Political Parties in Pakistan - Parties Active in National and Provincial Politics - Major Parties and Coalition

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 by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who became its first chairman and later 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan. PPP is the largest political party of Pakistan. The party gained much popularity and support during the era of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The party won the Pakistani general election, 1970 on a socialist mandate of "Roti, Kapra, Ghar" ("bread, clothes, shelter"). PPP took control of the country after the Indian-supported Bangladesh Liberation War (previously known as east Pakistan) in 1971. After the first parliamentary term, PPP secured a landslide victory in Pakistani general election, 1977 to rule for next five years. PPP was a Islamic Socialist party when formed by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, but it moved toward the Secular Right wing under Benazir Bhutto. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto wanted closer ties with China and more attention to the lower classes. Benazir Bhutto adopted Fiscal Conservative Privatization policies in order to secure funding from the United States of America and the World Bank. Although twice elected Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto was criticized for corruption and extrajudicial killings. The PPP currently holds 126 seats in the National Assembly of Pakistan and 27 seats in the Senate of Pakistan. It is the current leader of ruling coalition of Pakistan. It forms the provincial government in Sindh and is the official opposition in Punjab. PPP is part of provincial governments of two smaller provinces. In the Angus-Reid pre-election polls of 22 December 2007, it was in first place, with about 30% of the vote. Laborers of Pakistan are considered to be strong vote bank of PPP.
• Pakistan Muslim League (N) (abbr. PML(N); also PML "Nawaz group") is the second largest party in Parliament. It is rightist conservative party that has been led 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 90 seats in the National Assembly and 7 seats in the Senate. Although two time elected as Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif was criticized for widespread corruption and extrajudicial killings by opponents specially MQM and other groups. PML-N is a Fiscally Conservative party. PML- N supports strong and friendly relations with India, America and European Union. Party leadership holds an socially and religiously moderate stance. With passage of time PML-N is becoming more outspoken and conscious regarding it's anti-establishment (since 1999) and pro status quo stance. PML (N) is currently representing 19.6% of votes in the Parliament (both in Senate of Pakistan and National Assembly (Pakistan)). Fiscal Conservatives and Business class in urban areas of Pakistan are considered to be strong vote bank of PML (N).
• Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (abbr. PML(Q); also PML "Quaid-e-Azam group") is third largest political part in Parliament of Pakistan. It was a supporter of former President Pervez Musharraf. PML (Q) is a Centrist Conservative and Nationalist party. It is 3rd largest party after PPP and PML(N) in parliament and currently holds 53 seats in the National Assembly and 21 seats in the Senate. The PML (Q) was 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 alleged rigging by former dictator Pervaiz Musharraf, formed a new government after the 2002 election. The party absorbed some smaller parties through power-sharing agreements in 2002 general elections, thus forming the federal government of Pakistan at the time. In the 2008 general elections the party lost seats and dictator's support, and therefore was no longer in the government. Although surprisingly popular among voters in 2007, the party lost a major section of its voter base by supporting ex president Musharraf, who had been heavily criticized for supporting the US led war on terror and suspending legal rights and constitution 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. National Conservatives and Agriculturist class in rural areas of Pakistan are considered to be strong vote bank of PML (Q).
• Muttahida Qaumi Movement (United National Movement) (abbr. MQM) is the fourth largest political party and the largest liberal political party in National Assembly (Pakistan). It is generally known as a party which holds immense mobilizing potential in Muhajir community living in urban areas of Sindh province. 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 but MQM is heavily criticized to be responsible for various violent and criminal activities in city of Karachi. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the alleged target of the Pakistan Army's Operation Cleanup against criminal groups 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 present-day Indian regions) 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 in the National Assembly while maintaining its second position in the Sindh Assembly.
• Awami National Party {Populist National Party)(abbr. ANP) has 13 seats in the National Assembly and 6 Senate seats. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province government is run by the ANP. ANP is a leftist and secularist political party in Pakistan, representing roughly 2.0% votes in the Parliament in the latest national parliamentary elections held in 2008. Currently part of PPP-led cabinet of Government of Pakistan, its political position is considered left wing, advocating for the Socialism, Public sector government, and economic egalitarianism. It is the largest Pashtun Nationalist party, strongly believing the rights of pashtun people and the Pashtun nationalism. Although, its popular vote center lies and influence in the Pashtun dominated areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, it has gained considerable amount of momentum in pashtun population of Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan.
• Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (United Council of Action) (abbr. MMA) is a coalition of religious and theocratic parties consisting of the Jamiat Ulema-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 Ulema-e-Pakistan (Assembly of Pakistani Clergy), Tehrik-e-Jafaria Pakistan, Jamiat Ahle Hadith and a few other smaller groups. Jamaat-e-Islami was part of alliance but alliance became largely Non- Functional after political disagreement over participating or boycotting election of 2008. JUI-F, leading member of group practically left the alliance to take part in the 2008 general elections and to be a part of coalition PPP government. When JUI-F revived the Alliance in 2012 Jamaat-e-Islami refused to join it. The religious alliance formed the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2002 and leaded the coalition government in Balochistan with PML(Q). It is strong in the two small provinces. It is socially ultra-conservative and economically moderate 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. The MMA that contested the 2002 general election has disbanded, according to the head of Jamaat-e-Islaami.
• Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Pakistan Movement for Justice) (abbr. PTI), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was founded by Imran Khan on 25 April 1996 in Lahore, Pakistan. Founded initially as a socio-political movement, PTI began to grow slowly but never achieved immediate popularity. The general elections in 2008 were boycotted by the PTI. During the 2011-12, PTI has emerged as a robust counterweight to Pakistan's two traditional political parties, the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (N). While the PML-N's former stronghold consisted of the urban areas of Punjab and the PPP drew most of its support from Sindh, PTI maintains that it represents all Pakistanis, regardless of religious, ethnic, linguistic, and provincial backgrounds. Even though of little election success in the past, PTI has established itself as one of the country's mainstream national parties mainly after 30 October 2011 when over Hundred thousand people gathered in Lahore in support of the Party. PTI claims to have over 6 million workers in Pakistan. According to International Republican Institute (IRI), as of May 2012 PTI is Pakistan's most popular party. PTI wishes to create a Islamic and Welfare State in Pakistan. PTI believes in pursuing a foreign policy based on a nationalist agenda arguing that terrorism, extremism, and radicalization have only increased as Pakistan has joined the US-led War on Terror. PTI believes that Pakistan must withdraw from this war, negotiate a peace settlement, and fight the battle against militancy on its own terms.
• Jamaat-e-Islami (Islamic Party) (abbr. JI), is a rightist and Islamist political party, advocating for an Islamic and democratic form of government in Pakistan. The JI was founded on August 26, 1941 in Lahore by Muslim theologian and socio-political philosopher Abul Ala Maududi. The party is led by an Emir (lit. Leader), and currently Syed Munawar Hasan is tenuring as Emir of JI. The JI is headquartered in Mansoorah, Lahore. Founded during British Raj in India, the JI moved its organization after the Partition of India to the newly created state of Pakistan, initially setting up its organizational mass in West-Pakistan. The members who remained in India regrouped to form an independent organization called Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. During the Bangladesh Liberation War, the JI opposed the independence of Bangladesh, but established itself there as an independent political party, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami after 1975. The JI maintains close ties with international Muslim groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. The JI opposes Western Ideologies such as capitalism, socialism and secularism, and practices such as bank interest and liberal social values but party advocates democracy as integral part of Islamic political ideals.