Anwaarul Haq Kakar nominated as Caretaker PM

Celina Ali

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Leader of the Opposition Raja Riaz in the dissolved National Assembly on Saturday agreed to nominate Anwaarul Haq Kakar as the Caretaker Prime Minister.

The decision was taken during a consultation meeting held in the PM House. The consultation process for the appointment of the caretaker prime minister was amicably completed, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

Anwaarul Haq Kakar nominated as Caretaker PM
The prime minister and the leader of opposition jointly signed the advice for the appointment of the caretaker PM and sent it to the President of Pakistan, it was added.

On the occasion, the prime minister thanked the leader of opposition for the role in the parliament during the last 16 months and the cooperation extended in the consultation process.

Anwaarul Haq Kakar was elected as an independent senator from Balochistan province for a tenure of March 2018 to March 2024 on general seat.

He was also working as chairperson Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, and as member of the Business Advisory Committee, Finance and Revenue, Foreign Affairs and Science and Technology.

Kakar had co-launched a political party Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and also served as spokesman for the government of Balochistan.

The consultation process for the nomination of the caretaker prime minister commenced after the president approved dissolution of the National Assembly on August 9, on the advice of the prime minister.

The prime minister’s advice had sought dissolution of the assembly under the Article 58(1) of the Constitution.

On 11 August, the president also wrote a letter to the prime minister and the opposition leader of the outgoing Assembly to propose name of a suitable person for appointment of caretaker PM under Article 224 (1A) of the Constitution.

The outcome of today’s meeting, thus paves the way for transition of government to a caretaker set up. The proposed caretaker prime minister is expected to take oath of his office soon after which he would announce his caretaker cabinet in a run up to the next general elections.