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
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

'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

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

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