Caretaker PM onus falls to Anwarul Haq Kakar's lot after rounds of deliberations
Pakistan
Kakar belongs to Balochistan province
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – President Dr Arif Alvi on Saturday approved a summary of appointment of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leader Anwarul Haq Kakar as caretaker prime minister.
The president has given his assent under Article 244 A of the Constitution, said a social media post shared by the President of Pakistan on X (formerly Twitter).
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) August 12, 2023
Mr Kakar's name was finalised after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Leader of the Opposition Raja Riaz reached the consensus. Mr Riaz told media persons in Islamabad that he had a meeting with Mr Sharif and both agreed that the caretaker prime minister should be from a smaller province, should be apolitical and impartial. He said he had nominated Kakar for the caretaker PM slot.
Mr Riaz further said a summary had been sent to President Alvi after signing the same. The summary was signed both by Raja Riaz and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. A statement issued by Prime Minister House also confirmed the development. Kakar belongs to Balochistan.
Who is Anwarul Haq Kakar?
Mr Kakar has been a member of the Senate of Pakistan since March 2018 and his six-year term will conclude in March 2024.
He has served as chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. He was also a member of the Business Advisory Committee, Finance and Revenue, Foreign Affairs and Science and Technology.
He co-launched the BAP in 2018 and also assumed the role of parliamentary leader for his political party in the Senate.
He got his early education from Quetta before getting admitted to the Cadet College Kohat. Later, he went to England for higher studies.
Background
It has been three days since the National Assembly was dissolved, but it has yet to be decided that who will be the caretaker prime minister. President Dr Arif Alvi had also asked both PM Shehbaz and Opposition leader Raja Riaz to give a consensus name for caretaker prime minister today (Saturday).
Also Read: President Alvi urges Shehbaz, Raja Riaz to expedite caretaker PM selection
The prime minister made consultations with the allies on Friday night to decide a consensus candidate for the caretaker PM slot. Sharif said that he had spoken to Raja Riaz for appointment of caretaker prime minister and would talk more talks with him today (Saturday).
He also criticised the president and said that it was a pity that the president wrote to him for the appointment of caretaker prime minister. There were eight days for this appointment, he said.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Sharif has supported the idea of contesting election making seat adjustments with the allied parties.
Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Sharif said the caretaker prime minister would be decided by tonight or tomorrow (Saturday).
He made these remarks while speaking informally to journalists, mentioning that in 16 months, many challenges were faced adding that remaining the PM for the past 16 months was his most difficult political duty.
The PM stressed that the country suffered due to the unwise and negligent nature of the PTI government which affected relations with friendly countries. The chief executive said that the caretaker prime minister's decision will be taken by tonight or tomorrow highlighting it seemed the president was in some hurry to write a letter.
The PM said that if no decision was made in three days, the parliamentary committee will make a decision in three days and failing to do so, the Election Commission would look into the matter while highlighting that consultation with allies would take tonight.
He severely criticised the PTI chairman mentioning the latter was bearing what he did his opposition while completely destabilising relations with foreign governments including United States.
Also Read: PM invites coalition partners to consider possibility of seat adjustment in elections
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday asked the coalition parties in his government to sit together and cosider the possibility of seat adjustment in the upcoming elections.Speaking at a dinner hosted in honour of leaders of allied parties, he said allied parties had their own manifestos and would campaign for their candidates but they should work for seat adjustments in the elections in view of the challenges faced by the country. He said, “I wholly support seat adjustment among the coalition partners. The consultation will continue for seat adjustment in the elections.”
