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The Politics of Pakistan (سیاسیاتِ پاکستان ; ISO: Siyāsiyāt-e-Pākistāna) takes place within the framework established by the constitution. The country is a federal parliamentary republic in which provincial governments enjoy a high degree of autonomy and residuary powers. Executive power is vested with the national cabinet which is headed by Prime Minister of Pakistan (Shehbaz Sharif since 3 March, 2024), who works with the bicameral parliament and the judiciary.[1] Stipulations set by the constitution provide a delicate check and balance of sharing powers between executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government.[2]
The head of state is the president who is elected by the electoral college for a five-year term. Asif Ali Zardari is currently the president of Pakistan (since 2024). The president was a significant authority until the 18th amendment, passed in 2010, stripped the presidency of most of its powers. Since then, Pakistan has shifted from a Semi-presidential system to a purely parliamentary government. Since the amendment, the president's powers include the right to pardon and the ability to suspend or moderate any sentence passed by any court or authority.[3]
The government consists of three branches: executive, legislative and judicial. The Executive branch consists of the Cabinet and is led by the Prime Minister. It is totally independent of the legislative branch that consists of a bicameral parliament. The Upper House is the Senate whilst the National Assembly is the lower house.[4] The Judicial branch forms with the composition of the Supreme Court as an apex court, alongside the high courts and other inferior courts.[5][6] The judiciary's function is to interpret the Constitution and federal laws and regulations.[7][8]
Pakistan is a multiparty democracy where several political parties compete for seats in the National and Provincial assemblies. However, as an aftermath of the Fall of Dhaka in 1971, a two-party system was developed between the People's Party and Muslim League. There has also been a sharp rise in the popularity of centrist parties such as PML-Q and PTI.[9][10] The Armed Forces has historically played an influential role in the country's politics,[11][12] although it has declined in recent years.[13] From 1950s to 2000s, several coups were staged that overthrew democratic regimes.[14][15][16][17] After the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf in 2008, a sharp line has been drawn between the "military establishment" and politics and Pakistan is moving closer to becoming a democracy after general elections in 2013.[18][19] Imran Khan ascended to leadership in 2018 with the backing of the military, but was subsequently removed from power in 2022 after losing that support.[20][21] However, he won re-election in 2024.[13] No Prime Minister of Pakistan has ever completed their full length tenure.[22] I
The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Pakistan an "authoritarian regime" in 2023.[23] According to the V-Dem Democracy indices Pakistan was 2023 the 20th most electoral democratic country in Asia.[24] In 2023, according to Freedom in the World, report by Freedom House, Pakistan is categorised as a "partly free" country and it is categorised as "not free" in terms of internet freedom.[25]