Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif unexpectedly appointed Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar as deputy prime minister of Pakistan on Sunday. This appointment took place while Prime Minister Sharif was abroad.
The decision was formalized through a cabinet division notification: “The Prime Minister has designated Mr. Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, as Deputy Prime Minister with immediate effect until further orders.”
Critics have questioned the timing of the appointment, as it occurred while Sharif and Dar were in Saudi Arabia for the World Economic Forum. This has led to speculation about the reasons behind the sudden promotion, particularly as it maintains the trend of key positions being filled by close allies within the Sharif circle.
Besides his new role, Dar holds significant positions, including being the leader of the House in the Senate, where he represents the government and manages legislative activities. Previously, before the general elections, PM Sharif named him chairman of the PML-N election cell.
The statement from the PM’s office, released from Riyadh, confirmed Sharif’s approval of Dar’s appointment, underscoring the strategic placements within the government’s upper echelons.
