Majlis-e-Shura or Parliament of Pakistan
- The Majlis-e-Shura or Parliament is the highest legislative body at the federal level in Pakistan. The institution consists of two chambers; Lower House or National Assembly and Upper House or Senate. Under Article 50 of the Constitution of Pakistan, the President is also a part of the Majlis-e-Shura.
- The Constitution of Pakistan used to give the President the power to dismiss the Lower House but after the amendment of this Constitution now gives the President the power to dismiss the Lower House in certain circumstances. Like the lower house, the upper house is an exception and the president cannot dismiss it.
Lower House / National Assembly
- The lower house of the Majlis-e-Shura is the lower house of the National Assembly of Pakistan. It has a total of 342 seats, of which 272 are directly elected. 60 seats are reserved for women and 10 for minorities. Although there are certain seats reserved for women on which men cannot be elected, there is no such restriction on general seats and both men and women can run for office.
Upper House / Senate
- The Senate of Pakistan is the upper house of the Majlis-e-Shura. It has a total of 100 seats and in 2008 18 of them were held by women. According to the constitution, the president cannot dismiss the senate. Senate elections are not direct and are elected by members of provincial assemblies.