List of Pakistan’s Presidents: From Iskander Mirza to Asif Zardari

Iskander Mirza was the first President of Pakistan after the country became a republic in 1956. He served from 23 March 1956 to 27 October 1958. A career military officer, he previously served as the country’s Defence Secretary and Interior Secretary before assuming the presidency.

He played an important role in drafting Pakistan’s Constitution of 1956. However, he was removed from office by General Ayub Khan in a military coup in October 1958 — just two and a half years into his presidency. He was subsequently placed under house arrest and later exiled to London, where he died in 1969.

Ayub Khan was the second President of Pakistan, serving from 1958 to 1969 — Pakistan’s first military dictator. Before the presidency, he served as Chief of Army Staff and played a key role in drafting Pakistan’s first Constitution in 1956.

As President, he implemented wide-ranging economic and social reforms, including establishing a national education system and building dams and irrigation canals. He strengthened ties with the United States and China but was ultimately forced to resign in 1969 due to civil unrest and mounting political opposition.

Yahya Khan was the third President of Pakistan, serving from 1969 to 1971. He came to power via a military coup that removed Ayub Khan and oversaw one of Pakistan’s most turbulent periods.

His refusal to transfer power to the Awami League — which won a majority in the 1970 general election — ignited a brutal civil war in East Pakistan. The conflict ended with Pakistan’s military defeat and the creation of Bangladesh in December 1971. Yahya Khan resigned that same month. His administration has been widely condemned for human rights violations during the 1971 war.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the fourth President of Pakistan, serving from 1971 to 1973. Founder of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and a dominant political figure, Bhutto became the first civilian Chief Martial Law Administrator in Pakistan’s history after Yahya Khan resigned.

As President, he nationalized key industries, introduced a land reform programme, and oversaw the creation of the 1973 Constitution. He later served as Prime Minister from 1973 to 1977. He was deposed by General Zia-ul-Haq in a 1977 coup and executed in 1979 after a deeply controversial trial. Bhutto remains one of the most influential and debated figures in Pakistan’s political history.

Fazal Elahi Chaudhry was the fifth President of Pakistan, serving from 1973 to 1978 under the government of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. A PPP member, he served as Speaker of the National Assembly before becoming President.

Known for his pro-democracy stance, Chaudhry worked to uphold people’s rights and strengthen ties with Muslim countries. He was forced to resign in 1978 when General Zia-ul-Haq imposed martial law, and was subsequently placed under house arrest. He died in 1982.

Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq was the sixth President of Pakistan and the country’s longest-serving president, holding office from 1978 until his death in 1988 — nearly 10 years. He came to power by overthrowing Prime Minister Bhutto’s government.

His tenure was defined by sweeping Islamization policies — introducing Islamic laws and promoting religious education. He also played a pivotal role in the Soviet-Afghan War by supporting the Afghan Mujahideen. He died in a mysterious plane crash in August 1988. His legacy remains deeply contested to this day.

Ghulam Ishaq Khan was the seventh President of Pakistan, serving from 1988 to 1993. A seasoned civil servant and technocrat, he had previously served as Finance Minister and Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan.

His tenure was marked by political instability. He is most remembered for dismissing two elected Prime Ministers — both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif — on charges of corruption and abuse of power. He resigned in 1993 following Supreme Court intervention and died in 2006.

Farooq Leghari was the eighth President of Pakistan, serving from 1993 to 1997. A PPP politician elected by the National Assembly after Ghulam Ishaq Khan’s resignation, he focused on economic development and improving relations with India.

Despite belonging to the same party, Leghari dismissed Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s government in 1996 on charges of corruption and misgovernance. He resigned in 1997, later founding the Millat Party. He died in 2010.

Muhammad Rafiq Tarar was the ninth President of Pakistan, serving from 1997 to 2001. A lawyer and judge appointed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, he was known for his commitment to the rule of law and constitutionalism.

His presidency ended abruptly when General Pervez Musharraf seized power in October 1999. Tarar formally resigned in 2001 after Musharraf declared himself President. He later retired from politics and died in 2019.

Pervez Musharraf was the tenth President of Pakistan, serving from 2001 to 2008. He came to power by overthrowing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a 1999 coup and officially assumed the presidency in 2001.

His tenure saw significant economic growth and Pakistan becoming a key US ally in the War on Terror following 9/11. He introduced local government reforms and a National Finance Commission. However, his presidency was also marked by suppression of the judiciary and civil society. He resigned in 2008, went into self-exile, and died in Dubai in 2023.

Asif Ali Zardari served as the 11th President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013. A senior PPP leader and widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, he was elected by the National Assembly and became the first democratically elected President to complete a full five-year term.

As President, he voluntarily transferred key executive powers to Parliament through the landmark 18th Constitutional Amendment (2010), which fundamentally strengthened parliamentary democracy in Pakistan. He later returned to the presidency as the 14th President in 2024.

Mamnoon Hussain was the 12th President of Pakistan, serving from 2013 to 2018. A businessman and senior PML-N politician, he was elected by the National Assembly following the party’s 2013 election victory under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Hussain served a largely ceremonial role throughout his term, maintaining stability and completing his full constitutionally mandated five years in office.

Arif Alvi served as the 13th President of Pakistan from 2018 to 2023. A dentist by profession and a founding member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he was elected President following PTI’s 2018 general election victory and completed his full five-year constitutional term.

During his tenure, Alvi championed technology in government services, digital education and healthcare, and the protection of human rights. He was a vocal advocate for women, minorities, and Pakistan’s positive international image.

Asif Ali Zardari is the 14th and current President of Pakistan, having taken his oath of office on 10 March 2024. He is the first person in Pakistan’s history to be elected President twice, having previously served as the 11th President from 2008 to 2013.

Born on 26 July 1955 in Karachi, Zardari is Co-chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). He secured 411 electoral votes in the 2024 presidential election, comfortably defeating opposition-backed candidate Mehmood Khan Achakzai.

Key developments during his current term:

• Signed the Christian Marriage Amendment Act (July 2024), raising the minimum marriage age for Pakistani Christians to 18.
• Undertook a five-day state visit to China in February 2025, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to CPEC.
• Reinforced Pakistan’s anti-drug stance on International Day Against Drug Abuse (June 2025).
• Maintained active diplomatic engagement on regional and global issues.