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
The Popular Resistance Committees: We call on all international institutions to take urgent action and uphold their responsibilities by restoring and immediately enforcing effective mechanisms for the distribution of humanitarian aid.
The Popular Resistance Committees: The latest Zio-American crime against Gaza’s starving civilians constitutes a war crime, for which the US administration bears full and direct responsibility.
Gaza Media Office: Bloody spectacle shows that these zones have become collective death traps rather than aid distribution zones.
Gaza Media Office: Dozens of citizens are still surrounded under constant fire in the vicinity of the "aid station."
Gaza Media Office: As soon as citizens arrived, occupation and Americans opened direct fire on them.
Gaza Media Office: Occupation, in complicity with the US company, called on citizens to move toward Wadi Gaza Bridge, claiming that aid would be distributed.
Gaza Government Media Office: Occupation set a bloody trap at bridge of Wadi Gaza, luring thousands of starved civilians, and opened fire on them.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone drops sonic grenade in town of Ramiyah.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike targets vehicle in town of Beit Lif.
The Government Media Office in Gaza: The occupation’s latest crime is further evidence of its ongoing implementation of genocide through starvation.

'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

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

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