_#_Type: parliamentary with strong executive, federal republic

_#_Capital: Islamabad

_#_Administrative divisions: 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier, Punjab, Sindh; note—the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas

_#_Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK; formerly West Pakistan)

_#_Constitution: 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments, 30 December 1985

_#_Legal system: based on English common law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan's stature as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

_#_National holiday: Pakistan Day (proclamation of the republic), 23 March (1956)

_#_Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

_#_Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Mijlis-e-Shoora) consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or National Assembly

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Federal Islamic (Shariat) Court