Islamabad (AP) — A first-time senator from Pakistan’s southwest will head the national caretaker government as the country moves towards parliamentary elections, the prime minister’s office said Saturday.
Anwaar-ul-haq Kakar, from the southwest province of Baluchistan, will lead the government that oversees the elections. He was chosen following a second round of meetings between incumbent Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif and opposition leader Raja Riaz.
Riaz told reporters that he was the one who suggested the name.
Kakar’s nomination was later signed into effect by Pakistani President Arif Alvi.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif dissolved the parliament last week as its five-year term came to an end. Usually, such a step is a formality and a general election would typically have to be held within 90 days.
Kakar is comparatively new in the political field. He has represented the province in the senate since 2018 as an independent candidate and is currently a member of the Baluchistan Awami Party.
Baluchistan is the least populated and least developed province among the four but the largest in area.
