ISAS Briefs

The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced elections to the national and provincial assemblies of Pakistan on 8 January 2008. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan subscribes to the parliamentary system of multiparty democracy. Universal adult franchise is followed, and all men and women who are at least 18 years of age are entitled to vote for a candidate of their choice through a secret ballot. The first-past-the-post procedure is followed to elect members of the national and provincial assemblies. It means that the candidate who receives the highest numbers of votes in a constituency is elected to the legislative assembly. The national parliament consists of two houses - an upper house, called the Senate, and the lower house, called the National Assembly. The National Assembly, which is elected directly by the people, consists of 342 seats of which 60 seats are reserved for women and 10 for minorities.