blic Day, 23 March (1956)

Constitution: 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with
amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999

Legal system: based on English common law with provisions to
accommodate Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and
reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims

Executive branch: note: following a military takeover on 12 October
1999, Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Committee, Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF suspended Pakistan's constitution
and assumed the additional title of Chief Executive; exercising the
powers of the head of the government, he appointed an eight-member
National Security Council to function as Pakistan's supreme
governing body; President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR remains the
ceremonial chief of state; on 12 May 2000, Pakistan's Supreme Court
unanimously validated the October 1999 coup and granted MUSHARRAF
executive and legislative authority for three years from the coup
date

chief of state: President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR (since 31 December
1997)

head of government: Chief Executive Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF (since 12
October 1999)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the chief executive

elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
election last held 31 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by
the National Assembly; election last held 3 February 1997 (next to
be held NA); note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF overthrew the government
of Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF in the military takeover of
12 October 1999; in May 2000, the Supreme Court validated the
October 1999 coup and set a three-year limit in office for Chief
Executive MUSHARRAF

election results: Rafiq TARAR elected president; percent of
Parliament and provincial vote - NA%; results are for the last
election for prime minister prior to the military takeover of 12
October 1999 - Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected prime minister; percent
of National Assembly vote - NA%

Legislative branch: note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dissolved
Parliament following the military takeover of 12 October 1999;
bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (87
seats; members indirectly elected by provincial asse