Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar
ISLAMABAD: Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar will be the caretaker prime minister of Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Opposition Leader finalized his name as the caretaker prime minister on Saturday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Raja Riaz signed the summary and sent it to the President of Pakistan for approval and notification of Senator Kakar as caretaker prime minister.
Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar belongs to Balochistan. A day earlier, the PDM leaders decided to appoint a caretaker from the small province. It was a hint for the appointment of the caretaker PM from Balochistan.
The decision comes after the second round of consultations between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Raja Riaz, and a summary to this effect has been forwarded to President Arif Alvi.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Riaz said: “We decided that the interim prime minister would be from a smaller province”.
The development came after President Dr Arif Alvi wrote a letter to PM Shehbaz, reminding him and the opposition leader to suggest a “suitable person” for the interim premier by August 12 (Saturday).
In a letter to both PM Shehbaz and Riaz, the president informed them that under Article 224A they are supposed to propose a name for interim prime minister within three days of the dissolution of the National Assembly.
“As provided in Article 224 (1A) of the Constitution of Pakistan, the Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly may propose a suitable person for the appointment of care-taker Prime Minister not later than 12th August,” wrote President Alvi.
Raja Riaz’s media talk
Raja Riaz, addressing the media, announced that he and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had reached a consensus on the name of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) senator during their meeting. Raja Riaz stated that the decision to select someone from an underdeveloped province for such a crucial position aimed to address the sense of deprivation in that region. He added that Senator Kakar, nominated by the opposition, was their choice for the caretaker PM role.
The prime minister expressed gratitude to the opposition leader for their parliamentary contributions over the past 16 months and the collaboration throughout the consultation process. Both leaders collectively endorsed the appointment of the caretaker prime minister and subsequently forwarded the recommendation to the president.
The nominated caretaker PM is scheduled to take the oath of office on the upcoming Sunday.
Who is Senator Kakar?
Senator Kakar’s background reveals that he contested the National Assembly elections in 2002 under the PML-N banner but was unsuccessful. In 2015, he served as the Balochistan government spokesperson under Nawab Sanaullah Zehri’s leadership. He secured his senate seat in 2017 as an independent candidate and later joined the Balochistan Awami Party.
Emerging from a family deeply rooted in politics, Kakar has carved out his distinct path, gaining recognition as a determined and articulate statesman. Although his 2002 National Assembly candidacy with PML-N did not bear fruit, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar’s journey showcases his transformation from a political heir to a seasoned and flexible leader, positioning him as a prominent voice in the intricate tapestry of Pakistani politics.
