Anwaarul Haq Kakar, a senator from Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), has been appointed as the caretaker prime minister of Pakistan. He will hold this position until a new government is elected. This decision was made after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and outgoing Opposition Leader in the National Assembly (NA) Raja Riaz reached a consensus over Kakar’s appointment during a meeting in Islamabad.
The appointment of Anwaarul Haq Kakar as the caretaker prime minister has been approved by President Arif Alvi, according to a statement by the Aiwan-e-Sadr. The selection of Kakar, a non-controversial personality from a smaller province, aims to address the sense of deprivation in smaller provinces of the country.
Who is Anwaarul Haq Kakar?
Anwaarul Haq Kakar was elected as an independent senator from Balochistan in 2018 and serves as the chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. He is also a member of the Business Advisory Committee, Finance and Revenue, Foreign Affairs, and Science and Technology. Kakar has a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology from the University of Balochistan and is proficient in several languages.
Reactions
Former information minister Fawad Chaudhry described Kakar as an honest, educated, and modest Pakistani. Faisal Karim Kundi, a PPP leader, welcomed the appointment and expressed hope for free and fair elections under Kakar’s leadership.
On the other hand, PPP’s Khursheed Shah expressed opposition to Kakar’s selection, stating that another person should have been chosen for the post. However, he acknowledged that Kakar would be remembered if he succeeds in ensuring transparent elections.
PTI Senator Ali Zafar praised Kakar as an intelligent and reasonable man who believes in the politics of cooperation. He wished him the best.
Political commentator Hasan Askari Rizvi emphasized the importance of inclusive elections involving all political parties as a test for Kakar’s leadership.
Deliberations on Caretaker Premier
The process of appointing the caretaker prime minister began after the premature dissolution of the National Assembly. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Raja Riaz exchanged a list of probable candidates for the position. The final name was decided after rounds of consultations and discussions between various political leaders.
While some sources claimed that former finance minister Ishaq Dar or former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi were being considered, Raja Riaz, with no party backing, insisted on Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani as the caretaker premier.
Ultimately, the appointment of Anwaarul Haq Kakar as the caretaker prime minister aims to ensure a smooth transition of power until the new government is elected in Pakistan.