List of heads of state of Pakistan

Fifteen individuals have served as head of state of Pakistan, from the foundation of Pakistan in 1947 to the present day. The current head of state of Pakistan is Asif Ali Zardari, elected in 2024 after being nominated by the Pakistan People's Party.[1]

From 1947 to 1956 the ceremonial head of state was the Governor-General which was appointed by the Pakistani monarch. After Pakistan became an Islamic Republic under the Constitution of 1956, the ceremonial role of the Governor-General were replaced by a ceremonial President. However throughout Pakistan's existence as an Islamic Republic, the ceremonial role of the head of state has time to time changed to an executive role wielding authority.

Dominion (1947–1956)

The Governor-General was the ceremonial head of state and the representative of the monarch in Pakistan which exercised most of the Monarch's powers. The Governor-General was appointed for an indefinite term on the advice of the Cabinet of Pakistan without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Monarch
(Reign)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Muhammad Ali Jinnah
(1876–1948)		 14 August 1947 11 September 1948 1 year, 28 days
George VI
(1947–1952)
Office vacant (11 September 1948 – 14 September 1948)
2 Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin
(1894–1964)		 14 September 1948 17 October 1951 3 years, 33 days
3 Sir Ghulam Muhammad
(1895–1956)		 17 October 1951 7 August 1955 3 years, 294 days

Elizabeth II
(1952–1956)
4 Iskander Mirza
(1899–1969)		 7 August 1955 23 March 1956 229 days

Islamic Republic (1956–present)

Under the 1956 Constitution, the first constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President replaced the Governor-General as ceremonial head of state. The President was elected by the Electoral College for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Chairman of the Senate served as Acting President.

Presidents

[2]

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Political party Elected
Took office Left office Time in office
Executive Role
1 Iskandar Ali Mirza

سکندر علی مرزا
(1899–1969)

 23 March 1956 27 October 1958 2 years, 218 days Republican 1956
2 Ayub Khan

ایوب خان
(1907–1974)

 27 October 1958 8 June 1962 3 years, 224 days Army –
8 June 1962 25 March 1969 6 years, 290 days PMLC 1965
3 Yahya Khan

یحییٰ خان
(1917–1980)

 25 March 1969 20 December 1971 2 years, 270 days Army –
4 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

ذولفقار علی بھٹو
(1928–1979)

 20 December 1971 14 August 1973 1 year, 237 days PPP 1970
Ceremonial Role
5 Fazal Elahi Chaudhry

فضل الہیٰ چودھری
(1904–1982)

 14 August 1973 16 September 1978 5 years, 33 days PPP 1973
Executive Role
6 Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq

محمد ضیا الحق
(1924–1988)

 16 September 1978 17 August 1988 † 9 years, 336 days Army –
Ceremonial Role
7 Ghulam Ishaq Khan

غلام اسحاق خان
(1915–2006)

 17 August 1988 18 July 1993 4 years, 335 days IND 1988
— Wasim Sajjad

وسیم سجاد
(born 1941)
acting

 18 July 1993 14 November 1993 119 days PMLN –
8 Farooq Leghari

فاروق لغاری
(1940–2010)

 14 November 1993 2 December 1997 4 years, 18 days PPP 1993
— Wasim Sajjad

وسیم سجاد
(born 1941)
acting

 2 December 1997 1 January 1998 30 days PMLN –
9 Muhammad Rafiq Tarar

محمد رفیق تاڑر
(1929–2022)

 1 January 1998 20 June 2001 3 years, 170 days PMLN 1997
Executive Role
10 Pervez Musharraf

پرویز مشرف
(1943–2023)

 20 June 2001 15 October 2007 6 years, 117 days Army 2004
19 November 2007 18 August 2008 273 days PML(Q) 2007
Ceremonial Role
— Muhammad Mian Soomro

محمد میاں سومرو
(born 1950)
acting

 18 August 2008 9 September 2008 22 days PML(Q) –
11 Asif Ali Zardari

آصف علی زرداری
(born 1955)

 9 September 2008 9 September 2013 5 years PPP 2008
12 Mamnoon Hussain

ممنون حسین
(1940–2021)

 9 September 2013 9 September 2018 5 years PMLN 2013
13 Arif Alvi

عارف علوی
(born 1949)

 9 September 2018 10 March 2024 5 years, 183 days PTI 2018
14 Asif Ali Zardari

آصف علی زرداری
(born 1955)

 10 March 2024 Incumbent 2 years, 170 days PPP 2024

Timeline

Arif AlviMamnoon HussainAsif Ali ZardariMuhammad Mian SoomroPervez MusharrafMuhammad Rafiq TararFarooq LeghariWasim SajjadGhulam Ishaq KhanMuhammad Zia-ul-HaqFazal Ilahi ChaudhryZulfikar Ali BhuttoYahya KhanAyub KhanIskander Mirza

See also

Notes

References

  1. ↑ Younas, Mobeen (10 March 2024). "Asif Ali Zardari Elected President of Pakistan 2024". president.gov.pk. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  2. ↑ "Presidents". National Assembly of Pakistan. 11 August 2023. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
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