Who is Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar - Pakistan’s new caretaker prime minister?

Islamabad: Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, a relatively less-known senator hailing from Pakistan’s least-populous Balochistan province, has been selected as the interim prime minister to oversee the country’s affairs until the upcoming national elections.

The decision comes after the country’s outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz, agreed to name Kakar as interim prime minister. Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi approved Kakar’s appointment on August 12.

Senator Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, aged 52, has been tasked with the responsibility of forming an interim government that will navigate the country through prevailing economic and political challenges until the new government is elected. According to the Election Act 2017, a caretaker government handles day-to-day affairs, assists the election commission in conducting polls, manages routine and urgent tasks, and maintains impartiality. It avoids major policy decisions and contracts that may not align with the public interest.

Curiosity due to Kakar’s limited recognition

The emergence of an unfamiliar political figure from the mineral-rich province of Balochistan onto the national political landscape has piqued curiosity due to Kakar’s limited recognition, contrasting with the significant responsibilities he now shoulders. Several Pakistani politicians described Kakar as an “educated, intellectual, and upright man”.

Born in 1971 in Muslim Bagh, within the Killa Saifullah district of Balochistan, the newly-appointed caretaker premier pursued early education at St. Francis School, Quetta, and later enrolled in Cadet College Kohat. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Balochistan. He is fluent in multiple languages, including Urdu, Persian, Pushto, Balochi, Brahvi, and English.

While listed as an independent politician in the Senate, Kakar has been associated with the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), according to local media. His political career began within the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). Later, he played a crucial role as one of the founding members of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), which holds a reputation for its proximity to the establishment.

Kakar also served as the spokesperson of the provincial government. The year 2018 marked a significant moment in his political career when he assumed a seat in the Senate. His six-year Senate term was to conclude in March 2024.

Kakar’s parliamentary contributions include serving as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, as well as being a member of the Business Advisory, Finance and Revenue, Foreign Affairs and Science and Technology committees.

As Pakistan enters a transitional phase, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar assumes a leading role, steering the nation through a crucial period until the upcoming general elections.

Election timeline and speculations

According to Pakistan’s Constitution, a neutral caretaker administration takes charge of national elections, which are mandated to be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the lower house of parliament. The parliament was dissolved on August 9 to pave the way for elections scheduled for early November.

But the upcoming polls in the country of 241 million people might face delays of several months due to the requisite redrawing of electoral boundaries by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) based on the 2023 census. Former opposition leader Raja Riaz speculated that elections might be postponed from November 2023 to February 2024 in an interview with Pakistani TV channel Geo News.

Meanwhile, as former prime minister Imran Khan serves jail time and faces a five-year election ban over corruption charges, his party anticipates fair elections under Kakar’s supervision. Khan denies the charges, alleging that the move aims to hinder his electoral participation.