Pakistan’s Presidential Elections Through the Years
News Desk
Islamabad: After the establishment of Pakistan, the country is set to elect its 14th president today (Saturday), who will assume office tomorrow (March 10, 2024).
Remarkably, this elected president will be the 10th president constitutionally.
Let’s delve into the history of former presidents who have held office since the inception of Pakistan, including their terms and resignations.
First President: Iskandar Mirza served as the first president of Pakistan from March 23, 1956, to October 27, 1958.
Second President: On March 27, 1958, Chief Marshal General Ayub Khan dismissed President Iskandar Mirza and assumed the presidency himself, holding the position until March 25, 1969.
Third President: Yahya Khan, nominated as Chief of Army Staff by Ayub Khan in 1966, assumed the presidency on March 25, 1969, following Ayub Khan’s resignation. His dual roles ended on December 20, 1971, after the fall of Dhaka.
Fourth President: Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto took over the presidency on December 20, 1971, as entrusted by General Yahya Khan, and served until August 13, 1973.
Fifth President: Fazlullah Chaudhry became the first President of Pakistan under the 1973 Constitution, serving from August 14, 1973, to September 16, 1978. He resigned after General Zia-ul-Haq seized power.
Sixth President: Zia-ul-Haq succeeded Chaudhry, taking office on September 16, 1978, until his death in an air crash on August 17, 1988.
Seventh President: Following Zia-ul-Haq’s demise, Ghulam Ishaq Khan assumed the presidency on August 17, 1988, until July 18, 1993.
Eighth President: Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Laghari became the eighth president on November 14, 1993, serving until December 2, 1997.
Ninth President: Muhammad Rafiq Tarar became president on January 1, 1998, despite the dismissal of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government in 1999 by General Pervez Musharraf. He continued in office until January 20, 2001.
Tenth President: General Pervez Musharraf assumed the presidency on June 20, 2001, through a referendum, and served until his resignation on August 18, 2008.
Eleventh President: Following Musharraf’s resignation, Asif Ali Zardari was elected president and served from September 9, 2008, to September 9, 2013.
Twelfth President: Mamnoon Hussain assumed office as the 12th president on September 9, 2013, serving until September 8, 2018.
Thirteenth President: Arif Alvi, of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, took oath as the 13th President on September 9, 2018, completing his term today, March 9, 2024.
First President: Iskandar Mirza served as the first president of Pakistan from March 23, 1956, to October 27, 1958.
Second President: On March 27, 1958, Chief Marshal General Ayub Khan dismissed President Iskandar Mirza and assumed the presidency himself, holding the position until March 25, 1969.
Third President: Yahya Khan, nominated as Chief of Army Staff by Ayub Khan in 1966, assumed the presidency on March 25, 1969, following Ayub Khan’s resignation. His dual roles ended on December 20, 1971, after the fall of Dhaka.
Fourth President: Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto took over the presidency on December 20, 1971, as entrusted by General Yahya Khan, and served until August 13, 1973.
Fifth President: Fazlullah Chaudhry became the first President of Pakistan under the 1973 Constitution, serving from August 14, 1973, to September 16, 1978. He resigned after General Zia-ul-Haq seized power.
Sixth President: Zia-ul-Haq succeeded Chaudhry, taking office on September 16, 1978, until his death in an air crash on August 17, 1988.
Seventh President: Following Zia-ul-Haq’s demise, Ghulam Ishaq Khan assumed the presidency on August 17, 1988, until July 18, 1993.
Eighth President: Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Laghari became the eighth president on November 14, 1993, serving until December 2, 1997.
Ninth President: Muhammad Rafiq Tarar became president on January 1, 1998, despite the dismissal of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government in 1999 by General Pervez Musharraf. He continued in office until January 20, 2001.
Tenth President: General Pervez Musharraf assumed the presidency on June 20, 2001, through a referendum, and served until his resignation on August 18, 2008.
Eleventh President: Following Musharraf’s resignation, Asif Ali Zardari was elected president and served from September 9, 2008, to September 9, 2013.
Twelfth President: Mamnoon Hussain assumed office as the 12th president on September 9, 2013, serving until September 8, 2018.
Thirteenth President: Arif Alvi, of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, took oath as the 13th President on September 9, 2018, completing his term today, March 9, 2024.
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