Pakistan is a multi-party democracy. The country has many political parties and many times in the past the country has been ruled by a coalition government.
The Parliament of Pakistan is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate.
Brief history and overviews
The military-dominated Establishment has directly ruled Pakistan for nearly half of its existence since its creation in 1947, while frequently exerting covert dominance over the political leadership during the remainder. The Establishment in Pakistan includes the key decision-makers in the country's military and intelligence services, national security, as well as its foreign and domestic policies, including the state policies of aggressive Islamization during the military dictatorship of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. However, the military establishment later reversed its support of political Islam under General Pervez Musharraf, who pursued enlightened moderation in the 2000s.
Until 1990, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was the only major party of Pakistan. After Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto died, Benazir Bhutto took control and they remained a strong position throughout Pakistan. In 1990, Nawaz Sharif of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) won the elections. Two major parties were in Pakistan. After IJI dissolved and Nawaz Sharif founded Pakistan Muslim League (N), PPP and PML(N) were the major two parties of Pakistan. In 1993, Peoples Party won the election again. In 1996, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was formed. In 2013, PTI took part in the elections and won 35 seats in the National Assembly of Pakistan. After the 2018 Pakistan elections, PTI became the government and became one of the three major parties of Pakistan.
In 2020, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was formed of many parties as a movement against then prime minister Imran Khan. Following Imran Khan’s removal, political unrest broke out throughout the country, and in the events leading up to the Pakistani 2024 election, many new parties were formed. The country’ largest party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, would be subject to legal issues, and an alleged crackdown and therefore was forced to register with their alliance member, the Sunni Ittehad Council, which is a minor religious party.
Punjab
Punjab is generally considered as the most important political province and has been used by major parties such as the PML(N) and PTI in the past to gain legitimacy and as a political stronghold. The Punjab provincial assembly has usually been split between the Pakistan Muslim League N (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Sindh
Sindh has been used as a political stronghold for the Pakistan Muslim League N (PML-N) Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) since the party’s creation. The PTI, PML(N) & PPP has almost always won landslide victories in provincial elections in Sindh, and has almost always held the province’s seats. Throughout the early 2000s the PML-Q saw minor successes in Sindh, but the province quickly came under the control of the PML(N) PPP and PTI again. The PPP has been accused of bad governance by several Sindhi parties, leading to the creation of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), a coalition of several anti-PPP parties, although the PML(N) PTI and PPP still holds sweeping majorities in Sindhi provincial seats.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is full of Pashtun nationalist and regionalist parties favoring Afghan tribalism, such as the ANP and PMAP. The region has also been full of religious parties, like the JUI-F especially throughout the north western areas near Afghanistan. There are several political parties in KPK, and most of them favor Pashtun nationalism with feudal aspects, but ever since Imran Khan’s entrance into politics, the PTI has almost always won landslide election victories in the province and has KPK as a political stronghold and base of power.
Balochistan
The province of Balochistan, Pakistan is full of Baloch nationalist parties, with some demanding autonomy for Balochistan, and some extreme groups demanding secession from Pakistan. Most parties from Balochistan follow the same pattern as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, high levels of regionalism and ethnic nationalism, with most ethnic nationalists being left-wing, as well as right-wing religious groups usually gaining victories near the Afghan border. Balochistan is the only province in which no party regularly gains a clear majority, and the provincial assembly is usually split between Baloch nationalist parties.
Gilgit-Baltistan
The Pakistan Peoples Party won the first Gilgit-Baltistan elections and was the only major party of Gilgit-Baltistan with 20 seats out of 33. However, in 2015, Pakistan Muslim League (N) won 15 seats and became the major party of Gilgit-Baltistan and PPP only received one seat in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly. However, in the 2020 elections, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won 16 seats and became the only major party of Gilgit-Baltistan with PPP winning 3 and PML(N) winning two seats.
Members of the Parliament
| Party | Abrr. | Flag | Founded | Political position | Central leader | Ideology | National Assembly | Senate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan Muslim League (N) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) Pākistān Muslam Lig (Nūn) | PMLN | 1993 | Centre-right | Nawaz Sharif | Conservative liberalism Conservatism Pakistani Conservatism | 124 / 336 | 20 / 96 | |||
| Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf پاکستان تحريکِ انصاف Pakistan Movement for Justice | PTI | 1996 | Centre to centre-right | Gohar Ali Khan | Islamic Democracy Welfarism Civic nationalism Anti-corruption | 78 / 336 | 25 / 96 | |||
| Pakistan People’s Party پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی Pākistān Pīplz Pārṭī | PPP | 1967 | Centre-left | Bilawal Bhutto Zardari | Progressivism Social democracy Left-wing politics | 73 / 336 | 26 / 96 | |||
| Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan متحدہ قومی موومنٹ پاکستان Muttaḥidah Qọ̄mī Mūwmaṅṫ Pākistān United National Movement-Pakistan | MQM-P | 2016 | Centre-left to Centre | Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui | Muhajir nationalism Secularism Social liberalism | 23 / 336 | 3 / 96 | |||
| Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) جمیعت علمائے اسلام (ف) Assembly of Islamic Clerics | JUI-F | 1980 | Right-wing | Fazl-ur-Rahman | Islamic fundamentalism Deobandism Islamism | 8 / 336 | 5 / 96 | |||
| Pakistan Muslim League (Q) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ق) Pākistān Mislam Lig (Q) | PML(Q) | 2002 | Centre-right | Shujaat Hussain | Pakistani Conservatism Pakistani nationalism | 6 / 336 | 1 / 96 | |||
| Awami National Party عوامي نېشنل ګوند عوامی نيشنل پارٹی ʿAwāmī Nīšonal Pārṭī People's National Party | ANP | 1986 | Center-left to left-wing | Aimal Wali Khan | Pashtun nationalism Socialism Secularism | — | 3 / 96 | |||
| Sunni Ittehad Council سنی اتحاد کونسل Sunni Unity Council | SIC | 2009 | Right-wing | Sahibzada Hamid Raza | Sunni Islam Barelvi faith Religious politics | — | — | |||
| Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party پښتونخوا ملي عوامي ګوند پشتونخوا ملی عوامی پارٹی Pakhtunkhwa National People's Party | PkMAP | 1989 | Centre-left to Left-wing | Mahmood Khan Achakzai | Pashtun nationalism Regionalism Left-wing nationalism | 1 / 336 | — | |||
| National Party نيشنل پارٹی Nīšonal Pārṭī | NP | 2003 | Centre-left | Abdul Malik Baloch | Baloch nationalism Civic nationalism Social liberalism | 1 / 336 | 1 / 96 | |||
| Balochistan National Party بلوچستان نيشنل پارٹی Balōčistān Nīšonal Pārṭī | BNP | 1996 | Left-wing | Akhtar Mengal | Baloch nationalism Secularism Left-wing populism | 1 / 336 | 1 / 96 | |||
| Balochistan Awami Party بلوچستان عوامی پارٹی Balōčistān Awāmī Pārṭī Balochistan People's Party | BAP | 2018 | Centre | Khalid Hussain Magsi | Progressivism Federalism | 1 / 336 | 4 / 96 | |||
| Grand Democratic Alliance گرانڈ جمہوری اتحاد Grānd Jumhuuri Ittehaad | GDA | 2018 | Big tent | Pir of Pagaro VIII | Regionalism Anti-PPP Good governance Big tent political alliance | — | — | |||
| Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party استحکامِ پاکستان Pakistan Stability Party | IPP | 2023 | Radical centre | Aleem Khan | Populism | 6 / 336 | 3 / 96 | |||
| Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen مجلس وحدتِ مسلمین Muslim Unity Assembly | MWM | 2009 | Centre to Right-wing | Raja Nasir Abbas | Islamic democracy Shia-Sunni unity Islamic socialism | 1 / 336 | 1 / 96 | |||
| Pakistan Muslim League (Z) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ض) | PML (Z) | 2002 | Far-right | Ijaz-ul-Haq | Ziaism Islamism | 1 / 336 | — | |||
| Independent آزاد اراکین | IND | N/A | 1 / 336 | 4 / 96 | ||||||
Mainstream political parties
Pakistan Muslim League (N)
The Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz is a Pakistani conservative political party that was founded in 1993 by senior politician, Nawaz Sharif. The party was founded as an offshoot of the Pakistan Muslim League, but is now its largest faction. It is currently still led by its founder Nawaz Sharif and is ideologically conservative as well as shares similarities with Nawaz's previous party, the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad. It saw rapid growth under Nawaz Sharif in the 1990s as it entered a two-party system with the Pakistan People's Party. It is also advocates for economic privatization, as Nawaz himself was a business owner. The party follows a free market capitalist and economically liberalist approach. It has developed a somewhat ideology around its leader Nawaz Sharif and has been led by members of the Sharif family. It has been right-wing for most of its existence but has shifted to a center-right position in recent years. It holds is base of power in Sindh, more specifically Karachi and Punjab, more specifically Lahore and has had 3 different prime ministers including Nawaz himself who served for the longest non-consecutive time (9 years). The prime ministers from the PML-N include Nawaz Sharif (3 terms), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (1 term) and Nawaz's younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif (2 terms), who is serving right now.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is a political party founded in 1996 by cricketer-turned-politician, Imran Khan. The party was founded on the premise of bringing change to Pakistan and to bring a new face to Pakistani politics, as when the party was founded the PPP and PML-N ruled Pakistan in a de-facto two party system. It advocates for welfarism and has promoted turning Pakistan into a modern welfare state. It has often seen populism around Imran Khan, a former cricket star. It launched a large-scale anti-corruption campaign across Pakistan in the 2000s and 2010s which led to its victory in the 2018 Pakistani general election. It holds its base of power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but also holds significant popularity and influence across western Punjab, where Imran Khan is from. It has been widely seen as an anti-establishment party since 2022 as it clashed with Pakistan's military establishment. It was founded as a centrist party, though in 2024, some sources indicated that the party had shifted center-right due to its pro-islamic unity teachings. Besides this it has advocated for rule of law and constitutionalism as part of its political alliance, the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin. Despite being the largest political party in Pakistan in terms of membership, and in the top 10 largest parties worldwide, it has only had one prime minister, being Imran Khan himself who served for one term.
Pakistan People’s Party
The Pakistan People's Party is a political party founded in 1967 by statesman, barrister and senior politician, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It is by far the oldest out of the top ruling parties in Pakistan and was the first Pakistani political party to lay out a manifesto and ideology. It was founded on the premise of socialism and to struggle against the military rule of Field Marshal Ayub Khan (1958-1969). It has also been characterized as Pakistan's first democratic party and has been left-wing for most of its existence with its founder, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto being a left-wing populist, though in the 21st century it has shifted to a center-left position. Zulfikar ruled Pakistan from 1971 until 1977, when he was overthrown and later hanged in 1979. The party has been widely seen as a dynastic political family party as it has seen its leadership pass down through the Bhutto family, which has seen a devoted cult of personality. After Zulfikar's death the party abandoned its socialist ideology and instead shifted to progressivism under Zulfikar's daughter, Benazir Bhutto. Benazir would be assassinated in 2007 and since then the party has been controlled by her husband, Asif Ali Zardari as well as her son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The party has been rivals with the PML-N for most of its existence but has joined hands with the PML-N against the PTI. Its main base of power is Sindh. The PPP is led by the Central Executive Committee and has seen 4 different prime ministers including: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (1973-1977), Benazir Bhutto (1988-1990, 1993-1996), Yusuf Raza Gillani (2008-2012) and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf (2012-2013).
Provincial Assembly members
This is the list of parties that are currently represented in any of the 5 Provincial Assemblies of Pakistan, which includes, the Provincial assembly in Provincial Assembly of Sindh, Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, Provincial Assembly of Balochistan, Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly
| Party | Abrr. | Flag | Sindh | Punjab | Balochistan | KPK | Gilgit-Baltistan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan Muslim League (N) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) | PMLN | 10 / 371 | 203 / 371 | 17 / 65 | 9 / 145 | 3 / 33 | ||
| Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf پاکستان تحريکِ انصاف Pakistan Movement for Justice | PTI | 5 / 168 | 104 / 371 | — | 57 / 145 | 21 / 33 | ||
| Pakistan People’s Party پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی | PPP | 120 / 168 | 17 / 371 | 17 / 65 | 5 / 145 | 5 / 33 | ||
| Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) جمیعت علمائے اسلام (ف)} Assembly of Islamic Clerics (F) | JUI (F) | — | — | 14 / 65 | 9 / 145 | 1 / 33 | ||
| Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan متحدہ قومی موومنٹ پاکستان United National Movement - Pakistan | MQM-P | 43 / 168 | — | — | — | — | ||
| Awami National Party عوامی نيشنل پارٹی People's National Party | ANP | — | — | 3 / 65 | 2 / 145 | — | ||
| Pakistan Muslim League (Q) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ق) | PML(Q) | — | 10 / 371 | — | — | — | ||
| Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party استحکامِ پاکستان Pakistan Stability Party | IPP | — | 8 / 371 | — | — | — | ||
| Balochistan National Party بلوچستان نيشنل پارٹی | BNP | — | — | 1 / 65 | — | —} | ||
| Balochistan Awami Party بلوچستان عوامی پارٹی Balochistan People's Party | BAP | — | — | 5 / 65 | — | — | ||
| National Party نيشنل پارٹی Nīšonal Pārṭī | NP | — | — | 4 / 65 | — | — | ||
| Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen مجلس وحدت مسلمین Muslim Unity Assembly | MWM | — | 1 / 371 | — | — | 1 / 33 | ||
| Parties that are unrepresented in the Parliament and are only represented through Provincial assemblies | ||||||||
| Grand Democratic Alliance گرانڈ جمہوری اتحاد | GDA | 3 / 168 | — | — | — | — | ||
| Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians پاکستان تحریکِ انصاف پارلیمنٹرینز Pakistan Movement for Justice Parliamentarians | PTI-P | — | — | — | 4 / 145 | — | ||
| Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan جماعتِ اسلامی Islamic Party | JIP | 1 / 168 | 1 / 168 | 1 / 65 | — | — | ||
| Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan تحریک لبیک پاکستان Here-I-Am Movement Pakistan | TLP | — | 3 / 371 | — | — | — | ||
| Balochistan National Party (Awami) بلوچستان نیشنل پارٹی (عوامی) Balochistan National Party (People's) | BNP-A | — | — | 1 / 65 | — | — | ||
| Haq Do Tehreek Balochistan Give Rights Movement Balochistan | HDTB | — | — | 1 / 65 | — | — | ||
| Balawaristan National Front بلاورستان نيشنل فرنٹ Balāwaristān Naishanal Franṭ | BNF | — | — | — | — | 1 / 33 | ||
| Islami Tehreek Pakistan اسلامی تحریک پاکستان Islamic Movement Pakistan | ITP | — | — | — | — | 1 / 33 | ||
| Independent آزاد اراکین | IND | — | — | 1 / 371 | — | 1 / 145 | 1 / 33 | |
Unrepresented parties
This is the list of registered parties that are currently unrepresented in Parliament and any of the provincial assemblies of Pakistan since 2024.
| Party | Abrr. | Flag | Founded | Political position | Leader | Core ideology | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek الله اکبر تحریک God is Great Movement | AAT | Muhammad Aslam Rabbani | Islamism | |||||
| Awaam Pakistan عوام پاکستان People Pakistan | AP | 2024 | Big tent | Shahid Khaqan Abbasi | Civic nationalism | |||
| Awami Muslim League (Pakistan) عوامی مسلم لیگ پاکستان Awāmī Musallam League Pākistān People's Muslim League | AML | 2008 | Centrism | Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad | Mass politics | |||
| Awami Tahreek عوامی تحریک People's Movement | QAT | 1970 | Left-wing politics to Far-left politics | Wasand Thari | ||||
| Awami Workers Party عوامی ورکرز پارٹی People's Workers Party | AWP | 2012 | Left-wing politics | Akhtar Hussain | Worker's rights | |||
| Barabri Party Pakistan برابری پارٹی پاکستان Equality Party Pakistan | BPP | 2018 | Left-wing politics | Jawad Ahmad | Social equality | |||
| Haqooq-e-Khalq Party حقوقِ خلق پارٹی پاکستان Rights of the People Party | HKP | 2022 | Left-wing politics | Ammar Ali Jan | Socialism | |||
| Hazara Democratic Party ہزارہ ڈیموکریٹک پارٹی | HDP | 2003 | Centre-left politics | Abdul Khaliq Hazara | Hazara Political representation | |||
| Jamhoori Wattan Party جمہوری وطن پارٹی Republican Nation Party | JWP | 1990 | Centre-left to Left-wing politics | Shahzain Bugti | Baloch nationalism | |||
| Jamiat Ahle Hadith جمیعت اہلِ حدیث المركزى جمعية اهلحديث الباكستان Assembly of People of Hadith | JAH | 1986 | Far-right | Hafiz Abdul Kareem | Ahl-i Hadith | |||
| Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Imam Noorani) جمعیت علماء پاکستان (امام نورانی) Assembly (of) Clerics of Pakistan (Imam Noorani) | JUP-IN | 1948 | Right-wing | Shah Owais Noorani | Religion and politics (specifically Political aspects of Islam) | |||
| Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Noorani) جمعیت علماء پاکستان (نورانی) Assembly (of) Clerics of Pakistan (Noorani) | JUP-N | 1948 | Abul Khair Muhammad Zubair | Religion and politics (specifically Political aspects of Islam) | ||||
| Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (S) جمعیت علمائے اسلام (س) Assembly (of) Clerics of Islam (S) | JUI-S | 1980 | Far-right politics | Abdul Haq Sani | Deobandi movement | |||
| Jamote Qaumi Movement جاموٹ قومی موومنٹ Jamote People's Movement | JQM | 1996 | Mir Abdul Majid Abro | Jamote nationalism | ||||
| Mohajir Qaumi Movement Pakistan مہاجر قومی موومنٹ حقیقی Muhajir People's Movement - True | MQM-H | 1992 | Center-left politics | Afaq Ahmed | Muhajir nationalism Pakistani nationalism | |||
| Mustaqbil Pakistan مستقبل پاکستان Future Pakistan | MP | 2010 | Nadeem Mumtaz Qureshi | Reformism | ||||
| National Democratic Movement ملي جمهوري غورځنګ Millī Jumhūrī Ghōrźang قومی جمہوری تحریک | NDM | 2021 | Centre-left politics | Mohsin Dawar | Pashtun nationalism | |||
| National Democratic Party نیشنل ڈیموکریٹک پارٹی | NDP | 2018 | — | |||||
| Pakistan Awami Tehreek پاکستان عوامی تحريک Pakistan People's Movement | PAT | 1989 | Centrism Fiscal: Centre-left politics Social: Centre-right politics | Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri | Moderate Islam | |||
| Pakistan Falah Party پاکستان فلاح پارٹی Pakistan People's Movement | PFP | 2011 | ||||||
| Pakistan Justice and Democratic Party پاکستان جسٹس وڈیموکریٹک پارٹی | PJDP | 2015 | Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry | Liberal democracy | ||||
| Pakistan Muslim League (J) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ج) | PML-J | 1988 | Muhammad Iqbal Dar | Pakistani nationalism | ||||
| Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto) پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی (شہید بھٹو) پيپلزپارٽي شهيدڀٽو Pakistan Peoples Party (Martyr Bhutto) | PPP-S | 1997 | Left-wing politics | Ghinwa Bhutto | Bhuttoism | |||
| Pakistan Peoples Party Workers پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی ورکرز | PPP-W | 2014 | Centre-left politics | Safdar Ali Abbasi | Social democracy | |||
| Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party پاکستان راہِ حق پارٹیي Pakistan Path of Truth Party | PRHP | 2012 | Far-right | Ibrahim Khan Qasmi | Islamic fundamentalism | |||
| Pakistan Sunni Tehreek پاکستان سنی تحریک Pakistan Sunni Movement | PST | 1990 | Far-right politics | Sarwat Ejaz Qadri | Barelvi Sunnism | |||
| Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Nazriati پاکستان تحریک انصاف نظریاتی Pakistan Movement for Justice Ideological | PTI-N | 2012 | Akhtar Iqbal Dar | |||||
| Pasban-e-Pakistan پاسبان پاکستان Guardians of Pakistan | PP | 2015 | Single-issue politics | Altaf Shakoor | Social justice | |||
| Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party Pakistan پشتونخوا نیشنل عوامی پارٹی Pashtunkhwa National People's Party | PKNAP | 2022 | Left-wing politics | Khushal Khan Kakar | Pashtun nationalism Egalitarianism | |||
| Qaumi Awami Tahreek قومی عوامی تحریک National People's Movement | QAT | 1970 | Left-wing politics to Far-left politics | Ayaz Latif Palijo | Left-wing nationalism | |||
| Qaumi Watan Party قومی وطن پارٹی قومي وطن ګوند National Homeland Party | QWP | 2012 | Centre-left | Aftab Ahmad Sherpao | Pashtun neo-nationalism | |||
| Rabita Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam رابطہ جمعیت علمائے اسلام Associated Assembly (of) Clerics of Islam | RJUI | 2020 | Far-right politics | Muhammad Khan Sherani | Deobandi Clericalism | |||
| Sindh United Party سندھ یونائیٹڈ پارٹی سنڌ يونائيٽڊ پارٽي | SUP | 2006 | Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah | Sindhi nationalism | ||||
| Tabdeeli Pasand Party Pakistan تبدیلی پسند پارٹی پاکستان Reformist Party (of) Pakistan | TPPP | 2012 | Ali Kazi | Good governance | ||||
Dissolved parties
| Party | Abrr. | Flag | Founded | Dissolved | Political position | Founder/Leader(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Pakistan Awami Muslim League آل پاکستان عوامی مسلم لیگ নিখিল পাকিস্তান আওয়ামী মুসলিম লীগ All Pakistan People's Muslim League | AL | 1950 | 1971 | Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy | ||||
| All Pakistan Muslim League آل پاکستان مسلم لیگ | APML | 2010 | 2023 | Centre to Centre-right | Pervez Musharraf | |||
| Awami Jamhuri Ittehad Pakistan عوامی جمهوری اتحاد People's Democratic Alliance Pakistan | AJIP | 2012 | 2015 | Liaqat Khan Tarakai | ||||
| Awami Raj Party عوامی راج پارٹی People's Rule Party | ARJ | 2023 | Jamshed Dasti | |||||
| Azad Pakistan Party آزاد پاکستان پارٹی Free Pakistan Party | APP | 1949 | 1957 | Left-wing | Mian Iftikharuddin | |||
| Combined Opposition Parties اپوزیشن جماعتوں کی مشترکہ | COP | 1965 | 1965 | Big tent | Fatima Jinnah | |||
| Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party کمیونسٹ مزدور کسان پارٹی Communist Workers and Farmers Party | CMKP | 1995 | 2015 | Far-left | ||||
| Convention Muslim League کنونشن مسلم لیگ | ML-C | 1962 | 1970s | Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman | ||||
| Council Muslim League کونسل مسلم لیگ | ML-Co | 1962 | 1970s | Khawaja Nazimuddin | ||||
| Ganatantri Dal গণতন্ত্রী দল Democratic Party | GD | 1953 | 1957 | Mahmud Ali Haji Mohammad Danesh | ||||
| Islami Jamhoori Ittehad اسلامی جمہوری اتحاد Islamic Democratic Alliance | IJI | 1988 | 1990 | Right-wing | Nawaz Sharif | |||
| Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Nazryati جمعیت علمائے اسلام (نظریاتی) Assembly of Islamic Clerics (Ideological) | JUI-N | 2007 | 2016 | Maulvi Asmatullah | ||||
| Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam جمیعت علمائے اسلام Assembly of Islamic Clerics | JUI | 1945 | 1980 | Shabbir Ahmad Usmani | ||||
| Jinnah Muslim League جناح مسلم لیگ | JML | 1949 | 1953 | Iftikhar Hussain Khan Mamdot | ||||
| Khaksar movement تحریکِ خاکسار | KM | 1931 | 1970s | Inayatullah Khan Mashriqi | ||||
| Krishak Sramik Party کسان ورکرز پارٹی কৃষক শ্রমিক পার্টি | KSP | 1929 | 1971 | Centre-left | A. K. Fazlul Huq | |||
| Labour Party Pakistan لیبر پارٹی پاکستان | LPP | 1986 | 2012 | Left-wing to far-left | ||||
| Millat Party ملت پارٹی Nation Party | MP | 1997 | 2004 | Farooq Leghari | ||||
| Muslim League مسلم لیگ মুসলিম লীগ | ML | 1947 | 1958 | Big tent | Muhammad Ali Jinnah | |||
| National Awami Party نیشنل عوامی پارٹی ন্যাশনাল আওয়ামী পার্টি National People's Party | NAP | 1957 | 1962 | Left-wing | Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani | |||
| National Awami Party (Wali) نیشنل عوامی پارٹی (ولي) National People's Party (Wali) | NAP-W | 1967 | 1986 | Left-wing | Khan Abdul Wali Khan | |||
| National Peoples Party نیشنل پیپلز پارٹی | NPP | 1986 | 2018 | Mustafa Jatoi | ||||
| National Workers Party نیشنل ورکرز پارٹی | NWP | 1999 | 2010 | Left-wing | Abid Hassan Minto | |||
| Pakistan Democratic Party پاکستان جمہوری پارٹی | PDP | 1967 | 2012 | Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan | ||||
| Pakistan Hindu Party پاکستان ہندو پارٹی | PHP | 1990 | Rana Chandra Singh | |||||
| Pakistan Mazdoor Kissan Party پاکستان مزدور کسان پارٹی Pakistan Labourers and Farmers Party | PMKP | 1974 | 2015 | Afzal Shah Khamosh | ||||
| Pakistan Muslim League پاکستان مسلم لیگ | PML | 1962 1969 1977 | 1969 1977 1985 | Ayub Khan | ||||
| Pakistan Muslim League (Jinnah) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (جناح) | PML-J | 1995 | 2004 | Manzoor Wattoo | ||||
| Pakistan Muslim League (Qayyum) پاکستان مسلم ليگ (قيوم) | PML-Qy | 1970 | 1993 | Abdul Qayyum Khan | ||||
| Pakistan Peoples Muslim League پاکستان پیپلز مسلم لیگ Formerly Pakistan Muslim League (Like-Minded) پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ہم خیال) | PPML | 2009 | 2013 | Arbab Ghulam Rahim | ||||
| Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian (Patriots) | PPP-PP | 2002 | 2017 | Rao Sikander Iqbal Faisal Saleh Hayat | ||||
| Pakistan Socialist Party پاکستان سوشلسٹ پارٹی | PSP | 1948 | 1958 | Left-wing | ||||
| Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Gulalai) پاکستان تحريکِ انصاف (گلالئی) Pakistan Movement for Justice (Gulalai) | PTI-G | 2018 | 2023 | Ayesha Gulalai | ||||
| Pak Sarzameen Party پاک سر زمین پارٹی Pure Homeland Party | PSP | 2016 | 2023 | Centre-left | Mustafa Kamal | |||
| Pukhtoonkhwa Mazdoor Kissan Party پختونخواہ مزدور کسان پارٹی Pakhtunkhwa Labourers and Farmers Party | PkMKP | 1979 | 1989 | Sher Ali Bacha | ||||
| Qaumi Inqilabi Party قومی الانقلابی پارٹی National Revolutionary Party | QIP | 1987 | Left-wing | |||||
| Republican Party ریپبلکن پارٹی | RP | 1955 | 1958 | Centre-right | Feroz Khan Noon | |||
| Sindh Awami Ittehad سندھ عوامي اتحاد سنڌ عوامي اتحاد Sindh People's Alliance | SAI | 2012 | 2017 | Liaquat Ali Jatoi | ||||
| Sindh Hari Committee سنڌ هاري ڪاميٽي Sindh Farmer Committee | SHC | 1930 | Left-wing | G. M. Syed | ||||
| Sindh Mohajir Punjabi Pathan Muttahida Mahaz سندھ مہاجر پنجابی پٹھان متحدہ محاذ Sindh Muhajir Punjabi Pashtun United Front | SMPPMM | 1969 | Nawab Muzaffar Khan | |||||
| Sindh National Front سندھ نیشنل فرنٹ سنڌ نيشنل فرنٽ | SNF | 1989 | 2017 | Mumtaz Bhutto | ||||
| Tehreek-e-Istiqlal تحریک استقلال Solidarity Movement | TI | 1970 | 2012 | Asghar Khan | ||||
| Tehreek-e-Jafaria تحریک جعفریہ پاکستان Movement for Shia Law | TJ | 1979 | Far-right | Arif Hussain Hussaini | ||||
| Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Pakistan تحریک تحفظ پاکستان Movement for the Protection of Pakistan | TTP | 2012 | 2013 | Centre | Abdul Qadeer Khan | |||
| Workers Party Pakistan ورکرز پارٹی پاکستان | WPP | 2010 | 2012 | Far-left | Abid Hassan Minto | |||
Unregistered parties
| Party | Abrr. | Flag | Date of foundation | Political position | Leader(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazdoor Kisan Party مزدور کسان پارٹی Workers and Peasants Party | MKP | 1968 | Far-left | Afzal Shah Khamosh | ||
| Pakistan Christian Congress پاکستان کرسچین کانگریس | PCC | 1985 | Centre-right | Nazir S Bhatti | ||
| Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party سنڌ ترقي پسند پارٽي سندھ ترقی پسند پارٹی Sindh Progressive Party | STP | 1991 | Left-wing | Qadir Magsi | ||
| Pakistan Green Party پاکستان گرین پارٹی | PGP | 2002 | Green | Liaquat Ali Shaikh | ||
| Communist Party of Pakistan کمیونسٹ پارٹی آف پاکستان | CPP | 1948 | Far-left | Jameel Ahmad Malik | ||
| Pakistan Social Democratic Party پاکستان سوشل ڈیموکریٹک پارٹی | PSDP | 2002 | Centre-left | Mujeeb ur Rehman Kiani | ||
| Communist Party of Pakistan (Thaheem) کمیونسٹ پارٹی آف پاکستان (تھہیم) | CPP | 2002 | Far-left | Khadim Thaheem | ||
| Bahawalpur National Awami Party بہاولپور نیشنل عوامی پارٹی Bahawalpur National People's Party | BNAP | 2010 | Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi | |||
| Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement | GBUM | — | — | — | ||
| All Pakistan Minorities Alliance آل پاکستان اقلیتی اتحاد | APML | Paul Bhatti | ||||
| Muttahida Qaumi Movement – London متحدہ قومی موومنٹ لندن Muttaḥidah Qọ̄mī MūwmaṅṫUnited National Movement - London | MQM-L | 1984 | Center-left to Centre | Altaf Hussain | ||
| Pakistan Republic Party پاکستان ریپبلک پارٹی | PRP | 2025 | Centre-left | Reham Khan | ||
See also
- Politics of Pakistan
- List of ruling political parties by country
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