President of Pakistan:

Duties and Powers

Introduction
 Introduction
Mr. Imran Zahoor Ph. D in IR 0321-400309

 Under of Constitution of 1973,Pakistan is a Parliamentary

parliamentary democracy. Democracy
 Where Head of the State is President
A parliamentary system
 Head of the Government is Prime Minister 
or parliamentary
democracy is a system
 Under the Article-41 Constitution of 1973, of democratic
governance of a state
there shall be a President of Pakistan who
where the executive
shall be the Head of State and shall derives its democratic
represent the unity of Pakistan. legitimacy from its
ability to command the
 The office of president was created under support of the
Constitution of 1956. Iskander Mirza legislature, typically a
parliament, to which it is
assumed office as the first president
accountable.
Introduction
 Following the 1958 military coup, the office of
prime minister was abolished, leaving
Presidency as the most powerful office in the
country.

 1962 Constitution turned Pakistan into a

Presidential Republic, giving all executive
powers to the president.

 Presidency forms the vital institutional organ

of state and is part of
the bicameral Parliament.

 Constitution defines a complete criteria of

eligibility, tenure, selection and removal
criteria about President of Pakistan
Eligibility, Selection,
Tenure and Removal
 Eligibility, Selection, Tenure and Removal
Mr. Imran Zahoor Ph. D in IR 0321-400309
 As per article 41(2) of the Constitution
of Pakistan, basic requirements to become
President of Pakistan are :
 A citizen of Pakistan
 Must be Muslim
 At least 45 years of age.

 President-nominee doesn't be a member of

Senate, National Assembly or Provincial
Assemblies.

 However, he or she should be qualified to be

elected as member of the National Assembly
as outlined in Article 62 of the Constitution
of Pakistan.
Eligibility, Selection, Tenure and Removal

 Usually, party who holds majority in

Parliament both houses and provinces
has their candidate elected as the
President.

 After nomination of candidate, there

will be a presidential election in which
Senate, National Assembly, and
Provincial Assemblies will vote for their
favorite candidate.

 The President shall hold office for a

term of 5 years from the day he enters
upon his office.
 Eligibility, Selection, Tenure and Removal
 Under Article (44 (2),President shall be
eligible for re-election to that office, but no
person shall hold that office for more than 2
consecutive terms.

 President will continue to hold office until

next President enters upon his office.

 President shall not hold any office in the

service of Pakistan or occupy any other
position.

 Before entering his/her office, the President

shall take oath before the Chief Justice of
Pakistan.
 Eligibility, Selection, Tenure and Removal
Mr. Imran Zahoor Ph. D in IR 0321-400309
Removal  or Impeachment of President
 The President may, in accordance with the
provisions of this Article 47, be removed from
office on the ground of:
 Physical or mental incapacity
 Impeached on a charge of violating the constitution
or gross misconduct. 

 Chairman Senate perform the functions of

President temporary if President:
 Died, resign, remove from Pakistan.

 50% votes are required in National Assembly to

move a resolution for process of President
impeachment
 Powers & Duties of
President of Pakistan
 Powers & Duties of President of Pakistan
Mr. Imran Zahoor Ph. D in IR 0321-400309

Powers Regarding Military

 President of Pakistan is Supreme
Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Armed
Forces.

 On the advice of Prime Minister, President

appoints :
 Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff committee
 Chief of Army Staff
 Chief of Naval Staff
 Chief of Air Staff.

 Even President of Pakistan determines their

allowances and salaries.
Powers & Duties of President of Pakistan

War and Peace Settlement

 President possesses power to declare
war and make peace settlement.

 However, such power can only be used

after making consultation with Prime
Minister.

Sending Pakistan Army to other
states and UN
 President has power to
send Pakistan army for help to other
states and United Nations organization.
Powers & Duties of President of Pakistan
Mr. Imran Zahoor Ph. D in IR 0321-400309

Judicial Powers
 President of Pakistan possesses following
judicial powers:
– Appointment of Chief Justice of Pakistan
– Appointment of Chief Justices of High
Courts and Judges of Supreme Court and
High Courts
– Appointment of acting Chief Justice
of Pakistan and chief Justice of High
Courts
– Appointment of acting and ad hoc judges
of Supreme Court
– Appointment of additional judges of High
Courts
Powers & Duties of President of Pakistan

 In the past, after three successful

military coups in Pakistan, Pakistan has
experienced a kind of political conflict
between its President and Prime
Minister.

 However, some constitutional

amendments have made Prime
Minister more powerful than President.

 These amendments have aimed to

finish political conflict between these
two heads.
Powers & Duties of President of Pakistan
Mr. Imran Zahoor Ph. D in IR 0321-400309
Legislative Powers After 18th
Amendment
 After 18th Amendment in the Constitution
of Pakistan, President possesses following
legislative powers:

Dissolve National Assembly

 After 18th amendment, the Constitution
does not empower the President to dissolve
the National Assembly.

 However, President can only dissolve the

National Assembly if so advised by the
Prime Minister and the National Assembly.
Powers & Duties of President of Pakistan

Circulate any Ordinance or Bill

 President has the right to circulate any

ordinance or an amended bill.

 If president reject the bill, it comes back to

the Parliament and then needs 2/3 majority
to be passed again.

 If the bill gets 2/3 majority then the

President is bound to sign that bill.

 If the bill fails to get 2/3 majority, the life of

that bill gets over.
 Powers & Duties of President of Pakistan
Mr. Imran Zahoor Ph. D in IR 0321-400309
President to be kept informed

 The Prime Minister shall keep the President

informed on all matters of internal and
foreign policy and on all legislative
proposals with the passage of time.

Conduct and Supervise General

Election

 As head of the state, President conducts

and supervises the general elections when
the national assembly dissolved after
completing its 5 year term.
 Powers & Duties of President of Pakistan
Address the Joint Session of
Council of Common
Interests
Parliament
 At the outset of new Parliamentary year,
The Council of Common Interests President summons and addresses the joint
is a constitutional body in the session of Parliament.
Government of Pakistan. It is
appointed by the President on the
advice of the Prime Minister. The  Appointment
CCI resolves the disputes of power
sharing between the federation
 It is the President who appoints:
and provinces. It was formed  Auditor General
under 1973 Constitution of  Attorney General
Pakistan. Until 2010 the body
 Governors
worked under Cabinet Division.
After the passing of the 18th  Members of National Finance Commission
amendment the body was  Members and Chairman of Council of
transferred to the Ministry of Inter Islamic Ideology
Provincial Coordination on March
2010.
 Council of Common Interests
 National Economic Council
 Powers & Duties of President of Pakistan
Mr. Imran Zahoor Ph. D in IR 0321-400309
 President of Pakistan has power to appoint
ambassadors in foreign states and special envoy
in United Nations to manage foreign affairs.
 He also well come ambassadors of other foreign
countries.

Chancellor of all Federal Universities

 President is also the Chancellor of all federal
universities in the country.

Power to Grant Pardon

 President also holds the power to grant pardon,
or reduce the sentence of a convicted prisoner.