Senator Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, hailing from Balochistan, has been designated as Pakistan’s new interim prime minister. A prominent political figure, he secured a Senate seat in 2018 and was an active participant in Balochistan’s politics. He previously served as the spokesperson for the provincial government before his Senate election.
Who is Senator Anwaar ul Haq Kakar?
Notably, despite his political involvement, Kakar is recognized as an intellectual figure in the country. Senior anchorperson Hamid Mir described him as such, underscoring his substantial reputation. Kakar belongs to the Kakar tribe of Pashtun ethnicity, which allows him to represent both Pashtuns and Balochs.
Kakar maintains favorable relations with mainstream political parties such as PML-N and PPP. As the eighth interim head of the government, his selection was a result of consultations between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Leader of the Opposition Raja Riaz. The President has been informed of this decision through a formal summary.
Importantly, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance, comprising various political parties, emphasized the importance of continuing economic policies during this transition of power, as well as upholding projects initiated by the outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Furthermore, Kakar and his party have had a positive relationship with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during its time in government. He was among those consulted by former Prime Minister Imran Khan on matters concerning Balochistan. This led to criticism from PML-N when BAP had close ties with PTI, and vice versa when the party switched allegiances.
Kakar was born in 1971 in Muslim Bagh, within the Killa Saifullah district of Balochistan. He received his primary education from St. Francis School in Quetta and later attended Cadet College Kohat. He pursued higher education in Political Science and Sociology at the University of Balochistan. Initially, he began his career as a teacher in his hometown’s school.
He played a foundational role in the formation of BAP and was appointed as the central spokesperson for the party in 2018. Furthermore, Kakar chairs the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and contested the 2008 National Assembly election from Quetta on a PML-Q ticket.