Pakistan: Anwarul Haq Kakar Sworn In As Caretaker Prime Minister

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• Aug 14, 2023 | Dhupali Das

Anwarul Haq Kakar was sworn in as Pakistan's caretaker prime minister on Monday...

Digital Desk: Anwarul Haq Kakar was sworn in as Pakistan's caretaker prime minister on Monday to head a neutral political set-up to run the cash-strapped country and hold the next general elections.

Kakar, the 52-year-old first-time Senator from Balochistan, is an ethnic Pushtun and a member of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), a party considered close to the country's powerful establishment.

President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office to him during a ceremony at the Aiwan-i-Sadr (the President House) in Islamabad. He became Pakistan's eighth interim prime minister.

Kakar resigned from the upper house of Parliament prior to taking the oath of office.

kakar's name was agreed upon during the final day of consultations between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Leader of the Opposition in the dissolved National Assembly, Raja Riaz Ahmad on Saturday.

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjarani accepted Kakar's resignation from the Senate on Monday, only days before the latter was sworn in as interim prime minister.

Kakar had announced his retirement from the Senate as well as the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), which he formed in 2018.

According to Geo News, Kakar resigned from his position in order to serve as an impartial interim premier.

He decided to resign as it was his job to hold free and fair general elections in collaboration with the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Kakar's resignation was announced by the Senate Secretariat on Monday.

"Anwaarul Haq Kakar, a member Senate of Pakistan, has resigned his seat, as his principled stance of neutrality on becoming the caretaker prime minister, by writing under his hand in person before the Senate chairman," the notification said.

"The honourable Senate chairman has been pleased to accept the resignation and consequently his seat has become vacant in terms of clause (1) of Article 64 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan with effect from August 14," it added.

In a statement made on Sunday, Sharif expressed confidence that Kakar will oversee fair elections. He stated that the "trust reposed by all parties in Kakar's name proves their proper choice as the upcoming caretaker Prime Minister is an educated person and a patriot".

According to Sharif, Kakar was chosen through a constitutional process because he was the "most suitable person" to lead the interim government.