On Monday, Anwaarul Haq Kakar, a former senator and ex-member of the Balochistan Awami Party, was inaugurated as Pakistan’s eighth interim prime minister. The oath-taking ceremony, overseen by President Arif Alvi, occurred in Islamabad at the Aiwan-i-Sadr.
Earlier in the day, Kakar’s resignation from his Senate seat was accepted by Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani. Kakar had announced his decision to step down from his Senate position and the Balochistan Awami Party a day before, signalling his commitment to maintaining impartiality in his new role.
Controversies and Acceptance of Kakar’s Appointment
The circumstances leading up to Kakar’s appointment have sparked debate and tension between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M). BNP-M’s chief, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, publicly voiced his concerns over PML-N’s choice of Kakar, hinting at undue establishment influence in such decisions.
This sentiment was echoed in a letter addressed to PML-N’s leader, Nawaz Sharif. Despite the controversies, Kakar’s nomination as the caretaker prime minister received consensus from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Opposition Leader, Raja Riaz. Following their agreement, President Dr. Arif Alvi officially approved Kakar’s appointment in line with Article 224-1A of the Constitution.
Read: Political Strains Intensify: The PML-N and BNP-M Rift Over PM’s Appointment
