Prime Minister of Pakistan

The Prime Minister of Pakistan (Urdu: وزیر اعظم‎ Wazir-e-Azam literally "Grand Minister"), is the principle head of government of State of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive (CE). By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government, consisting Prime minister as Chief Executive and head of government. Currently, the seat of Prime Minister is occupied by Raja Pervez Ashraf of Pakistan Peoples Party, who was elected on 25 June 2012, after a vacancy occurred due to the disqualification of the then Prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gillani of Pakistan Peoples Party, by the Supreme Court of Pakistan over contempt of court on 19 June 2012. Since 26 June 2012 Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan is the deputy of the PM of Pakistan even though of no constitutional role the Deputy PM is simply a backup for the times when the incumbent prime minister is not available or incapacitated.

The Prime Minister is elected by the people-elected National Assembly, members of which are elected by popular vote. Most commonly, the leader of the party or coalition with the most votes becomes the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is responsible for appointing a cabinet as well as running the government operations, taking and authorising the executive decisions and appointments recommendations also needed the executive confirmation of Prime minister. The XVII imposed a check on this power, making it subject to Supreme Court approval or veto. However, in 2010, the XVII Amendment was reversed and is replaced with more effective XVIII Amendment to the Constitution, clearly turning Pakistan from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary democratic republic.

The office of Prime Minister did not exist during three periods of Pakistan's history, a circumstance different from a vacancy in the office, as a result of the dismissal of an individual Prime Minister by the President or by Martial law. In the first two cases, Pakistan had no Prime Minister from 7 October 1958 until 3 July 1972, and from 5 July 1977 until 24 March 1985— periods of martial law in Pakistan. During these periods, the President, who was the chief martial law administrator, effectively had the powers of Prime Minister as the head of government, without the title of Prime Minister. In the third case, after Pervez Musharraf's coup, Pakistan did not have a Prime Minister from 12 October 1999 to 20 November 2002. During this time, Musharraf, holding the office of Chief Executive, was effectively the Head of Government. Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani was the 16th Prime Minister of Pakistan and on 19 June 2012, the Supreme Court disqualified and ousted Gillani from holding the prime minister office from 26 April 2012. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf took oath as Prime Minister of Pakistan on 22 June 2012.