On Monday, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, a prominent leader of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and a former senator, officially assumed the role of Pakistan’s eighth caretaker prime minister. The oath-taking ceremony took place at Aiwan-e-Sadar, where President Arif Alvi administered the oath to Kakar. The event was attended by the previous prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, along with former cabinet members. Distinguished figures such as Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani also graced the occasion.
In a heartfelt address to the nation on Sunday, outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed his confidence in the caretaker prime minister’s capabilities to oversee impartial and transparent elections. This expression of trust reflects the importance of the upcoming electoral process for the country’s stability and progress.
Kakar’s initial responsibility as he assumes leadership of a nation grappling with political and economic challenges is to form a capable cabinet. This cabinet will be entrusted with the task of governing the country during the extended election period that could span several months.
The dissolution of the parliament was officially announced last week, signaling the countdown to elections mandated by the constitution within the next 90 days. This timeframe aligns with the publication of the latest census data earlier this month. The need to redraw constituency boundaries based on the updated population statistics was cited as a reason for the potential delay in the elections.
Pakistan has been navigating through a complex web of security, economic, and political crises, contributing to ongoing speculation about a possible postponement of the elections. The country’s political landscape shifted when Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was removed from the prime minister’s position through a no-confidence vote in April 2022. Recent developments led to Khan’s imprisonment for three years on corruption charges, subsequently disqualifying him from holding office for the next five years. Khan, however, is contesting his sentence and conviction through an ongoing appeal.
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As Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar embarks on his role as the caretaker prime minister, Pakistan watches with hope for a period of stability, fairness, and progress during this critical electoral phase.
