By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Monday reaffirmed the commitment to an inclusive electoral process, asserting that no major political party would be excluded from participating in the upcoming elections unless they were legally barred from doing so.
He said this while addressing a press conference to brief the media on his recent visit to China and to address pressing political developments in the country.
The interim prime minister’s statement comes days after recent police actions in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa against leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), where homes were raided, leading to the arrests of former provincial ministers Kamran Bangash and Anwar Zaib Khan. Similar raids were conducted against PTI leaders in Lahore.
The prime minister emphasised the importance of ensuring that the electoral process proceeds smoothly and fairly, and he assured that the election date would soon be announced, a responsibility he had previously stated would fall under the purview of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Addressing the return of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, Kakar acknowledged Sharif’s significance in the political landscape and urged his opponents to engage with him in healthy political competition.
On the economic front, the premier highlighted a significant reduction in the value of the US dollar, promising further discussions with provincial chief ministers to ensure this change has a positive impact on everyday citizens by reducing inflation and the prices of essential commodities and transportation fares.
Kakar also shared details of various pacts signed during his recent visit to China, where he attended the Belt and Road Forum and held bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other high-level officials. Notably, 20 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were signed, covering areas such as the Belt and Road Initiative, infrastructure, mining, industry, green and low-carbon development, health, space cooperation, digital economy, development cooperation, and the export of agricultural products to China.
These MOUs are seen as a significant step in Pakistan’s partnership with China and are expected to enhance cooperation in various sectors, with a focus on execution following thorough planning and assessment.
Prime Minister Kakar expressed hope that the momentum of the relationship with China would be carried forward by the upcoming government, as any deviation from the commitments made could jeopardise the dignity of the state.
Kakar also touched on the importance of connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative, emphasising the potential for regional development and collaboration among nations.
In addition to his interactions with Chinese leaders, the prime minister met with the presidents of Russia, Sri Lanka, and Kenya during his visit. He discussed various matters with these leaders, including the investigation into the killing of Pakistani news anchor Arshad Sharif.
Addressing the issue of Gaza, Kakar noted that humanitarian aid had arrived in Egypt for distribution to the suffering Palestinian people. He stressed the need for a cessation of hostilities, and Pakistan’s collaborative efforts in this regard, including co-hosting an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) ministerial meeting in Jeddah on the issue.
The prime minister also drew attention to the underutilised potential for collaboration between Pakistani and Chinese media and expressed the immense opportunities for storytelling, documentaries, and media content creation.
