uncertain in the office.

2012 Constitutional petition

On 28 June 2012, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the validity of the post. The petitioner told the court there is no space for any such position in the Constitution of Pakistan and insisted the court to dismiss the post. The post was also challenged in the Lahore High Court under the violation to the article 91 of the constitution. The petitioner appealed the court that "this appointment was ill-intended and should be declared void." A petition was also filed in the Sindh High Court which was rejected by the court.