Office of Presidency in the history of Pakistan

 Sikandar Mirza (the last governor general) --- > first president of Pakistan with the
introduction of 1956 constitution. 23 march 1956
 the then commander in chief of Army, general Ayub Khan imposed the first martial law in
7th october 1958 by the idea of Sikarndar Mirza.
 compelled Sikandar Mirza to quit, who eventually resigned from the office in 26 October
1958 after the 19th day of martial law. By 27 October 1958 General Ayub took the of
presidency (first martial president).
 He introduced 1962 constitution
 The immense pressure from the public and political parties disposed Ayub Khan to leave
the presidency office in 25 march 1969. in 25th March of 1969, General Yahya Khan
imposed second martial law in the country and took oath of president.
 with the separation of east Pakistan, i.e. Bangaladesh, in 16 December 1971, General
Yahya Khan resiged from the presidency office in 20 December 1971. The first civilian
elected chief martial law administrator, Zullfuqar Bhutto joined the office of presidency
in 1971, 20 December. He was also the president at the same time.
 He resigned the office of civillian chief martial law administrator in 21 April 1972. And
became the elected prime minister of Pakistan in 1973. He introduced the third
constitution of Pakistan in 14 August 1973.
 With Bhutto becoming the Prime Minister, Chaudary Fazal Illahi became the president of
pakistan in 1973, 14th August.
 During Bhutto regime, General Zia Ul Haqq imposed the third Martial law in Pakistan in
5th of July, 1977. General Zia took the office of presidency in 16th September 1978,
ending the presidency of Chaudary Fazal Illahi.
 With the accidental death of General Zia Ul Haq in 17th of August 1988, the senate
chairman, Assaq Khan became president of pakistan. he was reelected as president of
Pakistan in 13th December 1988. With the help of article of 58, 2-B, he dissolved two
governments.
 then in 14th November 1993, a PPP's president, Sardar Faaroq Ahmed Laghari, took the
office of presidency. He dissolved his own party's government using articles 58_2_B of
constitution.
 in 2nd of December, 1997 he resigned from the office due to conflicts with the prime
minister.
 Wasim Sajjad becomes the interim President of Pakistan and handed over the the office of
presidency to Rafique Tharar in 1st of January 1998.
 20 June 2001, the CEO of country, General Musharraf took the office of presidency.
 reelected as president in 2002's election. Emergency was imposed in Musharaf regime.
He resigned the office due to pressure from the civilian and military leaders in 18 August
2008.
 After the elections of 2008, Asif Zardari Became the president of Pakistan. and
completed its tenure for the first time in history of Pakistan.
  after the elections of 2013, Mumnoon Hussain became the president of Pakistan and
completed his tenure in 2018.
 after the elections of 25th July 2018, PTI's Arif Alvi is the current president of Pakistan.
------------ends--------------------
The Objective Resolution - the first document of constitutional nature – introduced
August and adopted by the first Constituent Assembly amid opposition from the Pakistan
1947 National Congress, the only opposition party consisting of Hindu minority from
East Pakistan.

The Objective Resolution – the first document of constitutional nature – introduced

and adopted by the first Constituent Assembly amid opposition from the Pakistan
March 1949
National Congress, the only opposition party consisting of Hindu minority from
East Pakistan.

Interim Report of the Basic Principle Committee introduced in the Constituent

September
Assembly, but due to public opposition from Bengal and Punjab on the federal
1950
formula, debate on the report postponed.
December
Basic Principle Committee Report is introduced in the assembly for discussion.
1952
September
Report of the Basic Principle Committee is adopted as the draft constitution.
1954
October First Constituent Assembly is dissolved by the Governor-General Ghulam
1954 Muhammad.
June 1954 Indirect elections held / nominations made to the second Constituent Assembly.
September One-Unit constituted, combining the four provinces and ten princely states of West
1955 Pakistan.
February
1956 Constitution promulgated.
1956
October 1956 Constitution is abrogated and martial law imposed. General Ayub Khan takes
1058 over the reins of power.
June 1962 General Ayub Khan promulgates the 1962 Constitution through an executive order.
General Ayub Khan steps down and hands over the reins of power to his successor
March 1969
General Muhammad Yahya Khan who imposes second martial law in the country.
One-Unit is dismantled and Legal Framework Order is issued to serve as the interim
March 1970
constitution.
December First general elections on adult franchise were held in the country.
1970
East Pakistan secedes after a brief and bloody civil war, General Yahya Khan steps
December
down and Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto takes over as the first civilian martial law
1971
administrator.
First Tripartite Accord between the Pakistan Peoples Party and the coalition of
March 1972
National Awami Party and Jamiat-ul-Ulema Pakistan.

April 1973 1973 Constitution adopted.

1973 constitution suspended, central and provincial governments dismissed and

July 1977
legislative assemblies dissolved by General Ziaul Haq by staging a military coup.
1973 Constitution is restored in amended form by General Ziaul Haq through the
March 1985
‘Revival of the 1973 Constitution Order, 1985’. Elections on non-party basis held.
Parliament passed the 8th Amendment to 1973 Constitution giving legal and
November
constitutional cover to the suspension of the constitution and all acts of General
1985
Ziaul Haq between the suspension and restoration of the constitution.
The civil government of Nawaz Sharif restored some powers of the Prime Minister
under the 1973 constitution which were taken away by 8th Amendment and also
April 1997
took away power of the President to dissolve the National Assembly in his
discretion.
General Musharraf launches the third military coup, suspends the constitution,
October dismisses the federal and provincial governments, assumes the office the Chief
1999 Executive, declares state of emergency and promulgates the Provincial
Constitutional Order, 1999.
June 2001 Musharraf assumes the office of the President of Pakistan.
August Musharraf issued the Legal Framework Order, 2002, providing for the general
2002 elections of 2001, restoration of the 1973 constitution with numerous amendments.
Parliament passed the 17th Amendment in the 1973 constitution, incorporating the
December Legal Framework Order, 2002 into the constitution, reversing the 13th Amendment
2003 by bringing the Prime Minister and National Assembly, once again, under the thumb
of the President, which office was occupied by General Musharraf.
Musharraf issued another Legal Framework Order No.1 of 2007, assuming to
November himself the power of amending the constitution, and suspending the fundamental
2007 rights. He steps down as the military chief and is sworn as the President for the third
term.
February General elections held in the country, in which General Musharraf’s supported party
2008 was defeated.
August Musharraf resigns from the office of President under intense pressure and ahead of
2008 impeachment charges.
18th Amendment, removing discretionary powers of the President to dissolve the
national assembly and restoring to the office of Prime Minister all powers under the
April 2010
constitution that were taken by the military dictators General Ziaul Haq and
Mussharaf, and turning Pakistan from a semi-presidential to parliamentary system.
------------------------------------------------------ ends -----------------------------------------------------

Chronology of constitutional amendments in

Pakistan
- Internews Report

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani parliament on Tuesday took up the historic process of purging the
Constitution of the dictatorial amendments introduced in it by former military rulers, General
Ziaul Haq and Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Earlier in 1997 with the active cooperation of the leader of the opposition Benazir Bhutto, the
then prime minister Nawaz Sharif had struck the amendments made in the 1973 Constitution by
Gen Ziaul Haq that gave discretionary powers to the president to dissolve the National Assembly.

It remains a sour fact that in the first five years after the introduction of the constitution on
August 14, 1973, its mentor Zulfikar Bhutto had polluted it with seven amendments. He
remains the only prime minister who in his tenure introduced such a good number of
amendments in the constitution.

Nawaz Sharif made six attempts but succeeded in introducing five amendments. One was
withdrawn. Mohammad Khan Junejo succeeded in bringing two constitutional amendments
out of three attempts. One of them was the notorious 8th Amendment that enabled Gen Ziaul
Haq to dissolve the National Assembly.

Benazir failed to secure the required two-thirds majority on two occasions while in power and
thus could not inflict any harm on the constitution. The National Assembly adopted the 1973
Constitution unanimously but the process to introduce amendments in it began soon after. Six
amendments were introduced in it between May 8, 1974 and Jan 4, 1977, and the seventh on
May 16, 1977 in its short tenure.

On the fateful day of July 5, 1977 Gen Ziaul Haq, who suspended the constitution, also removed
the Bhutto government. The Supreme Court endorsed the action of the chief martial law
administrator followed by authorisation to the CMLA to inculcate necessary amendments in the
constitution.

A number of constitutional amendments were incorporated between Feb 1979 and Jan 1985. Zia,
however, issued the order to end abrogation of the constitution on March 17, 1985, but by that
time the basic ingredients of the constitution had been altered.

Ziaul Haq organised the 1985 general elections on non-party basis. The assembly that came up
after the elections had to pass the 8th constitutional amendment that was necessary for its own
survival.

A review of the history of constitutional amendments reveals that first constitutional amendment
in the 1973 Constitution was introduced on May 8, 1974. Fourteen articles including 1, 8, 17, 61,
101, 127, 193, 199, 200, 209, 212, 259, 260 and 270, and the First Schedule were amended.
Under these amendments, curbs were imposed on political parties and they were barred from
indulging in activities against the national interests, besides making it mandatory on them to
declare their sources of income.

Under the amendments, the power to transfer judge of a high court into another high court was
also obtained. After recognising Bangladesh, the word ‘East Pakistan’ was scrapped from the
constitution.

Under the second constitutional amendment on September 21, 1974, changes were introduced in
articles 106 and 206. Qadianis were declares non-Muslim community and seats were reserved for
them in assemblies.

Through another amendment in the constitution on February 18, 1975 articles 10 and 232 were
amended. Under these amendments the executive was authorised to arrest and detain persons
involved in activities against national security for any period of time. The executive was also
authorised to impose emergency in the country through the joint session of the Parliament.

Under the fourth constitutional amendment, brought into effect on November 25, 1975, changes
were introduced in articles 8, 10, 17, 19, 51, 54, 106, 199, 271, 272, 273 and the Fourth and First
Schedules. Under these amendments laws pertaining to fundamental rights were diluted and high
courts were barred from allowing bail to political detainees.

The fifth constitutional amendment was introduced on September 5, 1976 in which 16 articles
including 101, 160, 175, 179, 180, 187, 192, 195, 196, 199, 200, 204, 206, 212, 260, 280, and the
First Schedule were amended. Through these amendments the Bhutto government badly
impaired upon the working of an independent judiciary and the high court was stripped of the
power to issue order on fundamental rights. Among the amended articles, 10 pertained to the
judiciary.

After one and a half months, sixth amendment in the constitution was introduced on January 4,
1977 in which alterations were made in articles 179, 195, 246 and 260. Under these amendments
further curbs were imposed on the independence of judiciary and retiring age of the Supreme
Court and High Court judges was fixed at 65 and 62 years, respectively.

The seventh amendment in the constitution was made effective on May 16, 1977 under which
articles 101 and 245 were altered. The prime minister was given the power of referendum to
prove his popularity and judiciary was restrained from touching issues pertaining to the armed
forces.

The eighth amendment in the constitution was made on October 17, 1985 by General Ziaul Haq.
Under this amendment the parliamentary system of governance was tilted towards quasi-
presidential. The president was empowered to dissolve the National Assembly, appoint services
chiefs of the armed forces and governors and designate the prime minister.

Two power centres were created vast powers were vested in the president. Under these
presidential powers, four successive elected governments could not complete their constitutional
terms.

The ninth amendment in the constitution was presented in the National Assembly in 1988 but it
could not be approved. The 10th constitutional amendment became effective on March 29, 1987.
The 11th amendment was tabled in 1988 but it could not be passed. In that amendment bill, the
restoration of special seats for women was proposed.

Through the 12th constitutional amendment, Nawaz Sharif established special courts to ensure
speedy trial of accused involved in heinous crimes.

The 13th constitutional amendment became effective on April 4, 1997. Through this amendment
the powers of dissolving the assemblies were taken back from the president and vested in the
prime minister. This amendment was made with mutual agreement of the government and
opposition.

The 14th amendment became effective on June 30, 1997. Through this amendment the political
parties were empowered to terminate the Parliament membership of their members involved in
floor crossing to strengthen the political parties.

The 15th amendment is about Shariat Bill, which was approved on August 28, 1998. Through
this amendment, the Holy Quran and Sunnah were declared the guiding principles for running
government. Under the banner of Islamic system, Nawaz Sharif tried to get absolute powers.
This amendment was passed by the National Assembly but could not be passed in the Senate.

The 16th constitutional amendment became effective in 1990. Through this amendment period of
the quota system was extended up to 2013. Only the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) voted
against the move.

The 17th amendment became effective in December 2003 in which the president got back the
powers of dissolving the assemblies and LFO was made part of the constitution. The Parliament
is now abolishing the 17th Amendment.
A Timeline of Pakistan History
ca 1500 B.C. The Aryans came into the Punjab region.
ca 500s B.C. The Persians conquered the Punjab and made it part of the Achaemenid Empire.
526 B.C. Alexander the Great took control of most of what is now Pakistan.
ca 230 B.C. Greeks from the independent state of Bactria invaded the Indus Valley.
ca 100 B.C. Scythians from Afghanistan came into Baluchistan and Sind.

ca 50 to mid-200s A.D. The Kushans ruled what is now Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northwestern
India.
mid-300s The Indus Valley became part of the Gupta Empire.
mid-400s Huns from central Asia conquered the empire.

711 Arab Muslims invaded Sind.

ca 1000 Turkish Muslims invaded northern Pakistan from Iran.

1206 Most of what is now Pakistan became part of the Delhi Sultanate.

1526 Babar, a Muslim ruler from Afghanistan, invaded India and established the Mogul Empire.

1740s The East India Company gained political control over much of India.
1858 The British government took over control of the East India Company. All the company's
territory became known as British India.

1875 Syed Admad Khan founded the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College (now Aligarh
Muslim University) in Aligarh.

1906 The Muslim League was formed.

1940 The Muslim League demanded partition of India along religious lines.
1947 Britain and Hindu leaders agreed to the partition.

August 14, 1947 Pakistan became an independent dominion within the Commonwealth of
Nations.

1948-1949 India and Pakistan went to war over Kashmir.

1948 Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's first head of state, died.

1951 Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan was assassinated.

1956 Pakistan became a republic.
October 7, 1958 President Iskander Mirza suspended the 1956 Constitution, imposed martial
law, and canceled the elections scheduled for January 1959.
October 27, 1958 President Mirza was sent into exile and General Mohammad Ayub Khan
assumed control of a military dictatorship.

1967 The Mangla Dam on the Jhelum River was completed.

1969 General Khan resigned as leader of Pakistan and handed control of the government to
General Agha Mohammed Yahya Khan.

1970 A cyclone and tidal wave struck East Pakistan, killing about 200,000 persons.
March 26, 1971 East Pakistan declared itself an independent nation called Bangladesh.
December 1971 Yahya Khan resigned the presidency and handed over leadership of West
Pakistan to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
1973 President Bhutto promulgated a new Constitution.
1975 The Tarbela Dam on the Indus River was completed.
July 5, 1977 The military removed Bhutto from power and arrested him, declared martial law,
and suspended portions of the 1973 Constitution. Chief of Army Staff General Muhammad Zia
ul-Haq took control of the government.
1979 Pakistan formally joined the Non-Aligned Movement.
April 6, 1979 Bhutto was executed for crimes committed during his presidency.

August 17, 1988 A plane carrying President Zia, American Ambassador Arnold Raphael, U.S.
Brigadier General Herbert Wassom, and 28 Pakistani military officers crashed near Bahawalpur,
killing all of its occupants. Chairman of the Senate Ghulam Ishaq Khan became Acting
President.
November 1988 Benazir Bhutto formed a coalition government with several smaller parties.

August 1990 President Khan dismissed the Bhutto government and dissolved the national and
provincial assemblies.
October 1990 Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was elected Prime Minister by the National Assembly.
April 1993 President Khan dismissed the Sharif government.
May 1993 The Pakistan Supreme Court reinstated the Sharif government.
July 1993 President Khan and Prime Minister Sharif both resigned their offices. Moeen Qureshi
took office as head of an interim government.
October 1993 Benazir Bhutto was elected Prime Minister.
November 1993 Farooq Leghari was elected President.
November 1996 President Leghari dismissed the Bhutto government.

February 1997 Nawaz Sharif became Prime Minister.

March 1997 The National Assembly amended the Constitution to strip the President of the
power to dismiss the government.
December 1997 President Leghari resigned; he was replaced by Rafiq Tarar.
October 12, 1999 The army deposed Sharif.
October 14, 1999 Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf declared himself Chief
Executive.

May 12, 2000 The Supreme Court unanimously validated the October 1999 coup and granted
Musharraf executive and legislative authority for three years from the coup date.
June 20, 2001 Musharraf named himself as President and was sworn in.
November 2003 Pakistan declared a Kashmir ceasefire; India followed suit.
June 2004 Pakistan mounted its first military offensive against suspected Al-Qaeda militants and
their supporters in tribal areas near the Afghan border.
October 2007 Ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto returned from exile.
November 2007 Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned from exile.
December 2007 Benazir Bhutto was assassinated at an election campaign rally in Rawalpindi.
August 2008 President Musharraf resigned after the two main governing parties agreed to launch
impeachment proceedings against him.
September 2008 Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of Benazir Bhutto, was elected President.
April 2011 The founder of Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, was killed by American special forces
in Abbottabad.