Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: IOF's top lawyer hands in resignation over leak of Sde Teiman video
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli drone strike targets motorcycle in Kawnin, South Lebanon.
Hegseth in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart: Washington will continue to defend its interests vigorously
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: The United States is concerned about China's activities in the South China Sea
Occupied Palestine: Israeli occupation forces demolishe residential homes east of Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone attacked the main road in the town of Harouf, South Lebanon.
Lebanese President: Israeli aggression on Blida took place in aftermath of meeting of ceasefire monitoring committee.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asks Commander of Lebanese Army to confront any Israeli incursion into liberated Lebanese territory in the South.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli aircraft launch series of strikes on area of Jarmaq, South Lebanon.
Reuters: Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to restart peace talks in Istanbul.

'Lightweight' Senator Kakar to be sworn in as Pakistan's caretaker PM

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Aug 2023 09:48
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

The swearing-in is scheduled for Monday, which marks Pakistan's Independence Day, during a time of political turbulence and turmoil.

  • x
  • Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar photo taken during an interview with AFP in Quetta. (AFP)
    Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar photo taken during an interview for AFP in Quetta (AFP)

Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, a little-known senator, is scheduled to be sworn in as Pakistan's caretaker prime minister on Monday in order to lead the nation into the upcoming election in months.

Imran Khan is currently imprisoned and barred from running for office for five years while Kakar, 52, takes over the leadership of a nation that has been plagued by political and economic upheaval for months.

On the afternoon of Monday, which marks the nation's Independence Day, he will be sworn in during a ceremony that will be broadcast live on television.

"I have confidence in the caretaker prime minister's ability to conduct free and fair elections," outgoing Premier Shehbaz Sharif said late Sunday. 

Selecting a cabinet to govern the nation as it enters an election phase that might last months will be Kakar's first mission.

In accordance with the constitution, elections must be held within 90 days after the official dissolution of parliament last week.

However, the results of the most recent census were ultimately made public earlier this month, and the departing administration claimed that this gave the election commission more time to redraw constituency lines.

As the regime tries to stabilize a nation dealing with converging security, economic, and political challenges, there has been a discussion of a vote being postponed for months.

Since Khan was ousted as Prime Minister following a no-confidence vote in April 2022, the nation has seen political unrest, which culminated in his three-year graft prison sentence this weekend.

Although he has been barred from holding public office for five years, he is appealing his conviction and punishment.

Related News

Shehbaz Sharif elected as Pakistan PM for second term

Pakistan appoints caretaker cabinet ahead of elections

In recent months, authorities have taken a tough stance against Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, crushing his grassroots power by rounding up thousands of his supporters and officials.

Kakar "has a limited political career and not much weight in Pakistani politics," according to political expert Hasan Askari Rizvi, but this could be to his advantage.

"This can be an advantage because he has no strong affiliation with the major political parties," he said, adding that the disadvantage, however, "is that being a lightweight politician, he may find it difficult to cope with the problems he's going to face without the active support of the military establishment."

Ayesha Siddiqa, a fellow analyst, pointed out that Kakar had taken classes at the National Defense University, which served as the military's war college, and claimed he would be connected to the institution.

"It seems that the establishment has struck and they have found somebody who will be watching over their interests rather than that of politicians," she said.

Another sign that the caretaker government might last for some time is the hastily passed legislation by parliament last month that provides it with extra authority to bargain with international organizations like the International Monetary Fund.

According to some observers, the postponement may give the key coalition partners, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), time to consider how to handle the challenge posed by Khan's PTI.

Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, said that "in reality, delaying the election could simply anger the public more and galvanise an opposition that has already suffered through months of crackdowns."

The possibility of election violence was something the United States expressed alarm over last week, although a confidential Pakistani government document acquired by The Intercept detailed how the US State Department was the side that pressured the Pakistani government in March 2022 to oust Imran Khan due to his neutral position on Russia.

Read next: It's all in 'Cypher': How US exerted pressure on Pakistan to oust Khan

Pakistan's military -- which pulled out at least three successful coups since the nation was created from the partition of India in 1947 -- lurks behind every election.

When Khan took office in 2018, he had genuinely broad support, but observers claim that was only possible with the assistance of the nation's powerful generals, with whom he reportedly fell out in the months prior to his removal.

  • Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar
  • Imran Khan
  • pakistani elections
  • Pakistan
  • elections
  • Shehbaz Sharif

Most Read

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025
Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Al-Manar TV, October 26, 2025 (Screenshot)

Hezbollah ready to face 'Israel' in case of war: Sheikh Naim Qassem

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
ap
Politics

Hamas calls on int’l community to act against Israeli settlement plan

In this Nov. 9, 2017, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, chats with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP)
Economy

Ex-US diplomat says Trump-Xi deal 'tactical retreat', not lasting deal

An unarmed Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, during a test in 2002. (US Air Force)
Politics

JD Vance defends Trump's nuclear test plan as 'crucial for security'

Ultra-Orthodox Jews attend the "million man" protest against military conscription, in occupied al-Quds, October 30, 2025 (AFP)
Politics

Haredi mass rally in al-Quds exposes Zionist regime's growing crisis

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS