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Pakistan is a multi-party democracy that at times has been subject to military government. The country has many political parties and it is common for the country to be ruled by a coalition government. The Parliament of Pakistan is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate. The main political parties in Pakistan are listed below in alphabetical order.
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Pakistan Muslim League
Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML Nawaz group, or PML-N) became Pakistan's ruling party after a decisive victory in the Pakistani general elections of 2013. It holds 26 out of 104 seats in the Senate and 190 seats in the National Assembly. Prime minister Nawaz Sharif has been its leader since 1980s. Sharif is a businessman from Lahore emerged into the mainstream Pakistani politics with the support of the military dictatorship of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and later in 1990, became prime minister of Pakistan with the assistance of powerful military establishment especially DG ISI General Hameed Gul. He and his party (PMLN) ruled the country for two different tenures in the '90s. His second government was overthrown by the army chief Pervez Musharaf in a military coup. Nawaz succeeded in saving his life and money with the diplomatic support of Saudi Arabia and left Pakistan for eight years. He came back in 2007. PMLN is a fiscally conservative party which holds moderate religious and social policies. It promotes strong and friendly relations with India, the US, and the EU.
Pakistan People's Party
On 30 November 1967, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), an Islamic socialist party, was founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (1928 - 1979). The PPP ran in the 1970 general election on a socialist agenda of Roti, Kapra, Makan (Food, clothes, shelter). It supported ties with China and ruled Pakistan after the separation of Bangladesh in an Indian-led war in 1971. After the first parliamentary term, the PPP succeeded at the Pakistani general election of 1977. Under Benazir Bhutto, the PPP became a secular party that promoted privatization in order to secure funding from the US and the World Bank. From March 2008 to March 2013, it was leading party of the ruling coalition. Party faced defeat in elections of 2013. The PPP currently holds 41 senate seats and 42 national assembly seats.
Pakistan People's Party (Shaheed Bhutto)
Pakistan People's Party (Shaheed Bhutto) claims to be the real successor of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's People's Party, It was formed in 1997 by Ghinwa Bhutto after the demise of her husband Murtaza Bhutto son of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. She became the chairperson of that and ran for election in Larkana on 3 Feb 1997.Syed Saleem Shah is Provincial President of PPP-SB (KPK).
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Imran Khan leads Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf under the slogan: "Change". On 25 April 1996, in Lahore, the Pakistan Movement for Justice (PTI), a social democratic and radical political movement, was founded by Imran Khan. The PTI boycotted the 2008 general elections but became more politically active in 2011. The PTI claims to represent all Pakistanis regardless of religion, ethnicity, language or residence. It aims to create a modern, egalitarian Islamic democratic welfare state. The PTI promotes a nationalist agenda, arguing that terrorism, extremism, and radicalization have increased since Pakistan joined the War on Terror. The Party emerged as country's second most popular party in 2013 elections. PTI currently holds 32 seats in the National Assembly. It is ruling party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Imran Khan is the current chairman of PTI.
Awami National Party
In 1986, the Awami National Party (Popular National Party, ANP) was founded by Abdul Wali Khan. It is a leftist, secular party that promotes Pashtun nationalism, democratic socialism, public sector government, and economic egalitarianism. It supports ties with Afghanistan, India, and Russia. The ANP holds 7 seats in the senate and 3 seats in the National Assembly. Asfandyar Wali Khan, grandson of Bacha Khan is the incumbent president of the ANP. Between 2008 and 2013, it was part of the ruling the PPP led coalition. It performs well in Pashtun dominated areas in and around Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the Balochistan and Sindh provinces.
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan
On 26 August 1941 in Lahore, Jamaat-e-Islami (Islamic Class, JI), a rightist, Islamist party, was founded by Abul Ala Maududi, a Muslim theologian, and philosopher. It aims to create an Islamic democracy in Pakistan ruled under Sharia law. The JI elects its leader (Emir) democratically; Siraj ul Haq is the incumbent emir. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, JI moved its base to West Pakistan (remaining members formed the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind). During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 it opposed the independence of Bangladesh, but in 1975 it established an independent political party there, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. JI now has its headquarters in Mansoorah, Lahore. JI has an association with international Muslim groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood. JI holds 4 seats in the National Assembly, one seat in the Senate and 7 seats in the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam (F)
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Assembly of Islamic Clergy, Fazl-ur-Rahman Group, JUI-F) is an ultra-conservative religious and theocratic party which, in 2002, formed a ruling coalition with Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and with the PML(Q) in Balochistan. It currently holds 15 seats in the National Assembly, 5 seats in the Senate, 17 seats in the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 8 seats in the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan. Its economic policy is socialist and moderate.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (National Democratic Movement, MQM) was founded in 1978 by Altaf Hussain (who went on, in 1984, to found the Muhajir Quami Movement) from the student organisation, the All Pakistan Muhajir Student Organization (APMSO). It is supported by the urban Muhajir community of Sindh. The MQM is socially liberal and democratic. In 1997, the MQM officially removed the term Muhajir, which refers to Urdu-speaking Muslims and replaced it with Muttahida (United). Between 1992 and 1999, the Pakistan Army, in Operation Cleanup, attempted to suppress the MQM. On 11 September 2001, the MQM condemned attacks by al-Qaida in the US with public demonstrations.
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT)
The Pakistan Awami Tehrik (Pakistan People's Movement) is a politically radical, ideologically centrist and religiously moderate political party. Populist sufi cleric Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri is its founding chairman. In 1990, Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) participated in the national elections just one year after it was founded. In 1991, PAT and TNFJ (Tehrik-e-Nifas-e-Fiqh-e-Jafria, a shia political group) now known as Tehrik-e-Jafaria signed a 'Communique of Unity' to promote social and religious harmony. PAT enjoys considerable support among religious but moderate lower middle class of the country. PAT has a very organized and disciplined organizational structure and highly trained workers. However, party's entire political influence is based on agitation and public demonstrations. Party's vote bank and electoral power is considered to be limited unlike the PPP-P or PTI.
Pakistan Women Muslim League
Rubina Shaheen leads Pakistan Women Muslim League under the slogan: "Women Rights on equality basis".