DNA
Kakar is very close to the military establishment; the appointment indicates that the elections shall not be delayed for a longer period
ISLAMABAD: Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar is going to be the caretaker prime minister. He is from Baluchistan and is Senator since 2018. The President has approved the summary thus formally appointing him the caretaker prime minister.
The Opposition leader Raja Riaz announced this while talking to media on Saturday.
It may be mentioned here that Anwarul Haq Kakar has also served in the Balochistan assembly as well.
He belongs to Balochisnta Awami Party )BAP.
He is well known for his very close association with the Establishment. After this appointment the grip of the Establishment on the caretaker government is going to be deep and strong. This appointment is considered wise in the sense that The politicians may have a very limited influence over the caretaker set up, which may ensure free and fair elections.
Deliberations on caretaker premier
The process for the appointment of the caretaker PM kicked off a day after the premature dissolution of the National Assembly on Aug 9. The first meeting between PM Shehbaz and Raja Riaz was held on Aug 10 wherein both the leaders exchanged a list of probable candidates for the coveted slot.
The second round of consultations was held last night during a dinner hosted by PM Shehbaz for leaders of the outgoing ruling alliance.
Subsequently, PM Shehbaz had expressed confidence that the name of the head of the interim set-up would be finalised by Saturday.
Sources privy to the current political situation told Dawn that the delay in nominating a caretaker prime minister was apparently because Raja Riaz, generally believed to be a “friendly opposition leader”, came out to be a different man, as he had been insisting on his candidate instead of agreeing to the names suggested by the PML-N.
Sources said PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif was insisting, through PM Shehbaz Sharif, on former finance minister Ishaq Dar to be picked as caretaker premier, and if not Dar, then former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
