At stake in this Referendum:

• The referendum will ask voters to extend Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF's term as President and Chief Executive of Pakistan for an additional five years.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: General Pervez MUSHARRAF
• Head of Government: Chief Executive Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF
• Assembly: Pakistan has a bicameral Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora) consisting of the Senate with 87 seats and the National Assembly with 217 seats**.

** 60 seats represent women; 10 seats represent minorities.

Gen. MUSHARRAF suspended the existing parliament when he assumed control of the government following a coup on October 12, 1999. Parliamentary elections to elect a new parliament are scheduled to be held in October 2002.

Main provisions in the Referendum:

• Referendum on term of office Chief Executive If a majority of voters approve this referendum, General MUSHARRAF will remain in office for an additional five years.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 144,271,586 (2002)
• Registered Voters: 71,358,040 (2002)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 69,864,270 (2002)

·         Is Pakistan a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Pakistan ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (12 March 1996)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 5 (National Assembly); 1 (Senate) following the 1997 elections

·         Human Development Index Position: 147 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: High (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Pakistan a signatory to CRPD: Yes (25 September 2008)

·         Has Pakistan ratified CRPD: Yes (5 July 2011)

·         Population with a disability: 21,692,495 (est.)