The 6th National Assembly of Pakistan was the sovereign legislative body of Pakistan formed following the general elections held on March 7, 1977. It is notable in Pakistani history for having the shortest tenure of any elected National Assembly, remaining in session for approximately three months before its dissolution.
Historical Context
The elections of March 1977 were the first held under the Constitution of 1973. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by then-Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, won a significant majority. However, the opposition coalition, the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA), alleged massive electoral fraud and rigging. The resulting political impasse led to widespread civil unrest and a series of protests across the country.
Tenure
- Commencement of Term: March 28, 1977
- Dissolution: July 5, 1977
- Reason for Dissolution: The assembly was dissolved following a military coup led by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (Operation Fair Play), which resulted in the imposition of martial law.
Leadership
- Leader of the House: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (Prime Minister)
- Speaker: Malik Meraj Khalid (Inaugurated March 27, 1977)
- Deputy Speaker: Memon Abdul Sattar (Inaugurated March 27, 1977)
Composition and Notable Members
The assembly consisted of 200 general seats, with additional reserved seats for women and non-Muslim minorities. While the PPP held the vast majority of seats, the PNA had won 36 general seats. However, many PNA members boycotted the assembly's proceedings in protest against the election results.
Notable members of the 6th National Assembly included:
- Zulfikar Ali Bhutto: Prime Minister and Chairman of the PPP.
- Begum Nusrat Bhutto: Representing the PPP.
- Mumtaz Ali Bhutto: A prominent leader of the PPP and former Chief Minister of Sindh.
- Abdul Hafeez Pirzada: One of the primary authors of the 1973 Constitution.
- Maulana Kausar Niazi: Federal Minister for Information and Religious Affairs.
- Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi: A senior PPP leader who later served as caretaker Prime Minister.
- Malik Meraj Khalid: Served as the Speaker of the House and later as Prime Minister in a caretaker capacity.
Status of the Official List
While the complete roster of the 6th National Assembly members is maintained in the official archives and the Gazette of Pakistan from 1977, the short lifespan of the assembly means it is often discussed in the context of the 1977 constitutional crisis rather than as a sustained legislative period. Comprehensive lists by constituency (e.g., NA-1 to NA-200) are typically found in specialized parliamentary records rather than general-purpose encyclopedic summaries.
