Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti, the Caretaker Interior Minister of Pakistan, officially resigned from his post on December 13. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has accepted this resignation. Bugti’s decision to step down is linked to his plans to join the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in anticipation of the general elections scheduled for 2024.
Following Bugti’s resignation, there is speculation that more members of the current caretaker cabinet might resign. These potential resignations are seen as moves to make these individuals eligible to participate in the forthcoming general elections, set for February 8, 2024.
Supreme Court’s Decision and General Elections Schedule
Earlier, the Supreme Court of Pakistan intervened in a ruling by the Lahore High Court that had suspended the appointment of Returning Officers (ROs) and District Returning Officers (DROs) from the bureaucracy.
The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to issue the election schedule by the end of the day. Furthermore, the court issued a contempt notice to Barrister Umair Niazi for seeking the appointment of ROs and DROs from the judiciary instead of the executive branch. In line with the Supreme Court’s order, the ECP has announced that the general elections will be held on February 8, 2024.