Pakistani presidential line of succession explained

The line of succession to the Presidency of Pakistan is the order in which persons may become or act as the President of Pakistan upon the incapacity, resignation or death of an incumbent President. Pakistan, by law, has a parliamentary democratic system of government that has been modified several times since its inception. The prime minister of Pakistan is the head of the government, while the president of Pakistan, by law and by statute, is a constitutional figurehead.^[1]

The constitution does not include a position of Vice President, but in absence of president of Pakistan, the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan acts as the President.^[2] If the Chairman, for any reason, is unable to perform the functions of the office of the president, the Speaker of the National Assembly acts as president until a president is elected.^[3] The Electoral College of Pakistan (a special session of the parliament, senate and all four provincial assemblies) elects a new president in accordance with Article 41(3) of the constitution.^[4] Amendment XVIII, Article 49 of the constitution of Pakistan covers this matter.

Current order of succession

The current presidential line of succession, as specified by the Constitution is:

No.	Office	Incumbent	Party
1	Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan	Yousaf Raza Gillani		PPP
2	Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan	Ayaz Sadiq		PML-N

Succession acts

See also: Acting President of Pakistan.

Article 49

Chairman or Speaker to act as, or perform functions of, President

• If the office of President becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation or removal of the President the Chairman or, if he is unable to perform the functions of the office of President, the Speaker of the National Assembly shall act as President until a President is elected in accordance with clause (3) of Article 41.^[5]
• When the President, by reason of absence from Pakistan or any other cause, is unable to perform his functions, the Chairman or, if he too is absent or unable to perform the functions of the office of President, the Speaker of the National Assembly shall perform the functions of President until the President returns to Pakistan or, as the case may be, resumes his functions.

Past presidential successions

Successor	Party		President	Reason	Date of succession
Ayub Khan (CMLA, CiC Pakistan Army)		Independent	Iskander Mirza	Coup d'etat, resignation	, days into Ayub Khan's presidency.^[6]
Yahya Khan (5th CiC Pakistan Army)		Independent	Ayub Khan		, days into Ayub Khan's presidency.^[7]
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto		Pakistan Peoples Party	Yahya Khan	Power handover	, days into Yahya Khan's presidency.^[8]
Ghulam Ishaq Khan (Chairman Senate)		Independent	Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq	Death	, days into Zia's presidency.^[9]

See also

• Politics of Pakistan
• Senate of Pakistan
• National Assembly of Pakistan
• President of Pakistan
• Constitution of Pakistan
• Electoral College of Pakistan

External links

• Government of Pakistan website
• The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Notes and References

1. Web site: Political System of Pakistan . www.democraticfoundation.com.pk . 9 August 2021.
2. Web site: Chairman Senate of Pakistan . www.senate.gov.pk . 9 August 2021 . en.
3. http://pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part3.ch2.html Article 60(1)
4. Web site: Second Schedule: Election of President . www.pakistani.org . 9 August 2021.
5. Book: Constitution of Pakistan . 31 May 2018 . National Assembly of Pakistan . 25 . 11 August 2021 . en.
6. Web site: Iskander Mirza — Former 1st President of Pakistan . Story Of Pakistan . 15 August 2021 . 1 June 2003.
7. Web site: Pakistan - AYUB KHAN . www.countrystudies.us . 12 August 2021.
8. Web site: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, prime minister of Pakistan . Encyclopedia Britannica . 12 August 2021 . en.
9. Web site: Pakistan - President Ghulam Ishaq Khan as Power Broker . www.country-data.com . 10 August 2021.