Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the leader of the opposition Raja Riaz, have chosen Senator Anwar Ul Haq Kakar to become the country’s caretaker PM following their meeting on Saturday (August 12), announced the leaders. This comes after the two sides met in a final bid to reach an agreement on a name for a caretaker premier ahead of a general election. Subsequently, the two leaders sent an advice regarding Kakar’s appointment as the caretaker PM to President Arif Alvi, who gave his assent. 
 
Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Senator Anwaarul Haq Kakar chosen as the interim prime minister has to keep the country running until a new government is elected in Pakistan.

<h2>About the selection process&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

“We had earlier decided that the caretaker PM should be someone from a smaller province and a non-controversial personality. Our aim was to remove the sense of deprivation in small provinces,” said Riaz after a meeting with the outgoing premier, as quoted by the Dawn.

He added, “We have finally reached a consensus that Anwaarul Haq Kakar will be the caretaker PM.”&nbsp;

“I had given this name and the PM has consented to this name…I and the PM have signed on the summary,” he told reporters, adding Kakar would take oath as the head of the interim set-up on Sunday, August 13.

This comes a day after Shehbaz said that the Constitution of Pakistan gives eight days to appoint the caretaker PM after the dissolution of assemblies. The National Assembly was dissolved by President Arif Alvi, on August 9 on the advice of the incumbent premier.&nbsp;

According to Pakistan law, since Pakistan’s parliament was dissolved on Wednesday, election should be held within 90 days. However, the results of the latest census released last week means more time will likely be needed to redraw constituencies.

The decision, on Saturday, also comes after the first meeting between the incumbent PM and the leader of the opposition which was held on August 10, during which they both exchanged a list of possible candidates.&nbsp;

This was followed by a second round of talks, on Friday (August 11) night during a dinner hosted by PM Shehbaz for leaders of the outgoing ruling alliance.

<h2>What do we know about the interim PM?</h2>

Kakar began his journey as an independent senator from Balochistan back in 2018 and his six-year term will conclude in March 2024. He is also the chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development and a member of the Business Advisory Committee, Finance and Revenue, Foreign Affairs and Science and Technology, as per Dawn.&nbsp;

The Pakistan senator also became the parliamentary leader for the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) which was formed in 2018 but five months ago was replaced as the party opted for new leadership.&nbsp;

 
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the leader of the opposition Raja Riaz, have chosen Senator Anwar Ul Haq Kakar to become the country’s caretaker PM following their meeting on Saturday (August 12), announced the leaders.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the leader of the opposition Raja Riaz, have chosen Senator Anwar Ul Haq Kakar to become the country’s caretaker PM following their meeting on Saturday (August 12), announced the leaders. This comes after the two sides met in a final bid to reach an agreement on a name for a caretaker premier ahead of a general election. Subsequently, the two leaders sent an advice regarding Kakar’s appointment as the caretaker PM to President Arif Alvi, who gave his assent. Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Senator Anwaarul Haq Kakar chosen as the interim prime minister has to keep the country running until a new government is elected in Pakistan. About the selection process “We had earlier decided that the caretaker PM should be someone from a smaller province and a non-controversial personality. Our aim was to remove the sense of deprivation in small provinces,” said Riaz after a meeting with the outgoing premier, as quoted by the Dawn. He added, “We have finally reached a consensus that Anwaarul Haq Kakar will be the caretaker PM.” “I had given this name and the PM has consented to this name…I and the PM have signed on the summary,” he told reporters, adding Kakar would take oath as the head of the interim set-up on Sunday, August 13. This comes a day after Shehbaz said that the Constitution of Pakistan gives eight days to appoint the caretaker PM after the dissolution of assemblies. The National Assembly was dissolved by President Arif Alvi, on August 9 on the advice of the incumbent premier. According to Pakistan law, since Pakistan’s parliament was dissolved on Wednesday, election should be held within 90 days. However, the results of the latest census released last week means more time will likely be needed to redraw constituencies. The decision, on Saturday, also comes after the first meeting between the incumbent PM and the leader of the opposition which was held on August 10, during which they both exchanged a list of possible candidates. This was followed by a second round of talks, on Friday (August 11) night during a dinner hosted by PM Shehbaz for leaders of the outgoing ruling alliance. What do we know about the interim PM? Kakar began his journey as an independent senator from Balochistan back in 2018 and his six-year term will conclude in March 2024. He is also the chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development and a member of the Business Advisory Committee, Finance and Revenue, Foreign Affairs and Science and Technology, as per Dawn. The Pakistan senator also became the parliamentary leader for the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) which was formed in 2018 but five months ago was replaced as the party opted for new leadership. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan: Balochistan lawmaker Anwar Ul Haq Kakar chosen as caretaker prime minister

Senators in Pakistan have called for amending the country&#39;s blasphemy law to prevent its misuse and punish those who make blasphemy accusations against others.

Lawmakers also demanded a crackdown on those taking law into their hands.

This comes after Abdul Wali Khan University students Mashal and Abdullah were targeted by a violent mob on campus premises. Mashal was killed, while Abdullah was injured for allegedly &quot;publishing blasphemous content online&quot;.

Condemning the lynching of Mashal Khan, senators stressed on the need for effective steps to prevent misuse of the blasphemy law.

Speaking about the blatant misuse of the law, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)&#39;s Farhatullah Babar said a religious scholar had proposed that accusers who levelled false accusations should also suffer the same sentence as provided for a blasphemer.

&#39;The assassination of Mashal Khan should make us think about concrete measures to prevent the misuse of the blasphemy law; we need to revisit this law,&#39; Dawn quoted Babar, as saying.

Responding to Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani question as to how mob and street justice could be stopped, Babar said that an effective legislation would prevent such a mentality.

Asserting that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance and prohibits any excesses, even against animals, Retired Gen Abdul Qayyum of the PML-N also called for flaws in the blasphemy law to be addressed.

JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq said that no individual or organisation had the right to punish that individual unilaterally even if someone was guilty of a crime.

&#39;This shows an imbalance and lack of tolerance in society,&#39; he said.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Police has opened a hate speech investigation against two clerics in connection with the killing of a university student over allegations of blasphemy.

The clerics are accused of attempting to disrupt the funeral of Mashal Khan, a student of Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan who was killed by a violent mob on campus premises after a dormitory debate followed accusations of blasphemy.

According to the Dawn, the police is investigating the clerics in Mashal&#39;s hometown of Swabi for attempting to disrupt funeral proceedings and instigate hatred against his family.

&quot;The two clerics [used]... the mosque loudspeaker for hate speech against the slain student and his family and ... created hurdles for the people and another cleric to participate in the funeral,&quot; said a senior Swabi police official.

A local imam had reportedly refused to lead Khan&#39;s funeral prayers last Friday and a technician who was asked to do so in the cleric&#39;s place was confronted by several people afterwards.

A large number of protestors took to the streets on Monday in the Zaida town, to defend Mashal as they chanted slogans &quot;Be Gunah, Be Gunah (innocent), Mashal Khan Be Gunah.&quot; Relatives and friends, political workers and representatives of civil society groups and the general public participated in the march.

It was probably for the first time in the area that a large number of women, with their heads covered, took part in a mourning procession that turned into a public meeting at a square in the town, reports the Dawn.

Mardan police on Sunday claimed to have arrested seven more suspects in relation to the case with the total number of those arrested reaching 20.

All the seven suspects were produced in the court of a magistrate on special duty on Sunday who remanded them in police custody for a day.

Meanwhile, Inspector General Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Monday said there was no evidence to suggest that Mashal committed blasphemy.

(ANI)

A student of the Abdul Wali Khan University, Mashal died after being lynched for 'publishing blasphemous content online'

Senators in Pakistan have called for amending the country's blasphemy law to prevent its misuse and punish those who make blasphemy accusations against others. Lawmakers also demanded a crackdown on those taking law into their hands. This comes after Abdul Wali Khan University students Mashal and Abdullah were targeted by a violent mob on campus premises. Mashal was killed, while Abdullah was injured for allegedly "publishing blasphemous content online". Condemning the lynching of Mashal Khan, senators stressed on the need for effective steps to prevent misuse of the blasphemy law. Speaking about the blatant misuse of the law, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)'s Farhatullah Babar said a religious scholar had proposed that accusers who levelled false accusations should also suffer the same sentence as provided for a blasphemer. 'The assassination of Mashal Khan should make us think about concrete measures to prevent the misuse of the blasphemy law; we need to revisit this law,' Dawn quoted Babar, as saying. Responding to Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani question as to how mob and street justice could be stopped, Babar said that an effective legislation would prevent such a mentality. Asserting that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance and prohibits any excesses, even against animals, Retired Gen Abdul Qayyum of the PML-N also called for flaws in the blasphemy law to be addressed. JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq said that no individual or organisation had the right to punish that individual unilaterally even if someone was guilty of a crime. 'This shows an imbalance and lack of tolerance in society,' he said. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Police has opened a hate speech investigation against two clerics in connection with the killing of a university student over allegations of blasphemy. The clerics are accused of attempting to disrupt the funeral of Mashal Khan, a student of Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan who was killed by a violent mob on campus premises after a dormitory debate followed accusations of blasphemy. According to the Dawn, the police is investigating the clerics in Mashal's hometown of Swabi for attempting to disrupt funeral proceedings and instigate hatred against his family. "The two clerics [used]... the mosque loudspeaker for hate speech against the slain student and his family and ... created hurdles for the people and another cleric to participate in the funeral," said a senior Swabi police official. A local imam had reportedly refused to lead Khan's funeral prayers last Friday and a technician who was asked to do so in the cleric's place was confronted by several people afterwards. A large number of protestors took to the streets on Monday in the Zaida town, to defend Mashal as they chanted slogans "Be Gunah, Be Gunah (innocent), Mashal Khan Be Gunah." Relatives and friends, political workers and representatives of civil society groups and the general public participated in the march. It was probably for the first time in the area that a large number of women, with their heads covered, took part in a mourning procession that turned into a public meeting at a square in the town, reports the Dawn. Mardan police on Sunday claimed to have arrested seven more suspects in relation to the case with the total number of those arrested reaching 20. All the seven suspects were produced in the court of a magistrate on special duty on Sunday who remanded them in police custody for a day. Meanwhile, Inspector General Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Monday said there was no evidence to suggest that Mashal committed blasphemy. (ANI)

After student's death, Pakistan senators call for amendments to blasphemy law

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Pakistan: Balochistan lawmaker Anwar Ul Haq Kakar chosen as caretaker prime minister

After student's death, Pakistan senators call for amendments to blasphemy law