Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar is set to take the oath of office on Monday as Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister, leading a national interim government tasked with overseeing upcoming parliamentary elections.
Kakar, a relatively new entrant to the political arena, has been representing Baluchistan province in the Senate since 2018.
On Sunday, Kakar resigned as the leader of the Baluchistan Awami Party and stepped down as a senator, following his nomination by outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and opposition leader Raza Riaz. Kakar will oversee the electoral process and manage the day-to-day affairs of the government until a new administration is elected. This practice is customary in Pakistan during election periods.
According to the constitution, the elections are required to be held within the next 90 days.
The swearing-in ceremony coincides with Pakistan’s 76th Independence Day celebrations. However, the festivities unfold amid deepening political turmoil that originated after the removal of former Prime Minister Imran Khan from power last year.
The day’s celebrations commenced with gun salutes in the capital, Islamabad, and the four provincial capitals. President Arif Alvi raised the national flag during a ceremony in Islamabad, attended by officials and dignitaries.
Given multiple attacks over the weekend, including an incident in which Chinese workers escaped unharmed but two militants were killed in the coastal town of Gwadar in Baluchistan province, security measures remained high across the country.
Tragedy struck on Sunday with the killing of journalist Jan Mohammad Mahar by unidentified gunmen in Sukkur, a district in southern Sindh province. The motive behind the killing is unclear, and investigations are ongoing.
In his farewell address to the nation, former Prime Minister Sharif urged his fellow citizens to “make the right decision” when casting their votes. He attributed the country’s economic crisis to Khan, the leader in power at the time.
Sharif took office in April 2022, replacing Khan after a no-confidence vote in parliament.
Khan received a three-year prison sentence in a corruption case earlier this month and is currently detained at the high-security Attock prison in eastern Punjab province.
Despite his imprisonment, Khan maintains popularity as an opposition figure, and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, is anticipated to present a strong challenge to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League party led by Sharif in the upcoming elections.
Khan’s eligibility for election participation hinges on the overturning of his conviction, as individuals with criminal convictions are barred from leading parties, contesting elections, or holding public office. Khan has lodged an appeal against his conviction.
