tus 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
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 assemblies to serve six-year
terms; one-third of the members up for election every two years) and
the National Assembly (217 seats - 10 represent non-Muslims; members
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 March 1997 (next to be held NA);
National Assembly - last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA);
note - no timetable has yet been given for elections following the
military takeover
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