President 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 federal parliament, the first citizen of the country, and the supreme commander of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Serving as the ceremonial head of the federation, the president is bound to act on advice of the prime minister and the federal cabinet. Asif Ali Zardari is the 14th and current president, having assumed the presidency on 10 March 2024.
The office of president was created upon the proclamation of Islamic Republic on 23 March 1956. The then serving governor-general, Major General Iskander Mirza, assumed office as the first president. Following the 1958 coup d'etat, the office of prime minister was abolished, leaving the Presidency as the most powerful office in the country. This position was further strengthened when the 1962 Constitution was adopted. It turned Pakistan into a Presidential Republic, giving all executive powers to the president. In 1973, the new Constitution established Parliamentary democracy and reduced the president's role to a ceremonial one. Nevertheless, the military takeover in 1977 reversed the changes. The 8th Amendment turned Pakistan into a semi-presidential republic and in the period between 1985 and 2010, the executive power was shared by the president and prime minister. The 18th Amendment in 2010 restored Parliamentary Democracy in the country, and reduced the presidency to a ceremonial position.
The constitution prohibits the president from directly running the government. Instead, the executive power is exercised on his behalf by the prime minister who keeps him informed on all matters of internal and foreign policy, as well as all legislative proposals. The Constitution however, vests the President with the powers of granting pardons, reprieves, and the control over military; however, all appointments at higher commands of the military must be made by the President on a "required and necessary" basis, upon consultation and approval from the prime minister.
The president is indirectly elected by the Electoral College for a five-year term. The Constitution requires the president to be a "Muslim of not less than forty five years of age". The president resides in an estate in Islamabad known as Aiwan-e-Sadar. In his absence, the chairman of Senate exercises the responsibilities of the post, until the actual president resumes office, or the next office holder is elected.
There have been a total of 14 presidents. The first president was Iskander Ali Mirza who entered office on 23 March 1956. The current President is Asif Ali Zardari, who took charge on 10 March 2024, following his controversial victory in the 2024 election.

Powers and authority

Role of the President

The Official Residence and the Workplace of the President is Aiwan-e-Sadr— the presidential palace located in northeastern Islamabad. The presidency forms the vital institutional organ of state and is part of the bicameral Parliament.
Powers to exercise the authority are limited to the ceremonial figurehead, and required to address the Parliament to give a direction for national policies before being informed of its key decisions.
In addition, the president is also a civil commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces, with Chairman of the joint chiefs being its chief military adviser to maintain the civilian control of the Pakistani military. After a thorough confirmation comes from the Prime minister, the President confirms the judicial appointments in the national court system. In addition, the Constitution allows the president to grant pardons, reprieves, and clemency in cases recommended to him by the executive and the judiciary. The president himself has absolute constitutional immunity from criminal and civil proceedings, and no proceedings can be initiated or continued against him during the term of his office.

Legislative powers

  • According to Article 50 of the Constitution the Parliament of Pakistan consists of the president and two Houses known as the National Assembly and the Senate.
  • The president shall assent to a bill within ten days after it has been presented to him for assent. if the president fails to do so he shall be deemed to have assented to the bill at the expiration of the period. When the president has assented or is deemed to have assented to a bill, it shall become law and be called Act of Parliament.
  • He can prorogue and summon sessions of Parliament both National Assembly and Senate.
  • The president may address either House or both Houses of Parliament jointly and may for that purpose oblige the attendance of the Members.
  • The president may refer back to Parliament for revision any law or any of its provisions which has come to him for signature after the approval of Parliament.
  • The president has the right to speak in parliament.
  • The president may send a message about a Bill pending in the parliament. The House to which the message is sent shall take into consideration the matter of the message as soon as possible.
  • He can dissolve National Assembly on advice of the prime minister. The president may dissolve the National Assembly in his discretion where, a vote of no-confidence having been passed against the prime minister, no other member of the National Assembly commands the confidence of the majority of the members of the National Assembly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, as ascertained in a session of the National Assembly summoned for the purpose.
  • He can promulgate ordinances when he is satisfied that Parliament is not in session on advice of the Cabinet or the prime minister.
  • He can summons a joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate.
  • He also assents the Federal Finance bill passed by Parliament.
  • He also assents constitutional amendment bills passed by Parliament.

    Executive powers

  • He is the constitutional and ceremonial head of the state. All executive powers are exercised by the federal government consisting of the prime minister and the federal Cabinet on his behalf. He is bound to act on advice of the prime minister or the Cabinet. He can act in his discretion where constitution allows him to do those things in his discretion.
  • The duties of the president under their oath is to protect, defend and preserve the constitution and the law.
  • The president shall appoint federal ministers and ministers of the state from amongst the members of Parliament on the advice of the prime minister.
  • President appoints advisers on the advice of the prime minister.
  • He also appoints caretaker prime ministers and caretaker federal Cabinets on advice of caretaker prime ministers.
  • President appoints the governors of provinces on advice of the prime minister.
  • He appoints the chief election commissioner and members of Election Commission of Pakistan after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of opposition.
  • He can remove the prime minister in his discretion when the prime minister fails a confidence vote from the National Assembly.
  • The prime minister shall keep the president informed on all matters of internal and foreign policy and on all legislative proposals the federal government intends to bring before Majlis-e-Shoora.
  • He receives credentials of foreign ambassadors and high commissioners.
  • It is also the power of the president to assign rights to ambassadors sent to different countries and to host different heads of state visiting the country.
  • He takes the oaths from the prime minister, federal ministers, ministers of state, and advisers and also from the caretaker prime minister and the caretaker Cabinet.
  • The functions of the cabinet and the prime minister shall be aid and advice the president.
  • The president of Pakistan may cause the issue to be referred to as a referendum in the form of a question that is capable of holding a referendum on advice of prime minister.
  • He has authority to promulgate orders on advice of the prime minister or respective ministries and departments.
  • He also takes oath from chairmen and heads of different organisations like the chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission and the federal ombudsman.
  • When the president dissolves the National Assembly, he is bound to fix a date, not later than 90 days from the date of such dissolution for the holding of the general elections to the Assembly.
  • When the National Assembly is dissolved for any reason or completes its constitutional term, the president conducts general elections under his supervision.

    Judicial powers

  • He can appoint Chief Justice of Supreme Court on recommendations of parliamentary committee consisting of members of National Assembly and Senate.Parliamentary Committee send name of selected Chief Justice to Prime Minister and Prime Minister advises President to appoint that Chief Justice to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
  • He appoints Chief Justices of High Courts of Provinces and Islamabad High Court.
  • He can also appoint Judges and ad hoc Judges of Supreme Court as well as Judges and Additional Judges of High Courts on recommendations of Judicial Commission of Pakistan.
  • He can remove any judge from their position when Supreme Judicial Council recommends President removed that judge after that judge is proven guilty by Supreme Judicial Council.
  • The President determines and approves the salaries of Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts and Federal Constitution Court of Pakistan.
  • He also appoint chief justice and justices of Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan.
  • The President of Pakistan may transfer any judge of a High Court from one High Court to another, on recommandations of Judicial Commission of Pakistan and after discussion by the President with the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the chief Justices of both High courts.
  • The President of Pakistan shall have the power to Grant Pardon, acquittal and relief and to remit, postpone or convert any punishment passed by any court, tribunal or other Authority.
  • He also appoints Chief Justice and Judges of Federal Shariat Court.
  • He can also file reference against any judge of Supreme Court and High Court on advice of cabinet or relevant authority.
  • This is the power of the president to refer any law made by parliament to the Islamic ideology council for review and recommendation.
  • He also takes oath from Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court and Chief Justice of Federal Constitution Court of Pakistan.