Pakistan

Population: 159,196,336 (July 2004 est.)

Capital: Islamabad
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An Introduction to Pakistan
The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely
Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved. A third war between these countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan
seceding and becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan
conducted its own tests in 1998. The dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing, but recent discussions and
confidence-building measures may be a start toward lessened tensions.

Map of Pakistan ( Location ) : 30 00 N, 70 00 E, Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and
Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north. For additional reports and educational information specific to
Pakistan, refer to the Country Info menubar to the upper right.
The Pakistani Flag
Green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a
large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green
are traditional symbols of Islam.

Pakistan
Population: 159,196,336 (July 2004 est.)
Capital: Islamabad
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Backgrounds: Pakistan Government
President Pervez Musharraf has been chief of state since June 20, 2001, although he first took power in the October
1999 coup and took on the title of Chief Executive. A prolonged confrontation over authority between Parliament and
the President ended in December 2002 with a compromise which permitted passage of the Legal Framework Order
(LFO) of 2002, under the terms of which President Musharraf agreed that he will step down from his military position
as Commander-in-Chief in late 2004. Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has been head of government since
November 23, 2002.

The Pakistan Constitution of 1973, amended substantially in 1985 under Muhammad Zia ul-Haq, was suspended by
the military government in October 1999. It was restored on December 31, 2002. Selected provisions of the
Constitution pertaining to changes that President Musharraf made while the Constitution was suspended remain
contested by political opponents.

The president is elected by Parliament for a 5-year term. The prime minister is selected by the National Assembly for
a 4-year term. The bicameral Parliament--or Majlis-e-Shoora--consists of the Senate (100 seats; members are
indirectly elected by provincial assemblies to serve 4-year terms) and the National Assembly (342 seats; 60 seats
reserved for women, 10 seats reserved for minorities; members elected by popular vote serve 4-year terms). Each of
the four provinces--Punjab, Sindh, Northwest Frontier, and Balochistan--is headed by a governor and provincial
cabinet, who are civilians appointed by the chief executive. The Northern Areas and Federally Administered Tribal
Areas (FATA) are administered by the federal government but enjoy considerable autonomy. The president, cabinet,
National Security Council, and governors serve at the chief executive's discretion.

The judicial system comprises a Supreme Court, provincial high courts, and Federal Islamic (or Shari'a) Court. The
Supreme Court is Pakistan's highest court. The president, in consultation with the chief executive, appoints the chief
justice and they together determine the other judicial appointments. Each province has a high court, the justices of
which are appointed by the president after conferring with the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the provincial
chief justice. The judiciary is proscribed from issuing any order contrary to the decisions of the chief executive.

The Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) are national political parties, while the
Muttahid Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) -- an umbrella group of six religious parties, including the Jamaat-I-Islami --gained
significant influence during the last election. Other parties with a strong regional, ethnic, or religious base include the
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). After the elections held in late 2002, the Pakistani political system remains
highly fragmented, with no group winning a substantial majority of seats in the legislature, and religious groups
banding together in the MMA to earn a very significant portion of seats for the first time.

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Pakistan
Population: 159,196,336 (July 2004 est.)
Capital: Islamabad
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Tabular Data - Government of Pakistan

Country Name Info : conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan

conventional short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan
Government Type : federal republic
Capital : Islamabad
Administrative 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan,
Divisions : Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital
 Territory**, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh
note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed
Jammu and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the
Northern Areas
Independence : 14 August 1947 (from UK)
National Holiday : Republic Day, 23 March (1956)
Constitution : 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with
amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October
1999, restored 31 December 2002
Legal System : based on English common law with provisions to
accommodate Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage : 18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved
parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims
Executive Branch : note: following a military takeover on 12 October 1999, Chief
of Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Committee, General Pervez MUSHARRAF, suspended
Pakistan's constitution and assumed the additional title of
Chief Executive; on 12 May 2000, Pakistan's Supreme Court
unanimously validated the October 1999 coup and granted
MUSHARRAF executive and legislative authority for three
years from the coup date; on 20 June 2001, MUSHARRAF
named himself as president and was sworn in, replacing
Mohammad Rafiq TARAR; in a referendum held on 30 April
2002, MUSHARRAF's presidency was extended by five more
years; on 1 January 2004, MUSHARRAF won a vote of
confidence in the Senate, National Assembly, and four
provincial assemblies
chief of state: President Pervez MUSHARRAF (since 20 June
2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Shaukat AZIZ (since 28
August 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the Prime Minister
elections: the president is elected by Parliament for a five-year
term; note - in a referendum held on 30 April 2002,
MUSHARRAF's presidency was extended by five more years
(next to be held NA 2007); the prime minister is selected by
the National Assembly for a five-year term (next to be held NA
2007)
election results: AZIZ elected by the National Assembly on 27
August 2004 with 191 of the votes
Legislative Branch : bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the
Senate (100 seats - formerly 87; members indirectly elected by
provincial assemblies to serve four-year terms; and the
National Assembly (342 seats - formerly 217; 60 seats
represent women; 10 seats represent minorities; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 24 and 27 February 2003 (next to
be held by February 2007); National Assembly - last held 10
October 2002 (next to be held by October 2006)
election results: Senate results - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PML/Q 40, PPPP 11, MMA 21, MQM/A 6,
PML/N 4, NA 3, PML/F 1, PkMAP 2, ANP 2, PPP/S 2, JWP 1,
BNP-Awami 1, BNP-Mengal 1, BNM/H 1, independents 4;
National Assembly results - percent of votes by party - NA;
seats by party - PML/Q 126, PPPP 81, MMA 63, PML/N 19,
 MQM/A 17, NA 16, PML/F 5, PML/J 3, PPP/S 2, BNP 1, JWP
1, PAT 1, PML/Z 1, PTI 1, MQM/H 1, PkMAP 1, independents
3
Judicial Branch : Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal
Islamic or Shari'a Court
Political Parties and Awami National Party or ANP [Wali KHAN]; Balochistan
Leaders : National Movement/Hayee Group or BNM/H [Dr. Hayee
BALUCH]; Baluch National Party or BNP [Sardar Akhtar
MENGAL]; Baluch National Party/Awami or BNP/Awami
[Moheem Khan BALOCH]; Jamhoori Watan Party or JWP
[Akbar Khan BUGTI]; Jamiat-al-Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR];
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F [Fazlur
REHMAN]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami ul-HAQ faction or
JUI/S [Sami ul-HAQ]; Jamiat-i-Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain
AHMED]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani faction or JUP/NO
[leader NA]; Millat Party or MP [Farooq LEGHARI]; Muttahida
Qaumi Movement, Altaf faction or MQM/A [Altaf HUSSAIN];
Muhajir Quami Movement, Haqiqi faction or MQM/H [Afaq
AHMAD]; Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan or MMA [leader
NA]; National Alliance or NA [Farooq Ahmad Khan LEGHARI];
National People's Party or NPP [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI];
Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PkMAP [Mahmood Khan
ACHAKZAI]; Pakhtun Quami Party or PQP [Mohammed Afzal
KHAN]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI];
Pakistan Democratic Party or PDP [Mehbooba Mufti
SAYEED]; Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group or
PML/F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim League, Junejo faction
or PML/J [Hamid Nasir CHATTHA]; Pakistan Muslim League,
Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan
Muslim League, Quaid-l-Azam faction or PML/Q [Chaudhry
Shujjat HUSSAIN]; Pakistan Muslim League, Zia-ul-HAQ or
PML/Z [Ejaz ul-Haq]; Pakistan National Party or PNP [Hasil
BIZENJO]; Pakistan People's Party or PPP [Benazir
BHUTTO]; Pakistan People's Party/Sherpao or PPP/S [Aftab
Ahmed Khan SHERPAO]; Pakistan People's Party/Shaheed
Bhutto or PPP/SB [Ghinva BHUTTO]; Pakistan People's Party
Parliamentarians or PPPP [Amin FAHIM]; Pakistan Tehrik-e-
Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]; Tehrik-i-Islami [Allama Sajid
NAQVI]
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently
Political Pressure military remains most important political force; ulema (clergy),
Groups and Leaders : landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential
International AsDB, C (suspended), CP, ECO, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
Organization IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
Participation : IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,
MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC,
UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNMIL,
UNMISET, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Jehangir KARAMAT
Representation In The chancery: 3517 International Court, Washington, DC 20008
US : telephone: [1]  (202) 243-3277 
FAX: [1] (202) 686-1534
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York, and Boston
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy J. POWELL
Representation From embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
 The US : mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-
2200
telephone: [92] (51) 2080-0000
FAX: [92] (51) 2276427
consulate(s): Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar

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Pakistan
Population: 159,196,336 (July 2004 est.)
Capital: Islamabad
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Tabular Data - Political Leaders of Pakistan

Position Held: By Individual:

President Musharraf Pervez, Gen.
Prime Minister Aziz, Shaukat
Min. of Commerce Akhtar Khan, Humayun
Min. of Communication Siddiqui, Muhammad Shamim
Min. of Defense Iqbal, Rao Sikandar
Min. of Defense Production Warraich, Habibullah Khan
Min. of Education Qazi, Javel Ashraf
Min. of Environment Iqbal, Tahir
Min. of Finance Aziz, Shaukat
Min. of Foreign Affairs Kasuri, Mian Khurshid Mehmood
Min. of Health Khan, Mohammad Naseer
Min. of Housing & Works Syed, Safwanullah
Min. of Industries & Production Tareen, Jehangir Khan
Min. of Information & Broadcasting Rashid Ahmed, Sheikh
Min. of Information Technology Leghari, Awais Ahmad Khan
Min. of Interior Sherpao, Aftab Ahmed Khan
Min. of Kashmir Affairs Hayat, Faisal Saleh
Min. of Labor, Manpower, & Overseas Pakistanis Khan, Ghulam Sarwar
Min. of Law, Justice, & Human Rights Kasuri, Mian Khurshid Mehmood
Min. of Local Govt. & Rural Development Thaheem, Abdur Razzaq
Min. of Narcotics Control Mahar, Ghaus
Min. of Parliamentary Affairs Niazi Sher Afghan Khan, Dr.
Min. of Petroleum & Natural Resources Jadoon, Amanullah Khan
Min. of Population Welfare Hussain, Chaudhry Shahbaz
Min. of Ports & Shipping Ghauri, Babar Khan
Min. of Privatization & Investment Shaikh, Abdul Hafeez
Min. of Railways Haider, Mian Shamim
Min. of Religious Affairs, Zakat, & Ushr Ul-Haq, Ijaz
Min. of Science & Technology Shakur, Nurez
Min. of Sports & Culture Khan, Muhammad Ajmal
Min. of States & Frontier Regions Rind, Yar Muhammad
Min. of Textiles Cheema, Mushtaq Ali
Min. of Tourism Jamal Ghazi Gulab, Dr.
Min. of Water & Power Jatoi, Liaquat Ali
Min. of Women's Development Jalal, Zobaida
Attorney General Khan, Makhdoom Ali
Governor, State Bank Hussain, Ishrat
Ambassador to the US Karamat Jehangir, Gen. (Ret.)
Permanent Representative to the UN, New York Akram, Munir
 
Chiefs of State listings last updated October 28, 2004
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