List of Presidents of Pakistan

The President of Pakistan is the head of state and the symbol of national unity in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The president is elected by the members of the Parliament and the provincial assemblies and serves a five-year term.

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As of March 10, 2024, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari is the 14th President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Notably, he is the first individual to be elected twice to this esteemed position. Prior to this term, Mr. Zardari held the presidency from September 9, 2008, to September 9, 2013, serving as the nation’s 11th President.

Since the establishment of the nation in 1947, there have been 13 different presidents, each with their own unique contributions to the country. The following is a list of the presidents of Pakistan, along with a brief overview of their time in office.

Graana.com has prepared a detailed list of all the presidents that have served Pakistan since the establishment of the position in 1956.

 

Presidents of Pakistan

The following table lists all the presidents of Pakistan to date.

 

No.NameElectionsTook OfficeLeft OfficePolitical Party
1.Iskander Mirza1956 Presidential Election23rd March 195627th October 1958Republican Party
2.Ayub Khan1958 Pakistani coup d’état

2nd January 1965
27th October 1958

8th June 1962

8th June 1962

29th November 1963

Pakistan Muslim League PML (C)

3.Yahya Khan
25th March 196920th December 1971
4.Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto20th December 197120th December 197113th August 1973Pakistan Peoples Party
5.Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry14th August 197314th August 197320th April 1978Pakistan Peoples Party
6.Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
16th September 197817th August 1988
7.Ghulam Ishaq Khan13th December 198817th August 198818th July 1993Independent
8.Farooq Leghari14th November 199314th November 19932nd December 1997Pakistan Peoples Party
9.Muhammad Rafiq Tarar31st December 19971st January 199820th June 2001Pakistan Muslim League (N)
10.Pervez Musharraf1st January 2004

6th October 2007

20th June 2001

6th October 2007

6th October 2007

18th August 2008

Pakistan Muslim League (Q)

11.Asif Ali Zardari6th September 20089th September 20089th September 2013Pakistan Peoples Party
12.Mamnoon Hussain30th July 20139th September 20139th September 2018Pakistan Muslim League (N)
13.Arif Alvi4th September 20189th September 2018IncumbentPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

Iskander Mirza

 

Iskandar Mirza standing with other important figures during his visit to Turkey

 

Iskander Mirza was the first president of Pakistan, serving from 1956 to 1958. He was a civil servant who played a key role in the creation of Pakistan and the country’s early governance. Prior to his presidency, Mirza served as the Governor General of Pakistan.

During his time in office, Mirza faced numerous challenges, including political instability and economic difficulties. Despite these issues, he worked to strengthen the country’s institutions and lay the foundation for future development. Mirza was eventually forced to resign from office and later died in exile in London in 1969.

 

Ayub Khan

 

a black and white potrait of Ayub Khan wearing a cap

 

Ayub Khan was the second president of Pakistan, serving from 1958 to 1969. He was a military officer who rose to prominence as the country’s first native commander-in-chief. He took over as president following the resignation of Iskander Mirza and introduced a number of important reforms during his time in office.

These included the establishment of a system of basic democracy, which devolved power to local councils, and the implementation of a number of economic development programs.

Khan’s presidency was marked by economic growth and progress, but it was also marked by political repression and the suppression of civil liberties. Khan eventually stepped down from office in 1969 and died in 1974.

 

Yahya Khan

 

General Yahya Khan looking down

 

Yahya Khan was the third president of Pakistan, serving from 1969 to 1971. He took over as president after Ayub Khan’s resignation. Khan faced a number of significant challenges during his time in office, including political instability, economic difficulties, and tensions with India.

He is perhaps best known for his role in the 1971 war with India, which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh. Khan resigned from office in 1971 and later died in 1980.

 

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto

 

black and white portrait of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto

 

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the fourth president of Pakistan, serving from 1971 to 1973. He was a politician and statesman who played a key role in the country’s political history. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), one of the country’s largest and most influential political parties.

He worked to rebuild the country after the 1971 war with India and introduced a number of reforms, including the nationalisation of key industries and the establishment of a more democratic government. Bhutto was eventually overthrown in a military coup and later executed in 1979.

 

Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry

 

black and white potrait of Fazal Ilahi Chauhdry

 

Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry was the fifth president of Pakistan, serving from 1973 to 1978. He was serving as a civil servant and lawyer before taking over as president following the dismissal of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s government in a military coup.

Chaudhry’s presidency was marked by political instability and economic difficulties, as well as tensions with India. He worked to improve relations with other countries and strengthen Pakistan’s economy, but his efforts were ultimately overshadowed by the challenges he faced. Chaudhry’s presidency ended in 1978 when he was succeeded by Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.

 

Zia-ul-Haq

 

Zia ul Haq

 

Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq was the sixth president of Pakistan, serving from 1978 until his death in 1988. Zia’s presidency was marked by a number of significant events, including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the development of Pakistan’s nuclear program.

He also implemented a number of controversial policies, including the introduction of strict Islamic laws, which led to widespread criticism. Despite these controversies, Zia was widely popular and is still remembered today for his efforts to strengthen the country’s military and economy.

 

Ghulam Ishaq Khan

 

Ghulam Ishaq Khan during press conference

 

Ghulam Ishaq Khan was the seventh president of Pakistan, serving from 1988 to 1993. He faced a number of significant challenges during his time in office, including political and economic instability.

He worked to restore democracy and improve relations with other countries, but his presidency was also marked by controversy and allegations of corruption. Khan resigned from office in 1993 and later died in 2006.

 

Muhammad Rafiq Tarar

 

Former president Rafiq Tarar

 

Muhammad Rafiq Tarar was the eighth president of Pakistan, serving from 1998 to 2001. Tarar, a lawyer and jurist, became president after a military coup removed Nawaz Sharif’s government. His tenure was characterised by political turmoil, economic hardships, and increased tension with India.

He worked to improve relations with other countries and strengthen Pakistan’s economy, but his efforts were overshadowed by the challenges he faced. Tarar’s presidency ended in 2001 when he was succeeded by Pervez Musharraf.

 

Pervez Musharraf

 

Pervez Musharraf

 

Pervez Musharraf was the ninth president of Pakistan, serving from 2001 to 2008. He was a career military officer who took over as president following a military coup in 1999. Musharraf’s presidency was marked by a number of significant events, including the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan.

During his tenure, Musharraf introduced various controversial policies, including the implementation of strict Islamic laws and the dismissal of the chief justice.

However, he was well-liked by the Pakistani public and is remembered for his efforts to improve the military and economy. He resigned from office in 2008 and subsequently left the country.

 

Asif Ali Zardari

 

Asif Ali Zardari

 

Asif Ali Zardari was the tenth president of Pakistan, serving from 2008 to 2013. He is a very famous personality in Pakistan. He is a politician and statesman who took over as president following the resignation of Pervez Musharraf.

During Zardari’s presidency, there was heightened political turmoil, economic struggles, and tensions with India. Despite his efforts to enhance relationships with other countries and boost the economy, these challenges overshadowed his initiatives. Zardari’s presidency ended in 2013 when he was succeeded by Mamnoon Hussain.

 

Mamnoon Hussain

 

Mamoon Hussain

 

Mamnoon Hussain was the eleventh president of Pakistan, serving from 2013 to 2018. He was a businessman and politician who took over as president following the completion of Asif Ali Zardari’s term. Hussain’s presidency was marked by political stability and economic growth, as well as improved relations with other countries.

He worked to strengthen Pakistan’s institutions and promote national unity and is remembered for his efforts to improve the country’s economy and infrastructure. Hussain’s presidency ended in 2018 when he was succeeded by Arif Alvi.

 

Arif Alvi

 

Arif Alvi

 

Arif Alvi is the current president of Pakistan, serving since 2018. He is a dentist, politician, and statesman who took over as president following the completion of Mamnoon Hussain’s term. During Alvi’s tenure as president, the country has experienced political stability, economic growth, and improved international relations.

He is currently addressing issues such as poverty, corruption, and terrorism. Alvi is the first president to have been born after the creation of Pakistan and is known for his efforts to modernise the country and improve the lives of its citizens.

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