Elections in Pakistan

Since its establishment in 1947, Pakistan has had an asymmetric federal government and is a federal parliamentary democratic republic. At the national level, the people of Pakistan elect a bicameral legislature, the Parliament of Pakistan. The parliament consists of a lower house called the National Assembly, which is elected directly, and an upper house called the Senate, whose members are chosen by elected provincial legislators. The head of government, the Prime Minister, is elected by the majority members of the National Assembly and the head of state (and figurehead), the President, is elected by the Electoral College, which consists of both houses of Parliament together with the four provincial assemblies. In addition to the national parliament and the provincial assemblies, Pakistan also has more than five thousand elected local governments. The Election Commission of Pakistan, a constitutionally-established institution chaired by an appointed and designated Chief Election Commissioner, supervises the general elections. The Pakistan Constitution defines (to a basic extent) how general elections are held in Part VIII, Chapter 2 and various amendments. A multi-party system is in effect, with the National Assembly consisting of 342 seats and the Senate consisting of 100 seats (after ex-FATA merger) elected from the four provinces. The Constitution dictates that the general elections be held every five years when the National Assembly has completed its term or has been dissolved and that the Senatorial elections be held to elect members for terms of six years. By law, general elections must be held within two months of the National Assembly completing its term. 1954 election (indirect elections) = Muslim League 1962 election (independents-only indirect elections) = Independents 1970 election (first direct general election) = Awami League 1977 election = Pakistan Peoples Party 1985 election = Independents 1988 election = Pakistan Peoples Party 1990 election = Pakistan Muslim League 1993 election = Pakistan Peoples Party 1997 election = Pakistan Muslim League (N) 2002 election = Pakistan Muslim League (Q) 2008 election = Pakistan Peoples Party 2013 election = Pakistan Muslim League (N) 2018 election = Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Between 1947 and 1958, there were no direct elections held in Pakistan at the national level.