With Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Opposition Leader Raja Riaz reaching a consensus” after some “deliberations”, founder member of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Senator Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, was named the Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan. Hailing from the Kakar tribe of Pashtun ethnicity in Balochistan, the former Senator (he immediately resigned from BAP and Senator to maintain neutrality), Kakar thus becomes the 8th Caretaker Prime Minister. As PM he will now run the country till the general elections, ostensibly due in less than 3months (in my estimation more like February/March 2024, 6 months or even more later). His nomination was quite a surprise for many, for the overwhelming majority it was a pleasant one. Balochistan is Pakistan’s biggest province by land area and the richest having the largest mineral wealth.
The smallest Province by population to have someone from Balochistan was the correct choice. The good Senator’s name was not included in the shortlisted names being considered by the PDM, these were being debated between former PM Mian Nawaz Sharif, in self-imposed exile and a fugitive from justice in London, and former President Asif Zardari. It was taken for granted that Raja Riaz, the dissident PTI MNA and the puppet NA opposition leader, would only give lip-service while going through the motions of “consensus”. However, it turned out someone else was pulling his strings and he turned up with Kakar’s name.
Despite the initial surprise, most reactions that followed were quite positive, some even grudgingly from the PDM components. This demonstrated his acceptance as being genuinely neutral and non-controversial. While the PDM parties did fall into line, former Sardar Ataullah Khan Mengal expressed his dissent, most probably because Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (like Abdul Malik former CM of Balochistan) is a “commoner”. The Baloch feudal hierarchy, practicing their version of “democracy” in Balochistan, cannot tolerate any of non-feudal origin in leadership positions. Administered the oath of office on Pakistan’s Independence Day, August 14, 2023, Kakar posted on X (formerly Twitter), “I am thankful to the Almighty for being given an opportunity to serve the people of Pakistan. My gratitude also extends to all the stakeholders for reposing their trust in me to lead the country,” unquote.
Born in Balochistan in 1971, Kakar graduated from the University of Balochistan in the 1990s with a degree in Political Science. Active in student politics, he later enrolled in the Law Program at Birkbeck, University of London but did not graduate. Deciding his future was in politics in Pakistan, he returned in 2005 and ran successfully for an Assembly seat in Quetta in the 2013 elections. In December 2015 he become a close aide and advisor to Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan, serving the CM as the spokesperson for the Balochistan PML-N government from 2015 to 2017. During this tenure he built up a media-savvy reputation, one that he continues to maintain to this day
“The CM was assisted by the truly brilliant Senator Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, without question this man has a major role to play in future Pakistan politics and governance thereof, one cannot say enough about him but it also shows Jam Kamal’s clear headedness and positive personal confidence to have such an advisor close to him. Maybe Imran Khan can learn from him and get rid of some of these around him who do not deserve to be in the upper echelons of governance”.
Over the years he has been a vocal defender of the military’s policy in Balochistan, criticizing Baloch insurgents who are battling Pakistan’s security forces. I witnessed this at first hand during a CPNE delegation visit to Quetta. Mr. Kakar then said goodbye to the PML-N and with assistance of defectors from the party, was able to win election to the Senate held in March 2018. Serving as the Chairperson of the Committee for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development in the Senate, he was a member of various committees, including the Business Advisory Committee, Finance and Revenue, Foreign Affairs as well as Science and Technology.
His appointment is being seen as a positive development by many, for the first time a young and dynamic person has been chosen to be caretaker prime minister. Known to be a man of integrity and honesty is a bonus, especially given the atrocious reputation of politicians generally in Pakistan. Widely regarded as an intellectual, Kakar enjoys good ties with the mainstream political parties, including the PML-N and the PPP. During the PTI government he was among the handful who Imran Khan could consult on matters relating to Balochistan, it was for this reason BAP was often criticized by the PML-N. Unfortunately this province suffers from chronic instability and it is quite disappointing that no one has been able to bring economic and education reform because no real change or reform has been implemented.
Given the wider canvas of Pakistan, Mr. Kakar has a huge task ahead, however his credentials showcase his experience and intellectual acumen. Beingdubbed as a non-controversial personality his ability to take along all political parties reacting positively to his appointment is a plus point. There are great expectations from Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, his most important challenge will be to ensure free, fair and transparent conduct of general elections without giving any impression of any inclination towards any party. Ataullah Mengal’s main gripe in his communication to former PM Shahbaz Sharif was that Kakar was imposed on the PDM, without actually saying it he clearly meant the Army.
While Shahbaz Sharif put up a brave face, Khawaja Asif from the PML (N) couldn’t resist objecting and from the PPP so did Syed Khurshid Shah. However they well know that discretion is the better part of valour. Let’s put it bluntly, the Army made a good choice, filling the Caretaker Cabinet full of non-controversial technocrats is a tremendous step in the right direction. This is despite one’s feeling that maybe the presence of one or two tried faces found wanting in stints before, could have been avoided.
Representing Pakistan at the “Pakistan Breakfast 2019” at the WEF Annual Summit at Davos, the Chief Guest Jam Kamal Khan, the elected Chief Minister of Balochistan spoke with clarity and with eloquence, making a case for Pakistan inviting investors to come to Pakistan. For the benefit of readers, I would like to quote extracts from my entire article published in January 27, 2019 titled ‘Pakistan Breakfast at Davos’, to quote.
“Having been a star at Davos as a Chief Guest at the Pakistan Breakfast in 2011, 2012 and 2013 Imran Khan chose not to come this year for his own reasons, is it “a waste of public money and time for Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Finance Minister etc. not to come? Imran Khan, look at the simplicity of the Balochistan delegation, the CM, his spouse and Senator Anwaar ul Haq Kakar. Three people, and no protocol, not even from your Embassy in Geneva except briefly at Zurich Airport. On the dais for this year’s Breakfast was also the former Chief Justice (CJ) of Pakistan, Mian Saqib Nisar, who had retired from his post only few days ago.
Zarrar Sehgal Co-Chairman Pathfinder Group, and one of the leading lawyers in the world, duly acknowledged by both Legal 500 and US Chambers of Law Directory, said that the former CJ had set a new direction to the judiciary of the country. Zarrar gave a very frank rendition about the opportunities, but also about the problems that Pakistan is facing. Zarrar counted the many initiatives that the former CJ and his fellow justices in the judiciary had taken under his guidance during his term in office. Zarrar said the CJ had emphasised stress on education being a human right its provision is an obligation of the government as it has been laid down in the Constitution of the country. The CJ, he said, had repeatedly underscored the need to reform the educational system of Pakistan.
Opening his remarks the CJ said that until today successive Pakistani governments have failed the education sector. The SC therefore has initiated a Commission on Education that has submitted a Report to the Federal Government recommending reforms to bring education in Pakistan up to international standards. The government has accepted the plan and is working on its implementation. The CJ explained the SC’s second initiative, the reform of the “health care” system in another report.
Acting upon this the government has issued health care cards to over half a million people who otherwise would not have been able to afford proper health care. The former CJ referred to a common critique that is brought in the media saying that the SC is interfering into matter that are not its task and rank, that this judicial over-activity has crossed some lines. Mian Saqib rejected such argumentation and insisted that it is the obligation of the judiciary to order the implementation of such parts of the Constitution or other laws if and when the provision of the rights that are given in the constitution and denied to the people.
The last important question that Mian Sahib talked about at the Davos event was population control. Each day in Pakistan 14000 children are born often by mothers that were too young, not well nourished with the result that child mortality is high and children born of poor parents suffer from stunted growth and other avoidable diseases. Under his guidance again a Committee produced a birth control plan that has been submitted to and accepted by the Federal Government. The CJ said that these initiatives will change Pakistan for the better and he asked investors and friends of Pakistan to come and support this new development with their engagement. To the public in the West this narrative may have sounded strange, no Chief Justice here would initiate or interfere into policy making in such a way.
But the Pakistani state that was created only seventy years ago has been weak from the beginning and some peculiarities have developed in order to make up for this weakness. That this year instead of PM Imran Khan the Chief Minister of Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan represented Pakistan was truly a defining moment, an elected leader from Balochistan representing both Pakistan and his Province on the world stage at Davos is a tremendous sign that times are changing. Territory-wise Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan and, in public perception at least, the most troublesome Pakistan being represented by Balochistan was an important innovation. Baloch people have not been treated fairly by successive Pakistan govts, this has sparked repeated secessionist movements aided mostly by India and Afghanistan. Elected CM in August last year, the third generation in a row of his family to be elevated to this position, Jam Kamal Khan is the President of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).
In his presentation the CM elaborated on the political situation availing Balochistan in province, rich in natural resources but lacking in infrastructure and skilled workforce. He promised that governance, right now one of the major problems, will be improved step by step when a policy that shuns nepotism and instead brings the right person into the right job. He said this will change the equilibrium in the province. He also invited investors to help mastering this change. Other than previous governments he has the advantage of firm support of the Federal Government and huge investment coming in through CPEC and other projects. But there is room for foreign investment he insisted.
The presentation of both Chief guests were followed by remarks by Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, Commander Southern Command of the Pakistan Army, who described the current security situation as much improved and promised that the army would support the positive developments in the province. The General was brilliant in explaining the multiple dimensions of the security situation in Pakistan, and more particularly how Balochistan was impacting on it. When people outside Pakistan know at all about Balochistan they likely only hear about the attacks of militants at government projects, these actually have become few and far between.
At one time the Zaireen going to Iran by road were always at risk, the number being about 20000 a year. The situation has improved so much that ten times that many did the trip through the Chaman border in 2018. Our own Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy gave a short but effective statement commending the former CJ for his great Jihad for the rule of law and equal rights for women. Chairman East West Institute (EWI), Perot Group of Companies and Hillwood, Ross Perot Jr. said that he has come to the Pakistan Breakfast regularly for many many years, he said this was one of the highlights of his annual Davos trip. He said he was very impressed by the two main speakers, particularly former Chief Justice.
He said Balochistan has a great future. The enthusiasm to go on with the interactive debate was only curtailed by Davos time constraints. The Pakistan Breakfast was a good day for the rule of law and a good day for Balochistan. Even without Imran Khan who should have been there, it was a great day for Pakistan”. unquote.
Shahbaz Sharif’s brave face notwithstanding, he was clearly in a state of shock in announcing Kakar as Caretaker PM. Everyone and his uncle knows that the COAS Pakistan Army Gen Asim Munir had good advice in suggesting Kakar as a truly neutral Caretaker PM, exactly what was needed in the present Pakistan circumstances. Anwaar ul Haq Kakar is today a man of destiny for Pakistan, as a Caretaker PM he can oversee conducting of free and fair elections. Something has to be done about the Chairman ECP, his obvious partiality has been quite disgraceful to the concept of neutrality, can he be trusted to conduct free and fair elections? That would be a miracle! I am quite surprised that despite his repeated flip flops, the Supreme Court continues to exercise patience in thinking that this man can!
While we have been quick to criticize the Army for many reasons, over the past few months, let us commend Asim Munir for having done the right thing for this country. The choice of mostly tested technocrats for the Caretaker Cabinet has been quite good, very little in controversy. Hopefully they will deliver. Politics from 2008 to 2023 has brought down Pakistan to a new low in the comity of nations. We deserve better, much better, and one is looking forward too many more such decisions from the Army in the future.
One looks up to PM Anwaar ul Haq Kakar with great expectations. Can my words in January 2019 come true?
IKRAM SEHGAL
