Editorial note: This is a high-level navigation timeline. Each entry should eventually link to a sourced long-form page.
1947–1958: founding and constitution-making
- 1947 — Pakistan becomes independent; Muhammad Ali Jinnah becomes Governor-General.
- 1949 — Constituent Assembly adopts the Objectives Resolution.
- 1956 — first Constitution establishes a parliamentary federal republic.
- 1958 — Constitution abrogated and martial law imposed.
1958–1971: presidential rule and federation crisis
- 1962 — a presidential Constitution is introduced under Ayub Khan.
- 1965 — presidential election and war with India.
- 1969 — Yahya Khan assumes power.
- 1970 — first nationwide general election on adult franchise.
- 1971 — civil war, India–Pakistan war and independence of Bangladesh.
1971–1988: 1973 Constitution and Zia era
- 1973 — consensus Constitution comes into force.
- 1977 — disputed election, protests and military coup.
- 1979 — Zulfikar Ali Bhutto executed.
- 1985 — non-party elections; Muhammad Khan Junejo becomes prime minister.
- 1988 — Zia dies; party-based elections return Benazir Bhutto to government.
1988–2008: alternating governments and military rule
- 1988–1999 — PPP and PML-N governments alternate; none completes a full term under its original prime minister.
- 1998 — Pakistan conducts nuclear tests.
- 1999 — General Pervez Musharraf removes Nawaz Sharif’s government.
- 2002 — election held under Musharraf’s political framework.
- 2007 — emergency rule; Benazir Bhutto assassinated.
2008 onward: parliamentary continuity and renewed instability
- 2008 — PPP-led elected government takes office.
- 2010 — Eighteenth Amendment reshapes federal and parliamentary powers.
- 2013 — first civilian transfer after completion of a full elected term; PML-N forms government.
- 2018 — PTI forms a coalition government.
- 2022 — Imran Khan removed through vote of no confidence; Shehbaz Sharif becomes prime minister.
- 2024 — fragmented election produces a PML-N-led coalition with PPP support.
- 2025 — further constitutional amendments are incorporated into the official consolidated text.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: 22 July 2026. If you spot an error, please use our corrections process.
