Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ Former Pakistani Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar assumed the role of the country’s caretaker prime minister, entrusted with leading a caretaker national government tasked with organizing parliamentary elections amidst one of the gravest economic crises faced by the Islamic nation. Kakar, who is relatively new to the political arena and known for his association with the influential military, has represented Baluchistan province in the Senate since 2018. President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office to him in a short ceremony held within the opulent surroundings of the white marble palace, known as the Presidency.
Kakar’s transition into this role occurred subsequent to his resignation as the leader of the Baluchistan Awami Party and his withdrawal from the Senate. His appointments were made by outgoing premier Shehbaz Sharif and opposition leader Raza Riaz, tasking him with overseeing the election process and managing the government’s day-to-day operations until a new administration is elected. In Pakistan, it is customary to appoint a caretaker government during the electoral period. Conforming to the constitution, the election is slated to take place within the next 90 days. The swearing-in event coincided with the celebration of Pakistan’s 76th Independence Day. However, this day of festivity took place in the midst of intensifying political turmoil triggered by the ousting of former premier Imran Khan from office last year.
Pakistan got independence in 1947 when the British left the subcontinent, partitioning India and Pakistan. The day’s festivities commenced with gun salutes in the capital, Islamabad, as well as in each of the four provincial capitals. President Arif Alvi unfurled the national flag during a ceremony in Islamabad, which was attended by officials and othe prominent leaders. Security was maintained at heightened levels nationwide following a series of weekend attacks, including an incident in which Chinese workers on a construction project emerged unharmed, but two militants were murdered when troops swiftly retaliated in the coastal town of Gwadar in Baluchistan province.
Additionally, the police reported that on the preceding day, a journalist named Jan Mohammad Mahar was shot and killed by unidentified attackers as he was returning home in Sukkur, a district in southern Sindh province. The motive behind the attack remained unclear, prompting officers to continue their investigation. In a farewell address to the nation, former premier Sharif encouraged his compatriots to make the right decision when casting their votes. He attributed the country’s economic crisis to Khan’s leadership during his tenure. Sharif took over from Khan in April 2022 following a no-confidence vote in parliament.
Khan, who was sentenced to three years in prison in a corruption case earlier this month, is presently confined in the high-security Attock prison in eastern Punjab province. Despite his incarceration, Khan remains a formidable opposition figure, and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is anticipated to offer stiff competition to his primary rival, Sharif’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League party, in the upcoming elections. Khan’s direct participation in the election depends on the overturning of his conviction, as individuals with criminal convictions are prohibited from leading a party, contesting elections, or holding public office. He has filed an appeal against his conviction.
Wednesday, the president of Pakistan dissolved the National Assembly, the lower chamber of parliament, marking the beginning of the countdown to mid-November general elections. The decision came as the country’s most prominent opposition leader fought over the weekend to overturn a corruption conviction that landed him in a maximum-security prison. According to a statement released by the president’s office, as the assembly’s five-year tenure was coming to a close, President Arif Alvi disbanded the legislature on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
