Pakistan

National Assembly

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Oversight

Oversight tools

Parliament/Chamber has the power to summon members of the government
Yes

Sources: Constitution of Pakistan, Article 91(6)- Power to summon Cabinet together with the Ministers of State

Parliament/chamber has the power to summon senior government officials
Yes

Sources: Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007- Rule 227 (3)

Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
Yes

Sources:

Constitution of Pakistan, Article 175 and 218 (A)

Chief Election Commissioner is appointed through the Parliamentary Committee, Constitution of Pakistan, Article 213 and 218

Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval
5
Parliament/chamber has the power to approve key government appointments
Yes
Number of written questions asked, per year
2,181
(2023)
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
239
(2023)
Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
11.0%
(2023)
Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries
Yes

Sources: Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007- Rule 201 (4), Rule 101

Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
32
(2023)

Head of State and/or Government

Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government
Parliament elects the Head of Government

Sources: Constitution of Pakistan, Part III, Chapter #3, Article 91, Section 4

The Head of Government is also the Head of State
No
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State
Parliament elects the Head of State

Sources: The Head of State, the President, is elected through the voting of the members of electoral college, which comprises of the members of both the Houses (NA and Senate) and the four Provincial Assemblies.

Impeachment and confidence motions

Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
Click for historical data
Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
No information available

Impeachment procedure

There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution
The whole Government
The Head of Government
Individual members of the Executive
Other
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment
Lower chamber
Upper chamber

Sources:

Constitution of Pakistan: For The Head of Government (Prime Minister)- only National Assembly (Article 95)

For the Head of State (President) - National Assembly and Senate (Article 47)

For Members of the Executive 62,63 and 63(a), for Chief Minister, 136(1).

No confidence processes

There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution
The Head of Government
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence
Lower chamber

Sources: Constitution of Pakistan, Part III, Chapter 3, Article 95 (1)

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No