Wikipedia:Today's featured list/September 9, 2013

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Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari

There have been twelve Presidents of Pakistan since the introduction of the post in 1956. The President of Pakistan is the head of state of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Since the 18th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in 2010, Pakistan has been shifted back from semi-presidential to a parliamentary democratic republic. Under that system, the president has limited ruling powers, and performs ceremonial duties while the Prime Minister enjoys more powers to execute decisions. The president is chosen by the Electoral College composed of the Senate, the National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies. The president may remain in office for a tenure of five years. Iskander Mirza was the first president of the country. Seven presidents have been members of a political party and four of them were active party members of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Four presidents were military officers and three of them gained power through successful military coups. Apart from these twelve, two acting presidents have also been in office for short periods of time. Mamnoon Hussain of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) is the current president, succeeding Asif Ali Zardari (pictured) on 9 September. (Full list...)