THE choice was unexpected, given the considerably stronger candidates that were in the running for the post, but it seems that outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Raja Riaz have compromised over Anwaarul Haq Kakar, a hitherto little-known senator from the Balochistan Awami Party.

“We had earlier decided that the caretaker PM should be someone from a smaller province and a non-controversial personality,” Mr Riaz said after the agreement was reached between him and Mr Sharif. “Our aim was to remove the sense of deprivation in small provinces.”

Mr Kakar will, therefore, serve as the eighth caretaker PM of Pakistan, having been entrusted by the two gentlemen with the task of keeping the country running till public representatives elected by the people return for the job. His selection will undoubtedly be scrutinised and re-scrutinised in the coming days, and will be dissected for its implications for the country amidst the uncertainty that clouds the upcoming polls.

Whatever the eventual verdict may be, one can start by considering some positives. Mr Kakar hails from a party which has worked with both the PTI and PDM. Though BAP is widely perceived to be propped up by the military establishment, he is perhaps as politically non-controversial and palatable a choice as could be in the present circumstances. Indeed, his selection seems to have been generally well-received, with even PTI representatives welcoming the decision.

This would suggest that, despite all reservations, Mr Sharif and Mr Riaz ultimately made a good choice. That Mr Kakar represents Balochistan is also a cause for celebration. He may bring with him a perspective to the job that has been missing so far. However, will those two things alone be enough for what seems to be a rather weighty job? It can only be hoped that Mr Kakar will prove himself worthy.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Mr Kakar may be pressured to stick around for longer than the law would allow. He should resist any such proposal. He must remain focused on the responsibility entrusted to him, which is to hold free and fair elections within the 90-day period provisioned for in the Constitution.

There are tangible fears that he may be asked to play a supporting role in a conspiracy to extend the caretaker set-up till such time as the country’s unelected decision-makers decide that the public may finally have a say in their future.

He must do all he can within his power to preclude this possibility. The biggest challenge will be to ensure that delimitations under the recently notified census are completed as quickly as possible. Perhaps he can begin by ensuring that the ECP has everything it needs to complete this task without further imperilling constitutional timelines.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2023