Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan is the head of the government and is responsible for overseeing the executive branch. The role is crucial in shaping policies, making governance decisions, and representing Pakistan both domestically and internationally.
Here is a summary of the Prime Ministers of Pakistan, their eligibility, selection process, powers, authority, and responsibilities:
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the position of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, a candidate must meet the following criteria:
- Citizenship: The candidate must be a citizen of Pakistan.
- Age: The candidate must be at least 25 years old.
- Qualifications: The candidate must be qualified to be elected as a member of the National Assembly and must fulfill the conditions laid out in the Constitution of Pakistan.
Selection Process:
The Prime Minister of Pakistan is selected through a parliamentary system. Here’s a general overview of the process:
- Election to the National Assembly: Members of the National Assembly are elected through general elections. The political party or coalition with a majority of seats in the National Assembly usually forms the government.
- Selection by the Majority Party or Coalition: The leader of the majority party or coalition in the National Assembly is invited to become the Prime Minister.
- Nomination and Approval: The nominee for the position must be a member of the National Assembly. The President formally appoints the Prime Minister after receiving a vote of confidence in the National Assembly.
Powers and Authority:
- Executive Head: The Prime Minister is the head of the executive branch of the government.
- Cabinet Formation: The Prime Minister appoints ministers and forms the cabinet.
- Policy Formulation: The Prime Minister is instrumental in formulating and implementing national policies.
- Legislative Influence: While not a legislator, the Prime Minister can influence legislation through the government’s majority in the National Assembly.
- Foreign Affairs: The Prime Minister represents Pakistan in international affairs and makes key foreign policy decisions.
- National Security: The Prime Minister is involved in national security matters and oversees the military.
- Budget Approval: The Prime Minister and the cabinet play a role in the preparation and approval of the national budget.
- Constitutional Role: Operates within the constitutional framework and is accountable to the Parliament.
Responsibilities:
- Addressing the nation on important matters.
- Providing leadership and direction to the government.
- Ensuring the effective implementation of laws and policies.
- Managing crisis situations and emergencies.
- Upholding the principles of good governance and accountability.
This breakdown provides a clear understanding of the different aspects of the Prime Minister’s role, from eligibility to responsibilities, within the context of Pakistan’s governance structure.
List of all Prime Ministers of Pakistan
Since gaining independence in 1947, Pakistan’s political landscape has been marked by a succession of leaders at the helm, each leaving an indelible imprint on the nation’s trajectory. The role of Prime Ministers has been central to the country’s governance, shaping policies, confronting challenges, and steering the course of a dynamic and diverse nation.
Here is a list of all Prime Ministers of Pakistan Since 1947 to Present:
| Liaquat Ali Khan (1895 – 1951) | |
| Assumed Office: August 15, 1947 Left Office: October 16, 1951 (Assassinated) Tenure: 4 years, 2 months, and 1 day Party: All-India Muslim League (Before Partition); Pakistan Muslim League (After Partition) Notable: Liaquat Ali Khan was the first Prime Minister of Pakistan and played a crucial role in the early years of the country’s history. He was assassinated during a public meeting in Rawalpindi in 1951. |  |
| Khawaja Nazimuddin (1894 – 1964) | |
| Assumed Office: October 17, 1951 Left Office: April 17, 1953 Tenure: 1 year, 6 months, and 1 day Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: Khawaja Nazimuddin served as the second Prime Minister of Pakistan. His term faced challenges, and he was removed from office by Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad. |  |
| Mohammad Ali Bogra (1909 – 1963) | |
| Assumed Office: April 17, 1953 Left Office: August 11, 1955 Tenure: 2 years, 3 months, and 25 days Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: Mohammad Ali Bogra’s premiership saw the formulation of the Bogra Formula, an attempt to address the political issues between East and West Pakistan. |  |
| Chaudhry Mohammad Ali (1905 – 1980) | |
| Assumed Office: August 11, 1955 Left Office: September 12, 1956 Tenure: 1 year and 32 days Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: Chaudhry Mohammad Ali was the last Prime Minister of Pakistan before the country became a republic in 1956. |  |
| Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy (1892 – 1963) | |
| Assumed Office: September 12, 1956 Left Office: October 17, 1957 Tenure: 1 year, 1 month, and 5 days Party: Awami League Notable: Suhrawardy was a prominent political figure and played a key role in the Bengali Language Movement and the formation of the Awami League. |  |
| Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar (1897 –1960) | |
| Assumed Office: October 17, 1957 Left Office: December 16, 1957 Tenure: 55 days Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: Chundrigar’s term was short, and his government faced challenges, leading to its dissolution by President Iskander Mirza. |  |
| Sir Feroze Khan Noon (1893 – 1970) | |
| Assumed Office: 16 December 1957 Left Office: 7 October 1958 Tenure: 295 days Party: Republican Party Notable: Sir Feroze Khan Noon’s government was dismissed in 1958, leading to the imposition of martial law by Ayub Khan. |  |
| Nurul Amin (1893 –1974) | |
| Assumed Office: December 7, 1971 Left Office: December 20, 1971 Tenure: 13 days Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: Nurul Amin served as the Prime Minister during a critical period surrounding the 1971 Indo-Pak War and the creation of Bangladesh. |  |
| Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (1928 – 1979) | |
| Assumed Office: August 14, 1973 Left Office: July 5, 1977 (Deposed) Tenure: 3 years, 10 months, and 21 days Party: Pakistan People’s Party Notable: Bhutto was a key political figure, founder of the Pakistan People’s Party, and played a significant role in shaping Pakistan’s politics. He was deposed in a military coup in 1977. |  |
| Muhammad Khan Junejo (1932 – 1993) | |
| Assumed Office: March 24, 1985 Left Office: May 29, 1988 (Dissolved by President) Tenure: 3 years, 2 months, and 5 days Party: Independent Notable: Junejo’s government was dissolved by President Zia-ul-Haq in 1988, leading to political instability. |  |
| Benazir Bhutto (1953 – 2007) | |
| Assumed Office: December 2, 1988 Left Office: August 6, 1990 Tenure: 1 year, 8 months, and 4 days Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Benazir Bhutto was the first woman to head the government of a Muslim-majority country. She served two non-consecutive terms as Prime Minister and faced challenges related to governance and corruption allegations. |  |
| Nawaz Sharif (1949 – Present) | |
| Assumed Office: 6 November 1990 Left Office: 18 July 1993 (First Term) Tenure: 2 years, 5 months, and 17 days (First Term) Party: Pakistan Muslim League (N) Notable: Nawaz Sharif has served as Prime Minister three times. He has been a significant political figure in Pakistan and has faced both successes and controversies during his political career. |  |
| Benazir Bhutto (1953 – 2007) | |
| Assumed Office: October 19, 1993 (Second Term) Left Office: November 5, 1996 Tenure: 3 years and 18 days (Second Term) Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Benazir Bhutto’s second term saw challenges, including allegations of corruption. Her government was dismissed in 1996. | |
| Nawaz Sharif (1949 – Present) | |
| Assumed Office: February 17, 1997 (Third Term) Left Office: October 12, 1999 (Deposed) Tenure: 2 years, 7 months, and 25 days (Third Term) Party: Pakistan Muslim League (N) Notable: Nawaz Sharif’s third term ended with a military coup in 1999, leading to his removal from office. | |
| Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali (1944 – 2020) | |
| Assumed Office: November 23, 2002 Left Office: June 26, 2004 Tenure: 1 year, 7 months, and 6 days Party: Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) Notable: Jamali served as the first Prime Minister after the Musharraf era. His tenure saw challenges related to political stability. |  |
| Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain (1946 – Present) | |
| Assumed Office: June 30, 2004 Left Office: August 23, 2004 Tenure: 1 month and 29 days Party: Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) Notable: Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain served as the interim Prime Minister after the resignation of Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali. |  |
| Shaukat Aziz (1949 – Present) | |
| Assumed Office: August 28, 2004 Left Office: November 15, 2007 Tenure: 3 years, 2 months, and 18 days Party: Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) Notable: Shaukat Aziz, a former banker, played a key role in economic reforms during his tenure as Prime Minister. |  |
| Yousaf Raza Gillani (1952 – Present) | |
| Assumed Office: March 25, 2008 Left Office: June 19, 2012 Tenure: 4 years, 2 months, and 25 days Party: Pakistan People’s Party Notable: Gillani’s government faced challenges, including political instability and tensions with the judiciary. |  |
| Raja Pervaiz Ashraf (1950 – Present) | |
| Assumed Office: June 22, 2012 Left Office: March 24, 2013 Tenure: 9 months and 3 days Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Raja Pervaiz Ashraf served as the Prime Minister during the later part of the PPP’s tenure. |  |
| Nawaz Sharif (1949 – Present) | |
| Assumed Office: June 5, 2013 (Third Term) Left Office: July 28, 2017 (Disqualified) Tenure: 4 years, 1 month, and 23 days (Third Term) Party: Pakistan Muslim League (N) Notable: Nawaz Sharif’s third term was marked by economic initiatives, but he was disqualified by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case. | |
| Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (1958 – Present) | |
| Assumed Office: August 1, 2017 Left Office: May 31, 2018 Tenure: 9 months Party: Pakistan Muslim League (N) Notable: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi served as the interim Prime Minister after the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif. His term focused on continuity in policies. |  |
| Imran Khan (1952 – Present) | |
| Assumed Office: August 18, 2018 Left Office: 10 April 2022 Tenure: 3 years, 235 days Party: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Notable: Imran Khan, a former cricketer, entered politics and formed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. He became the Prime Minister after winning the general elections in 2018. |  |
| Shehbaz Sharif (1951 – Present) | |
| Assumed Office: April 11, 2022 Left Office: August 14, 2023 Tenure: 1 year, 125 days Party: Pakistan Muslim League (N) Notable: Shahbaz Sharif assumed the role of Prime Minister of Pakistan on April 11, 2022, following a successful no-confidence motion against Imran Khan. |  |
As we traverse the corridors of Pakistan’s political history through its Prime Ministers, a mosaic of challenges, triumphs, and transformations unfolds. From the early struggles of Liaquat Ali Khan to the complex regional dynamics navigated by Shahbaz Sharif, each leader faced a unique set of circumstances, leaving an enduring impact on the nation.