c


   

?

? ?

Pakistan's independence was won through a democratic and constitutional struggle. Although the country's
record with parliamentary democracy has been mixed, Pakistan, after lapses, has returned to this form of
government. The constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 provides for a federal parliamentary
system with a president as head of state and a popularly elected prime minister as head of government.



The president, in keeping with the constitutional provision that the state religion is Islam, must be a Muslim.
Elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of members of the Senate and National Assembly
and members of the provincial assemblies, the president is eligible for reelection. But no individual may hold
the office for more than two consecutive terms. The president may resign or be impeached and may be
removed from office for incapacity or gross misconduct by a two-thirds vote of the members of the parliament.
The president generally acts on the advice of the prime minister but has important residual powers. One of the
most important--a legacy of Zia--is contained in the Eighth Amendment, which gives the president the power to
dissolve the National Assembly "in his discretion where, in his opinion . . . a situation has arisen in which the
Government of the Federation cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and
an appeal to the electorate is necessary."

    c


The bicameral federal legislature is the Majlis-i-Shoora (Council of Advisers), consisting of the Senate (upper
house) and National Assembly (lower house). Members of the National Assembly are elected by universal adult
suffrage (over eighteen years of age in Pakistan). Seats are allocated to each of the four provinces, the Federally
Administered Tribal Areas, and Islamabad Capital Territory on the basis of population. National Assembly
?
members serve for the parliamentary term, which is five years, unless they die or resign sooner, or unless the
National Assembly is dissolved. Although the vast majority of the members are Muslim, about 5 percent of the
seats are reserved for minorities, including Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs. Elections for minority seats are held
on the basis of joint electorates at the same time as the polls for Muslim seats during the general elections.

The prime minister is appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly. The
prime minister is assisted by the Federal Cabinet, a council of ministers whose members are appointed by the
president on the advice of the prime minister. The Federal Cabinet comprises the ministers, ministers of state,
and advisers.

The Senate is a permanent legislative body with equal representation from each of the four provinces, elected
by the members of their respective provincial assemblies. There are representatives from the Federally
Administered Tribal Areas and from Islamabad Capital Territory. The chairman of the Senate, under the
constitution, is next in line to act as president should the office become vacant and until such time as a new
president can be formally elected. Both the Senate and the National Assembly can initiate and pass legislation
except for finance bills. Only the National Assembly can approve the federal budget and all finance bills. In the
case of other bills, the president may prevent passage unless the legislature in joint sitting overrules the
president by a majority of members of both houses present and voting.

Other offices and bodies having important roles in the federal structure include the attorney general, the
auditor general, the Federal Land Commission, the Federal Public Service Commission, Election Commission of
Pakistan, and the Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman).


 

 c


Pakistan's four provinces enjoy considerable autonomy. Each province has a governor, a Council of Ministers
headed by a chief minister appointed by the governor, and a provincial assembly. Members of the provincial
assemblies are elected by universal adult suffrage. Provincial assemblies also have reserved seats for
minorities. Although there is a well-defined division of responsibilities between federal and provincial
governments, there are some functions on which both can make laws and establish departments for their
execution. Most of the services in areas such as health, education, agriculture, and roads, for example, are
provided by the provincial governments. Although the federal government can also legislate in these areas, it
only makes national policy and handles international aspects of those services.

 
 

The judiciary includes the Supreme Court, provincial high courts, and other lesser courts exercising civil and
criminal jurisdiction. The chief justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the president; the other Supreme
Court judges are appointed by the president after consultation with the chief justice. The chief justice and
judges of the Supreme Court may remain in office until age sixty-five. The Supreme Court has original,
appellate, and advisory jurisdiction. Judges of the provincial high courts are appointed by the president after
consultation with the chief justice of the Supreme Court, as well as the governor of the province and the chief
justice of the high court to which the appointment is being made. High courts have original and appellate
jurisdiction.

There is also a Federal Shariat Court consisting of eight Muslim judges, including a chief justice appointed by
the president. Three of the judges are ulama, that is, Islamic Scholars, and are well versed in Islamic law. The
Federal Shariat Court has original and appellate jurisdiction. This court decides whether any law is repugnant to
the injunctions of Islam. When a law is deemed repugnant to Islam, the president, in the case of a federal law,
or the governor, in the case of a provincial law, is charged with taking steps to bring the law into conformity
with the injunctions of Islam. The court also hears appeals from decisions of criminal courts under laws relating
to the enforcement of hudood laws that is, laws pertaining to such offences as intoxication, theft, and unlawful
sexual intercourse.

In addition, there are special courts and tribunals to deal with specific kinds of cases, such as drug courts,
commercial courts, labor courts, traffic courts, an insurance appellate tribunal, an income tax appellate
tribunal, and special courts for bank offences. There are also special courts to try terrorists. Appeals from
special courts go to high courts except for labor and traffic courts, which have their own forums for appeal.
Appeals from the tribunals go to the Supreme Court.

A further feature of the judicial system is the office of Wafaqi Mohtasib (Ombudsman), which is provided for in
the constitution. The office of Mohtasib was established in many early Muslim states to ensure that no wrongs
were done to citizens. Appointed by the president, the Mohtasib holds office for four years; the term cannot be
extended or renewed. The Mohtasib's purpose is to institutionalize a system for enforcing administrative
accountability, through investigating and rectifying any injustice done to a person through maladministration
by a federal agency or a federal government official. The Mohtasib is empowered to award compensation to
those who have suffered loss or damage as a result of maladministration. Excluded from jurisdiction, however,
are personal grievances or service matters of a public servant as well as matters relating to foreign affairs,
national defense, and the armed services. This institution is designed to bridge the gap between administrator
and citizen, to improve administrative processes and procedures, and to help curb misuse of discretionary
powers.
?






    

Makhdoom Amin Fahim Commerce

Dr. Arbab Alamgir Khan Communications
Mir Changez Khan Jamali Science and Technology
Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar Defence
Ms. Samina Khalid Ghurki Environment. ’

 

M/o Women Development
Dr.Abdul Hafeez Sheikh
Mir. Israrullah Zehri
Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani
A.Rehman Malik
Dr.Firdos Ashiq Awan
Mian Raza Rabbani
Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs
Food and Agriculture
Industries and Production
Interior
Information and Broadcasting
Inter Provincial Coordination. ’

 

M/o Human Rights
Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs. ’

 

M/o Defence Production
Syed Khursheed Shah Religious Affairs. ’

 

M/o Labour and Manpower
Dr. Zaheeruddin Babar Awan Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs
Haji Khuda Bux Rajar Narcotics Control
Sardar Al-Haaj Mohammad Umar Gorage Postal Services
Syed Naveed Qamar Privatization.’

 

M/o Water and Power
Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour Railways
Engr. Shaukat Ullah States and Frontier Regions.’

 

M/o Sports
Makhdoom Sahhabuddin ` Textile. ’

 

M/o Housing and Works

 
Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar - Foreign Affairs. ’

 

MOS Finance and Economic Affairs Division

  ! "!#

The National Assembly of Pakistan is the country's sovereign legislative body. It embodies the will of the people to
let themselves be governed under the democratic, multi-party Federal Parliamentary System. The National
Assembly makes laws for the Federation in respect of the powers enumerated in the Federal Legislative list and
also for subjects in the Concurrent List. Through its debates, adjournment motion, question hour and Standing
Committees, the National Assembly keeps as check over the Executive and ensures that the government functions
within the parameters set out in the Constitution and does not violate the fundamental rights of citizens. Only the
National Assembly, through its Public Accounts Committee, scrutinizes public spending and exercises control of
expenditure incurred by the government.

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a Federal State comprising four provinces of Balochistan, the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, the Punjab and Sindh; Islamabad is the Federal Capital with Federally Administered Tribal Areas
(FATA). These federating units offer a lot of diversity and variety in terms of languages, levels of social and
economic development, population density and climatic conditions.

The Members of the National Assembly are to be elected by direct and free vote in accordance with law.

$ !!

Article 50 of the Constitution provides that the Parliament of Pakistan shall consist of President and the two
Houses known as the National Assembly and the Senate. The National Assembly has an edge over the Senate by
legislating exclusively on money matters. With exception to money bills, however, both the Houses work together
to carryout the basic work of the Parliament, i.e. law making.
!c! %&$

The Bill relating to the Federal Legislative List or Concurrent List can be originated in either House. If the House
passed the Bill through majority vote, it shall be transmitted to the other House. If the other House passes it
without amendment, it shall be presented to the President for assent.

If the Bill, transmitted to the other House, is not passed within ninety days or rejected or amended, it shall be
considered in a joint sitting to be summoned by the President on the request of the House in which the Bill was
originated. If the Bill is passed in the joint sitting, with or without amendments, by the votes of majority of the
total members of the two Houses, it shall be presented to the President for assent.

If the Bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall assent to the Bill in not later than thirty days. If it is not
a Money Bill, the President may return the Bill to the Majlis-e-Shoora with a message requesting that the Bill be
reconsidered and that an amendment specified in the message be considered. The Majlis-e-Shoora shall
reconsider the Bill in a joint sitting. If the Bill is passed again, with or without amendment, by vote of the majority
of the members present and voting, it shall be presented to the President and the President shall not withhold
assent there from.

Under the constitution, the Parliament may also legislate for two or more Provinces by consent and request made
by those Provinces. If the Federal Government proclaims State of Emergency in any province, the power to
legislate about that province is vested in the Parliament. But the Bills passed by the Parliament during the State of
Emergency, shall cease to be in force after the expiration of six months from the date Emergency is
lifted. Nevertheless, the steps already taken under these Acts shall remain valid.

In exercises of its constitutional role, the Parliament also has other very important duties to perform. The
President, who is at the apex, is elected by members of both Houses of the Parliament and the Provincial
Assemblies. The Prime Minister, who heads the Cabinet and is meant to aid and advise the President in his
functions, belongs to the National Assembly. He enjoys the confidence of the majority of the members of the
National Assembly. Members of the Cabinet are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

In the formation of the Cabinet the major portion (75%), goes to National Assembly while the rest (25%) are taken
from the Senate.

There is a democratic procedure to remove the Prime Minister from his/her office if he/she loses confidence of the
majority of the members of the National Assembly. In this respect a resolution for a vote of no-confidence is
moved by not less then 20% of the total membership of the National Assembly. If the resolution is passed by
majority of votes in the National Assembly, the Prime Minister immediately relinquished powers.

Similarly, for the removal or impeachment of the President, not less than one-half of the total membership of
either House may give in writing its intentions to do so, to the Speaker National Assembly, or, as the case may be,
to the Chairman Senate, for moving a resolution for the purpose. In a joint sitting of the two Houses, convened for
the purpose, and after the deliberations, if the resolution is passed by the votes of not less than two thirds of the
total membership of the Parliament, the President shall cease to hold office immediately on the passing of the
resolution.

In case emergency is proclaimed, the Parliament holds the authority to extend the term of the National
Assembly. The Parliament is also empowered to pass various resolutions on matters like extension in the term of
the Chief Election Commissioner for one year. Under the Constitution, the Parliament may also, on the request of
the Federal Government, by law, confer functions upon officers or authorities subordinate to the Federal
Government.



     

)(
 '  ( " 
(      +    
 ( (*
c  148 61 35 14 12 02 272
,  35 14 08 03 -- -- 60
  -- -- -- -- -- -- 10
   183 75 43 17 12 02 342

 

"-. 

After Independence, the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, elected in December 1945 in undivided India, was
assigned the task of framing the Constitution of Pakistan. This Assembly passed the Objectives Resolution on 12th
March, 1949, laying down principles which later became substantive part of the Constitution of Pakistan. However,
before it could accomplish the task of framing the constitution, it was dissolved in October, 1954. Thereafter, the
Governor General, convened the Second Constituent Assembly in May, 1955, which framed and passed the first
Constitution of Pakistan on 29th February, 1956. That Constitution was promulgated on 23rd March 1956, which
provided for a parliamentary form of Government with a unicameral legislature. However, from 14th August 1947
to 1st March 1956 the Government of India Act, 1935, was retained as the Constitution of Pakistan.

On October 7, 1958, Martial Law was promulgated and the Constitution abrogated. The Military Government
appointed a Constitution Commission in February, 1960 which framed the 1962 Constitution. That Constitution
provided for a Presidential form of Government with a unicameral legislature. The 1962 Constitution was
abrogated on 25th March, 1969. The Civil Government, which came to power in December 1971 pursuant to 1970
elections, gave the nation an interim Constitution in the year 1972.

The 1970 Assembly framed the 1973 Constitution which was passed on 12th April and promulgated on 14th
August 1973. The 1973 Constitution provides for a parliamentary form of Government with a bicameral legislature,
comprising of the National Assembly and the Senate.

The membership of the Senate, which was originally 45, was raised to 63 in 1977 and to 87 in 1985. The
membership of the Senate was again raised from 87 to 100 in 2002.

 + / 

The main purpose for the creation of the Senate of Pakistan was to give equal representation to all the
federating units since the membership of the National Assembly was based on the population of each province.
Equal provincial membership in the Senate, thus, balances the provincial inequality in the National Assembly and
dispels doubts and apprehension, if any, regarding deprivation and exploitation.
The role of the Senate is to promote national cohesion and harmony and to alleviate fears of the smaller
provinces regarding domination by any one province because of its majority, in the National Assembly.
The Senate, is a body which represents the provinces/territories of the country and promotes a feeling of
equality, peace and harmony, which is so essential for the growth and prosperity of a nation. Thus, the Senate in
Pakistan, over the years, has emerged as an essential organ and a stabilizing factor of the federation.

  (+*  0 -(  

a) President and Parliament: Under Article 50 of the Constitution, the Majlis-i-Shoora (Parliament) of Pakistan
consists of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the National Assembly and the Senate.
 The President is elected by members of both Houses of the Parliament and the Provincial Assemblies. The
President may be removed from office or impeached through a resolution, passed by not less than two-thirds of
the total membership of the Parliament in a joint sitting of the two Houses, convened for the purpose.
The Constitution empowers the President to dissolve the National Assembly in his discretion if a situation
has arisen in which the Government of the Federation cannot be carried out in accordance with the provisions of
the Constitution and an appeal to the electorate is necessary. The President in case of dissolution of National
Assembly shall within fifteen days of the dissolution refer the matter to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court
shall decide the reference within thirty days whose decision shall be final. However, the Senate is not subject to
dissolution.

In case the office of the President becomes vacant for any reason, the Chairman, or if he is unable to perform the
functions of the office of the President, the Speaker, acts as President till such time that a President is elected.
Same is the case when the President by reason of absence from Pakistan or any other cause is unable to perform
his functions.

b) Relations between the Houses: Unless both the Houses pass a Bill and it receives President's assent it cannot
become a law except in the case of a money bill which is the sole prerogative of the National Assembly. Through an
amendment, the role of a Mediation Committee, comprising of eight members of each House, has been
introduced to evolve consensus on Bills, in case there is a disagreement between the two Houses.

c) Cabinet: The Constitution provides that there shall be a Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister which is
collectively responsible to the National Assembly. The Prime Minister is chosen from the National Assembly.
The Federal Ministers and Ministers of State are appointed from amongst the members of Parliament.
However, the number of Federal Ministers and Ministers of State who are members of Senate, shall not at any
time, exceed one fourth of the numbers of Federal Ministers.

V

 

V  
 

V V

Sr.# NAME PORTFOLIO Phone No. Fax No.

1 Pir Mazharul Haque Senior Minister for Education & 9211958-48 9211338
Literacy

2 Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza Minister for Home, Prisons and 9204920-21 9204922
Forest

3 Syed Ali Nawaz Shah Minister for Agriculture 9212097 9212092

9212088

4 Mr. Manzoor Ahmed Wasan Minister for Works & Services 9212954 9211553
9212960

5 Mr. Ayaz Soomro Minister for Law & Parliamentary 9212094 9211982
Affairs and Criminal Prosecution 9211316

6 Syed Murad Ali Shah Minister for Finance 9211957 9211949 9212085

7 Mir Nadir Khan Magsi Minister for Food 9211907-09 9212008

8 Agha Siraj Khan Durani Minister for Local Government 9217346- 9213390
9 Jam Saifullah Khan Dharejo Minister for Irrigation 9211340 9211466
9212095

10 Mr. Muhammad Sajid Jokhio Minister for Zakat, Ushr 9213860-1-2-3

11 Mr. Akhtar Jadoon Minister for Transport 9202503-4 9202505

12 Jam Mehtab Khan Dahar Minister for Revenue 9213881-2 9213883

13 Mr. Abdul Haque Bhurt Minister for Anti-corruption 9206548-9 9206549

14 Mr. Mukesh Kumar Minister for Excise & Taxation 9212096 9212086
9211976

15 Ms. Sasui Palejo Minister for Culture 9213884-5 9213886

16 Ms. Shazia Mari Minister for Power 9211182 9212947

9211944

17 Mrs. Nargis N. D Khan Minister for Social Welfare 9213866-67 9213868

18 Ms. Tauqeer Fatima Bhutto Minister for Women Development 9213889-90 9213850

19 Mr. Daya Raam Minister for wildlife 9213854 9213855

9213856

20 Makhdoom Jameel uz Zaman Minister for Inter Provincial 9212098-99 9212092

Coordination

21 Syed Ali Nawaz Shah Rizvi Minister for Special Education 9251759-60 9251761

22 Mr. Zahid Hussain Bhurghri Minister for Fisheries 9203652-53 9203651

23 Dr. Mohan Lal Minister for Minority Affairs 9211567 9211304

9212084

24 Mr. Rafique Engineer Minister for Kachi Abadies & 9213374-75 9213376
Special Development

25 Agha Taimoor Pathan Minister for Narcotic Control and 9251753-4 9251755
Housing

26 Syed Ali Mardan Shah Minister for Population Welfare 9211910-12 9217354

27 Haji Muzafar Ali Shujra Minister for Rehabilitation 9217766-7

28 Syed Shoaib Ahmed Bukhari Minister for Bureau of Supply & 9213891-92 9213893
Prices

29 Mr. Muhammad Adil Siddiqui Minister for Public Health 9230716 9211961
9231945
 9211980

30 Mr. Muhammad Adul Rauf Minister for Industries 9203686 9205137

Siddiqui 9205378

31 Dr. Sagheer Ahmed Minister for Health 9217591-2 9217590

32 Dr. Muhammad Ali Shah Minister for Sports 9205219-20 9205221

33 Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari Minister for Youth Affairs 9204999 9204997
9204998

34 Mr. Zubair Ahmed Khan Minister for Rural Development 9217343-4 9217342

35 Ms. Nadia Gabol Minister for Human Rights 9207042-3 9207044

36 Mr. Muhammad Raza Haroon Minister for Information 9218390-1 9218392

Technology

37 Mr. Nisar Panhwar Minister 5115294 5115295

38 Mr. Abdul Haseeb Khan Minister for Auqaf 9203659 9203660

39 Mr. Amir Nawab Minister for Labour 9213857-8 9213859

40 Mr. Abid Hussain Jatoi Minister for Livestock 9211905-6 9211903

41 Mr.Shaikh Muhammad Afzal Minister for Environment & 9217317-8 9217340

Alternative Energy

42 Mr. Khalid Bin Wilayat Minister 9217356-7 9217358

43 Syed Sardar Ahmed Minister 9218288-9

Fax-9218290

44 Mr. Abdul Salam Thaheem Minister for STEVTA

  '  / 
  
V?


?

Ch. Abdul Razzaq Dhillon Local Government & Community Development (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Karam Ellahi Bandial Cooperatives (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Abdul Hafeez Khan Zakat & Ushr (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)
Bait-ul-Maal (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Zafar Iqbal Nagra Housing & Urban Development (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Lt. Col. (R) Sardar Muhammad Ayub Khan Environment Protection (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Nazia Raheel Special Education (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Muhammad Saeed Mughal Food (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Muhammad Ajasim Sharif Excise & Taxation (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Rana Tajmmal Hussain Industries (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Muhammad Khurram Gulfam Transport (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Ahsan Raza Khan Literacy & Non-formal Basic Education (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Aamir Saeed Ansari Prisons (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Sardar Sher Ali Khan Gorchani Colonies & Consolidation (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Malik Ahmad Karim Qaswar Langrial Livestock & Dairy Development (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Ch. Mumtaz Ahmed Jajja Education (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

Asif Manzoor Mohal ? griculture (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)

A
Khalil Tahir Sindhu
Iftikhar Ahmed Khan
Rana Muhammad Arshad

Malik Nadeem Kamran
Ch. Abdul Ghafoor
Haji Ehsan-ud-Din Qureshi
Sirdar Dost Muhammad Khan
Khosa
Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh
Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channer
Kamran Michael
Rana Sanaullah Khan
Human Rights (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)
Minorities Affairs (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)
Religious Affairs and Auqaf (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)
Tourism (Appointed on: 31st January 2009)
Portfolio
Zakat & Ushr (Appointed on: 29th June 2010)
Food (Appointed on: 29th June 2010)
Religious Affairs and Auqaf (Appointed on: 9th June 2008)
Bait-ul-Maal (Appointed on: 5th January 2009)
Commerce & Investment (Appointed on: 29th June 2010)
?Agriculture (Appointed on: 9th June 2008)
Cooperatives (Appointed on: 5th January 2009)
Livestock & Dairy Development (Appointed on: 5th January 2009)
Forest, Fisheries & Wildlife (Appointed on: 5th January 2009)
Tourism & Resort Development (Appointed on: 5th January 2009)
Prisons (Appointed on: 29th June 2010)
Human Rights (Appointed on: 9th June 2008)
Minorities Affairs (Appointed on: 9th June 2008)
Women Development (Appointed on: 5th January 2009)
Law, Parliamentary Affairs & Public Prosecution (Appointed on: 9th June
2008)