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Pakistan
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Government: Has shifted among various forms
of parliamentary, military, and presidential governments in pursuit
of political stability. The 1973 constitution, as amended in 1985,
provides for parliamentary system with president as head of state
and popularly elected prime minister as head of government. Bicameral
legislature, Majlis-i-Shoora (Council of Advisors), consists of
Senate (upper house) and National Assembly (lower house).
Politics: Return of democracy and open political
debate after death of General Mohammad Zia ul-Haq in 1988; politics
characterized by varied and volatile mix of ethnic, and regional
alliances. Provincialism and ethnic rivalries continue to impede
progress toward national integration. Major political parties
include Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League
(Nawaz Sharif faction), Muhajir Qaumi Mahaz (MQM), Awami National
Party, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Jamiat-ul-Ulama-i-Islam (JUI), Jamiat-ul-Ulama-e-Pakistan
(JUP), and Solidarity Movement (Tehrik-i-Istiqlal).
Judicial System: Supreme Court, provincial high
courts, and other lesser courts exercise civil and criminal jurisdiction.
Federal Shariat Court decides if a civil law is repugnant to injunctions
of Islam.
Administrative Divisions: Four provinces--Balochistan,
North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh; one territory--Federally
Administered Tribal Areas; one capital territory--Islamabad Capital
Territory; and Pakistaniadministered portion of disputed Jammu
and Kashmir region--Azad (Free) Kashmir and the Northern Areas.
Foreign Relations: Member of United Nations,
Commonwealth of Nations, Economic Cooperation Organization, South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, and numerous other
international organizations. Relations with United States historically
close but turbulent. Acrimonious relations with India and fallout
from Soviet occupation of Afghanistan (1979-89) have been defining
factors in recent foreign policy.
Data as of April 1994
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