Pakistani senator Anwaar-ul-haq Kakar was named as caretaker prime minister to oversee...
Digital Desk: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and opposition leader Raja Riaz decided on Saturday to appoint Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as caretaker premier to oversee elections, the Prime Minister's office said.
Kakar, a lesser-known politician from the southwestern region of Balochistan, will name a cabinet and lead a government to guide the nuclear-armed country through an economic and political crisis until a new administration is elected.
"The prime minister (Sharif) and leader of the opposition have jointly signed the advice, which will be sent to the president for approval," the statement said.
According to Geo News, President Arif Alvi approved Kakar's appointment.
Under Pakistan's constitution, a neutral caretaker government oversees national elections, which must be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the parliament's lower house, which in this case means early November.
The selection of a caretaker prime minister has taken on added significance this time since the candidate would have additional powers to make economic policy decisions, and there are fears that elections will be delayed by up to six months.
The Election Commission has to draw new boundaries for hundreds of federal and provincial constituencies and based on that, it will give an election date.
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