GOVERNMENT
Pakistan adopted a constitution in 1973, which was
subsequently amended. Following a military coup d'état in 1977, however, a
system of martial law was put into effect, and most aspects of the 1973
constitution were suspended. In 1985 parliamentary government was reestablished,
the constitution restored, and martial law ended. After another military coup,
in October 1999, the constitution was again suspended and parliament dissolved.
According to the 1973 constitution, as amended,
Pakistan's head of state is a president, elected to a five-year term by members
of the national and provincial legislatures. The chief executive official is a
prime minister. After legislative elections, the president appoints the leader
of the majority party or majority coalition in the legislature to serve as prime
minister.
Under the constitution, legislative power is
vested in the bicameral Federal Legislature. The National Assembly consists of
217 members elected directly by universal suffrage for terms of five years. The
Senate, consisting of 87 members, is elected indirectly by the provincial
legislatures; senators serve six-year terms.
The highest court in Pakistan is the Supreme
Court. The judicial system in each province is headed by a high court. There is
also a federal Sharia Court, which administers Islamic law. Legislation enacted
in 1991 declared Sharia, or Islamic law, the supreme law of the land.
Pakistan is divided into four provinces (Baluchistan,
North-West Frontier Province, Sind, and Punjab), the Federally Administered
Tribal Areas, and one capital territory (Islamabad Capital Territory). The
provinces are headed by governors appointed by the president. Political agents
responsible to the federal government administer the tribal areas. Sind was put
under federal rule in 1998 due to violence in the province.
Severely limited in July 1977 and banned outright
in October 1979, political organizations were allowed to resume their activities
in December 1985. The main political parties are the Pakistan People's Party and
the Pakistan Muslim League.
Health services in Pakistan are limited by a lack
of facilities. In 1993 the country had one physician for every 1,829 people and
one hospital bed for every 1,455 people. In 1976 an old-age pension system was
inaugurated, but it covers relatively few Pakistanis.
Military service in Pakistan is voluntary. In 1998 the country's armed forces had 587,000 members, including 520,000 in the army, 45,000 in the air force, and 22,000 in the navy. Another 247,000 were in paramilitary units.