By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has sped up the consultation for the formation of the interim cabinet.
According to details, the interim PM has decided to form a small cabinet and personally review the profiles of all possible candidates.
“I don’t want to put more burden on the country suffering from economic problems,” the caretaker prime minister told his friends, according to official.
PM Kakar further expressly wished that his protocol be kept to a minimum, adding that he did not want to incur unnecessary expenses nor make people suffer.
The names of caretaker ministers under consideration include former foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, former civil servant Shoaib Suddle, former Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Ahsan Bhoon, former senator Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, and former police IG and acclaimed columnist Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema. Moreover, former information minister Muhammad Ali Durrani is likely to be given the portfolio of the Ministry of Information.
A day earlier, Kakar — a former senator and a leader of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) — took oath as the eighth caretaker prime minister of Pakistan to see the country through to the general elections which are due in months.
Monday, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister (PSPM) Dr Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah, former advisor to PM Ahad Cheema, and joint secretary Mohib Ali had been retained by the interim PM. Meanwhile, it was revealed that Arshad Muneer Khan, who has been promoted to grade-21, would be posted as principal information officer (PIO).
Military Secretary (MS) to Prime Minister Brigadier Tajdeed Mumtaz would also continue to perform his duties in his current administrative post. Deliberations for the caretaker federal cabinet would commence today with the possibility of it being announced later this week.
Meanwhile, the selection for the name of caretaker chief minister in Balochistan remains in limbo, as a meeting between incumbent CM Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and Leader of the Opposition Malik Sikandar Khan ended without any decision being made.
Meanwhile, yesterday (Tuesday) was the last day to finalise the name, as it is the third day since the provincial assembly was dissolved on August 12 after Governor Malik Abdul Wali Kakar signed the summary moved by CM Bizenjo.
Following the Balochistan Assembly’s dissolution, the provincial cabinet has also dissolved; however, CM Bizenjo will still remain in office until the appointment of the caretaker chief minister.
CM Bizenjo and Sikandar, according to reports, met in Islamabad on Monday night for consultation following the dissolution of the Balochistan Assembly. Some reports said that the other leaders of the Balochistan Awami Party were also present in this meeting.
Opposition leader Sikandar, suggested the name of former lawmaker Engineer Mohammad Usman Badini. However, following the lack of agreement on his name from the government, further consultation and exchange of other names could not be held, ending the meeting without any outcome.
In this regard, the opposition leader told Geo News that another meeting with the current chief minister is expected this morning (Tuesday) with hopes that a name will be finalised.
