History of the Presidency

In 1947 Pakistan became a dominion within the British Commonwealth with the British Monarch as head of state (reiging as "King / Queen of Pakistan"). The monarch was represented in Pakistan by a Governor-General of Pakistan. In 1956, dominion ended when Pakistan established its first constitution, and the positions of Queen and Governor-General were merged into the President.

Pakistan's first president was Iskander Mirza, who was also the last Governor General. In 1958, he abrogated the constitution and declared martial law. A few weeks later, he was overthrown in a bloodless Coup d'état by General Ayub Khan who had himself declared President. The constitution was revised, and the President became the ruler of Pakistan. The constitution also stipulated that the President be elected by the people. Elections were held in 1963, and Khan defeated the sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Fatima.

Ayub Khan continued as president until March 25, 1969, and he passed the Presidency onto Yahya Khan. Yahya Khan stepped down after the (Indo-Pakistani War of 1971), and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto became the new president and presided over the formation of a new Constitution. This constitution was completed in 1973, and reduced the presidency to a figurehead position, giving power to the Prime Minister. Bhutto stepped down as President and became Prime Minister, symbolizing the transition. The President was henceforth elected by legislative assembly members, not by popular vote. Popular vote would be used to directly elect the members of the National Assembly, including the Prime Minister.

In 1978, Prime Minister Bhutto was toppled by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq who declared himself President. The presidency again became the premier position in the Pakistani government. Zia introduced the Eighth Amendment which gave reserve powers to the President's office. Zia died in 1988, and the Prime Minister's office regained leadership of the country. The Presidency retained its reserve powers until 1997, when the Thirteenth Amendment was passed.

However, the 1999 coup of General Pervez Musharraf brought executive powers back to the President's office. National and provincial elections were held in 2002. In December 2003, the Seventeenth Amendment partially restored the President's reserve powers - but made the exercise of those powers subject to Supreme Court approval or veto within 30 days. In January 2004, the Electoral College gave Musharraf a vote of confidence, as result of which he was (according to the Constitution) "deemed to be elected." Musharraf's term of office as president ends in 2007.

Name , Took Office , Left Office
01 Dr. Iskander Mirza March 23, 1956 October 27, 1958
02 Muhammad Ayub Khan October 27, 1958 March 25, 1969 Military
03 Yahya Khan March 25, 1969 December 20, 1971 Military
04 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto December 20, 1971 August 13, 1973
05 Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry August 13, 1973 September 16, 1978
06 Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq September 16, 1978 August 17, 1988 Military
07 Ghulam Ishaq Khan August 17, 1988 July 18, 1993
08 Wasim Sajjad July 18, 1993 November 14, 1993
09 Farooq Leghari November 14, 1993 December 2, 1997
* Wasim Sajjad December 2, 1997 January 1, 1998
10 Muhammad Rafiq Tarar January 1, 1998 June 20, 2001
11 Pervez Musharraf June 20, 2001 In Office Military