Parties active in national and provincial politics
Major parties and coalition
Major parties in Pakistan are mentioned below in order of the number of elected seats in the parliament
The Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (abbr. PPPP), is an electoral extension of the Pakistan Peoples Party formed in 2002 by the PPP for the purpose of complying with electoral rules governing Pakistani parties. The Pakistan Peoples Party was founded on November 30, 1967 byZulfikar Ali Bhutto who became its first chairman and later Prime Minister Of Pakistan PPP is the largest political party of Pakistan This party has been active in Pakistani politics since the separation of the East Wing from the rest of Pakistan. The party gained much popularity and support during the era of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The party won the 1971 elections on a socialist mandate of "Mani, Kapro, Ghar" ("bread, clothes, shelter"). PPP took control of the country after the Indian-supported independent war of Bangladesh (previously known as east Pakistan) in 1971. After the first parliamentary term, PPP secured a landslide victory in the 1977 elections to rule for another five years. PPP was a socialist nationalist party when formed by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, but it moved toward the right under Benazir Bhutto. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto wanted closer ties with China and more attention to the lower classes. Benazir Bhutto adopted conservative privatization policies in order to secure funding from the United States and the World Bank. Although twice elected Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto was criticized for corruption and extrajudicial killings. The PPP currently holds 124 seats in the National Assembly and 41 seats in the Senate. It is the current government of Pakistan. It forms the provincial government in Sindh and is the official opposition in Punjab. In the Angus-Reid pre-election polls of 22 December 2007, it was in first place, with about 30% of the vote. It is strong in the rural areas of Sindh and Punjab.
Pakistan Muslim League (N) (abbr. PML(N); also PML "Nawaz group") is the second biggest party in Parliament. It is centrist conservative party that has been led from by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Through the help and support of Establishment especially Hameed Gul, it won the election in 1990. It currently holds 91 seats in the National Assembly and 14 seats in the Senate.Although three time elected as Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif was criticized for widespread corruption and extrajudicial killings by opponents specially MQM and other groups, against whom he took action for their crimes against humanity and corruption during his power . Its popularity has been considerably weaken due to support of religious extremist group and poor administration of thePunjab.
Pakistan Muslim League ( Q ) (abbr. PML(Q); also PML "Quaid-e-Azam group" is officially called the Pakistan Muslim League. It was supporter of former President Pervez Musharraf. PML (Q) is a centrist conservative party that forms the opposition. It is 3rd biggest party after PPP and PML(N) in parliament and currently holding 54 seats in the National Assembly and 05 seats in the Senate. The PML (Q) born from the dissenters of the PML N, following the arrest and exile of PML leader and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The PML (Q) through the help and rigging by former dictator Pervaiz Musharraf formed Government After 2002 election. It absorbed some minor parties through power-sharing agreements in 2002 general elections, thus making the federal government of Pakistan. In the 2008 general elections the party lost seats dictator support and was no longer in the government. Although deceptionally popular in 2007, lost major vote bank by supporting ex president Musharraf who has been criticized for supporting the US invasion of Afghanistan and suspension of legal rights in the country. In the Angus-Reid pre-election polls of 22-December-2007, the PML (Q) was in third place, with about 23% of the vote. It has some vote bank in rural areas of the two large provinces (Punjab and Sindh).
Muttahda Qaumi Movement (abbr. MQM) is the third largest political party and the largest liberal political party of Pakistan. It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in province of Sindh. The student organization, All Pakistan Muhajir Student Organization (APMSO), was founded in 1978 by Altaf Hussain which subsequently gave birth to the Muhajir Quami Movement in 1984.The organization maintains liberal and progressive stances on many political and social issues. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the alleged target of the Pakistan Army's Operation Cleanup leaving hundreds of civilians dead In 1997, the MQM officially removed the term Muhajir (which denotes the party's roots of Urdu-speaking Muslims) from its name, and replaced it with Muttahida ("United"). The MQM is one of few socially liberal political parties in Pakistan and organized the largest rallies in Pakistan in protest of the actions of al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001 demonstrating sympathy with the victims of the terrorist attacks. Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)is the second largest party in sindh and the traditionally the third largest in the country, however it currently holds fourth highest number of seats holding 25 seats in the National Assembly and 07 seats in the Senate while maintaining its second position in the Sindh Assembly.
Awami National Party (abbr. ANP) has 13 seats in the National Assembly and 12 Senate seats.The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province government is run by the ANP.
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (abbr. MMA) is a coalition of six religious parties consisting of theJamaat –e-Islami (JI), Jamiat-e-Islam (F) (Assembly of Islamic Clergy, Fazl-ur-Rahman Group), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (S) (Assembly of Islamic Clergy, Sami-ul-Haq Group) Jamiat Ulama-e-Pakistan (Assembly of Pakistani Clergy), Tehrik-e-Jafaria Pakistan and a few more. The religious alliance formed the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2002. It leads the coalition government in Balochistan with PML(Q). This group has broken up with JUI-F, which left to be a part of coalition PPP government and take part in the 2008 general elections. MMA is de-centrist. It is strong in the two small provinces. It is legally ultra-conservative and economically socialist. It strongly opposes US military presence in Pakistan. In the Angus-Reid pre-election polls of 22 December 2007, the MMA was in fifth place, with 4% of the vote. The MMA in the National Assembly is actually JUI-F who decided to use the name MMA at the general election in 2008 after the remaining parties in the MMA decided to not take part in the general election. It currently holds 7 seats in the National Assembly and 7 seats in the Senate. The MMA that contested the 2002 general election has disbanded, according to the head of Jamaat-e-Islaami.
Ideological Comparisons
| Major Political forces active in the State of Pakistan |
| Left-wing politics in Pakistan | Right-wing politics in Pakistan | Nationalist politics in Pakistan | Secular politics in Pakistan |
| Centre-left | Centre-right | Centrist-nationalist | Liberals-Seculars |
| Pakistan Peoples Party
(Sherpao)
| Pakistan Muslim League (N) | Pakistan Muslim League (J)
| Mutahida Qomi Movement Christian Congress
|
| Left-wing | Right-wing | Liberal-left | |
| Avami National Party
Pakhtun-khwa-Milli Awami Party
| Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan | MQM (KKF wing) | |
| Far-Left | Far-Right | ||
| Communist Party of Pakistan
| Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Jamiat-Ahle Hadith
Shiite Movement
| ||
| Ultra-leftists | Ultra-rightists | Ultra-liberals | |
| The Struggle Al-Zulfiqar International Peoples Peace Committee | Sharia Establishment Party Sharia Movement | MQM (Real Group) MQM (Student wing) |
Other Political Parties
| All Pakistan Muslim League | Tehreek-e-insaf |
| Awami Qiadat Party | Islami Tahreek-e-Pakistan |
| Awami Tehreek | Jamhoori Wattan Party |
| Awami Tehreek-e-Insaf[10] | Jamote Qaumi Movement |
| Balawaristan National Front (Gilgit Baltistan) | Jeay Sindh Quomi Mahaz |
| Baloch Republican Party | Justice and Development Party Pakistan |
| Balochistan National Congress | Kakar Jamhoori Party |
| Balochistan National Democratic Party | Khaksar Tehrik |
| Balochistan National Party | Labour Party of Pakistan |
| Balochistan National Movement | Millat Party |
| Combined Opposition Party Pakistan | Mohajir Ittehad Tehrik |
| Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party (CMKP) | Mohib-e-Wattan Nowjawan Inqilabion Ki Anjuman |
| Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) | Mustaqbil Pakistan[11] |
| Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) | National People's Party (NPP) |
| Green Party of Pakistan | National Workers Party |
| Hazara Qaumi Mahaz | Nizam-e-Mustafa Party |
| Hazara Democratic Party | Pak Wattan Party |
| Pak Muslim Alliance | Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party |
| Pakistan Aman Tehreek (HND South Punjab) | Pakistan Awami Tehrik |
| Pakistan Awami Tehrik-e-Inqilab | Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC) |
| Pakistan Democratic Party | Pakistan Freedom Party |
| Pakistan Gharib Party | Pakistan Ittehad Tehreek |
| Tehreek Jamhooriat Pakistan: The Big political party | Pakistan Kisan Party |
| Pakistan Meo Ittehad | Pakistan Muslim League (F) |
| Pakistan Muslim League (Jinnah) | Pakistan Muslim League (Junejo) |
| Pakistan Muslim League (Shere Bangal) | Pakistan Muslim League (Z) |
| Pakistan National League | Pakistan National Party |
| Pakistan Progressive Party | Pakistan Ittehad Yaqeen Tanzeem Party |
| Pakistan Qaumi League | Pakistan Seriaki Party |
| Pakistan Social Democratic Party | Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf |
| Pakistan Workers Party | Pukhtoonkhwa Qaumi Party |
| Qaumi Inqilab Party | Qaumi Jamhoori Party |
| Qaumi Tahaffaz Party | Republican Party |
| Saraiki Sooba Movement Pakistan | Saraiki Quomi Movement Pakistan |
| Shan-e-Pakistan Party | Sindh Democratic Alliance |
| Sindh Dost Democratic Party[12] | Sindh Dost Ittehad[13] |
| Sindh National Front | Sindh National Party |
| Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party | Sindh Urban-Rural Alliance |
| Sunni Ittehad Council[14] | Sunni Tehreek |
| Tameer-e-Pakistan Party | Tehreek-e-Hazara Suba[15] |
| Tehreek-e-Suba Hazara[15] | Tehreek Hussainia Pakistan |
| Tehreek Jamhoriat Pakistan | Tehrik-e-Istiqlal |
| Workers Party Pakistan |
National Assembly of Pakistan
The National Assembly of Pakistan is the lower house of the bicameral Majlis-e-Shura, which also comprises the President of Pakistan and Senate (upper house). The National Assembly and the Senate both convene at Parliament House in Islamabad. The National Assembly is a democratically elected body, consisting of 342 members, who are referred to as Members of the National Assembly (MNAs).
Members are elected through the first-past-the-post system under universal adult suffrage, representing electoral districts known as National Assembly constituencies. According to the constitution, there are 70 seats reserved for women and religious minorities; allocated according to proportional representation.
Each National Assembly is formed for a five year term, commencing from the date of the first sitting, after which it is automatically dissolved. The National Assembly can be dissolved by the President of Pakistan, upon the advice of the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The current National Assembly term is set to expire on 18 March 2013.
Party Position in National Assembly
APP Report 7-May-2012
| Affiliation | Members | |
| PPP | 124 | |
| PML ( N ) | 91 | |
| PML ( Q ) | 54 | |
| MQM | 25 | |
| ANP | 13 | |
| JUI ( F ) | 7 | |
| PML ( F ) | 5 | |
| Others | 3 | |
| Independents+FATA | 18 | |
| Total | 340 | |
| National Assembly of Pakistan | |
| | |
| Type | |
| Founded | 15 August 1947 |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
| Dr. Fahmida Mirza, (PPP) | |
| Leader of the Opposition | Nisar Ali Khan, (PML N) |
| Structure | |
| Members | 340 |
National Assembly Political groups | The Government (241) PPPP (124) PML ( Q ) (54) MQM (25) ANP (13) PML ( F ) (5) NPPP (1) PPP (S) (1) BNP (A) (1) Ind + FATA (18) Official Opposition (91) PML ( N ) (91) Other Opposition (7) JUI (F) (7) |
| Elections | |
| National Assembly Voting system | |
| National Assembly Last election | |
| Meeting place | |
The Senate of Pakistan consist of total 104 members.The 1970 Assembly framed the 1973 Constitution which was passed on 12 April and promulgated on 14 August 1973. The 1973 Constitution provides for a parliamentary form of Government with a bicameral legislature, composed of the National Assembly and the Senate. The membership of the Senate, which was originally 45, was raised to 63 in 1977 and to 87 in 1985. The government of Gen. Pervez Musharraf raised the membership of the Senate from 87 to 100 in 2002.
Party Position in Senators
The After the March, 2012 Senate elections, party position in Senate stands like this.
| Party | Number |
| Pakistan Peoples Party ( PPP ) | 41 |
| Pakistan Muslim League (Q) | 5 |
| Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) | 7 |
| Pakistan Muslim league ( N ) | 14 |
| Muttahida Qaumi Movement ( MQM ) | 7 |
| Awami National Party ( ANP ) | 12 |
| FATA | 8 |
| Independents | 4 |
| Jamaat-e-Islami | 1 |
| Balochistan National Party ( Awami ) | 4 |
| Pakistan Muslim League ( F ) | 1 |
| Total |
|
