1st President of Pakistan — and Every President Since
From Iskander Mirza, who took office when Pakistan became a republic in 1956, to Asif Ali Zardari’s historic second term — the complete, verified guide to Pakistan’s presidents.
Last updated: 11 October 2026
1947 – 1956
The Road to the Republic
Pakistan did not have a president for its first nine years. Understanding why explains the office itself.
When Pakistan gained independence on 14 August 1947, it became a dominion within the British Commonwealth — meaning the head of state was King George VI, represented locally by a governor-general. The first governor-general was Muhammad Ali Jinnah himself, the founder of the nation, who held the office from independence until his death on 11 September 1948. He was followed by Khawaja Nazimuddin (1948–1951), Ghulam Muhammad (1951–1955) and Iskander Mirza (1955–1956).
For nine years the Constituent Assembly struggled to write a constitution — delayed by debates over the role of Islam, provincial autonomy and the One Unit scheme that merged West Pakistan’s provinces. When the 1956 Constitution was finally adopted on 23 March 1956, Pakistan became an Islamic republic, the monarchy’s role ended, and the governor-general’s office was abolished in favour of an elected presidency. Iskander Mirza simply crossed from one office to the other — the last governor-general became the first president. The full story of the earlier office is in our governor-general of Pakistan guide.
1956
The First President: Iskander Mirza
A former army officer and the last governor-general, Iskander Mirza became president the day Pakistan turned republican — and left office in a coup he himself set in motion.
Born in 1899 in Bengal, Iskander Mirza was the first Indian graduate of Sandhurst and rose to major-general in the British Indian Army before moving into administration. After independence he served as defence secretary, governor of East Pakistan, interior minister and finally governor-general from August 1955. When the 1956 Constitution was adopted on 23 March 1956, the Constituent Assembly elected him Pakistan’s first president.
His presidency lasted just over two and a half years. On 7 October 1958 Mirza abrogated the constitution and declared martial law, appointing army chief Ayub Khan as chief martial law administrator. Twenty days later, on 27 October 1958, Ayub Khan forced Mirza out and exiled him; Mirza died in London in 1969. Read the full story in our first president of Pakistan guide and the governor-general of Pakistan guide.
The complete roll
All 14 Presidents of Pakistan
Fourteen presidencies, thirteen people — the full list from 1956 to today.
| No. | President | Term | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iskander Mirza | 23 Mar 1956 – 27 Oct 1958 | First president; declared martial law in Oct 1958 |
| 2 | Ayub Khan | 27 Oct 1958 – 25 Mar 1969 | Took power as chief martial law administrator |
| 3 | Yahya Khan | 25 Mar 1969 – 20 Dec 1971 | Oversaw the 1971 war and separation of Bangladesh |
| 4 | Zulfikar Ali Bhutto | 20 Dec 1971 – 14 Aug 1973 | Civilian president, then became prime minister |
| 5 | Fazal Elahi Chaudhry | 14 Aug 1973 – 16 Sep 1978 | First president under the 1973 Constitution |
| 6 | Zia-ul-Haq | 16 Sep 1978 – 17 Aug 1988 | Died in a plane crash near Bahawalpur |
| 7 | Ghulam Ishaq Khan | 17 Aug 1988 – 18 Jul 1993 | Dismissed two elected governments |
| 8 | Farooq Leghari | 14 Nov 1993 – 2 Dec 1997 | Resigned after clash with Nawaz Sharif |
| 9 | Rafiq Tarar | 1 Jan 1998 – 20 Jun 2001 | Stepped aside for Musharraf |
| 10 | Pervez Musharraf | 20 Jun 2001 – 18 Aug 2008 | Resigned ahead of impeachment |
| 11 | Asif Ali Zardari | 9 Sep 2008 – 8 Sep 2013 | First elected president to complete a full term |
| 12 | Mamnoon Hussain | 9 Sep 2013 – 8 Sep 2018 | PML-N nominee; largely ceremonial tenure |
| 13 | Arif Alvi | 9 Sep 2018 – 9 Mar 2024 | PTI nominee; stayed on after term ended |
| 14 | Asif Ali Zardari | 10 Mar 2024 – present | Only civilian elected president twice |
For biographies and term-by-term detail, see the president of Pakistan list.
2024 – present
The Presidency Today
Asif Ali Zardari’s return to Aiwan-e-Sadr made history: no civilian had ever held the presidency twice.
Zardari defeated Mahmood Khan Achakzai (181 votes) in the March 2024 electoral college.
First term 2008–2013; sworn in again 10 March 2024 by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
The 2010 amendment — passed in his first term — made the presidency largely ceremonial.
Under the 18th Amendment, the president acts on the prime minister’s advice, signs bills into law, appoints governors, the chiefs of the armed forces and judges, and represents the federation. Real executive power sits with the prime minister — see our prime minister of Pakistan list. Full profile: Asif Ali Zardari.
Article 41
How the President of Pakistan Is Elected
Not by the public — by an electoral college of parliament and the four provincial assemblies.
The electoral college
Senators, members of the National Assembly and members of all four provincial assemblies vote together. Provincial votes are weighted so each province counts equally.
Term and eligibility
Five-year term, renewable once. Candidates must be Muslim, at least 45 years old and qualified to be a member of the National Assembly.
The full procedure is explained step by step in how the president of Pakistan is elected.
Go deeper
Explore the Presidency Guides
Biographies, lists and explainers — one guide for every presidency question.
Asif Ali Zardari
Biography of the 14th president — from Benazir Bhutto’s widower to two-term head of state.
President of Pakistan List
All 14 presidencies with terms, parties and the story of each tenure.
How the President Is Elected
The electoral college, the weighting formula and the oath — step by step.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions readers ask most about this topic.
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Now Meet the Prime Ministers
Pakistan’s real executive power sits with the prime minister. See every premier from Liaquat Ali Khan to Shehbaz Sharif in our complete PM list.
Terms and dates verified against official records, October 2026. Numbering follows the standard constitutional count of presidencies.