akistan former: West Pakistan

Government type: federal republic

Capital: Islamabad

Administrative divisions: 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital
territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad
Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh note:
the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir
region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas

Independence: 14 August 1947 (from UK)

National holiday: Republic 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,
General 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; 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; on 20 June 2001, MUSHARRAF named himself and was
sworn in as president, replacing Mohammad Rafiq TARAR; in a referendum
held on 30 April 2002, MUSHARRAF won an overwhelming majority of votes,
extending his rule for five more years chief of state: President Pervez
MUSHARRAF (since 20 June 2001) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the chief
executive head of government: Chief Executive Pervez MUSHARRAF (since
12 May 2000) elections: prior to the military takeover, Pakistan had
an elected president and prime minister; the president was elected by
Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 31 December 1997
(next election to be held NA); following legislative elections, the leader
of the majority party or majority coalition was usually elected prime
minister by the National Assembly; election last held 3 February 1997
(next to be held NA) election results: results are for the last elections
for prime minister and president prio