Data code: PK
Government type: 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: 14 August 1947 (from UK)
National holiday: Pakistan Day, 23 March (1956) (proclamation of
the republic)
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 status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and
reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR (since 31 December
1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF (since 17
February 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
election last held 31 December 1997 (next to be held no later than 1
January 2003); following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually elected
prime minister by the National Assembly; election last held 3
February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2002)
election results: Mohammad Rafiq TARAR elected president; percent of
Parliament and provincial vote—NA; Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected
prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote—NA