‘Anwarul Haq was surprise PM candidate for many’

Islamabad: Anwarul Haq Kakar, the first-time senator who has been appointed as Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister, was a “surprise” candidate for many in the ruling coalition and even those who signed the summary of his nomination were unaware of his candidature, according to a media report on Sunday.

Kakar’s name was agreed upon during the final day of consultations between outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Leader of Opposition in the dissolved National Assembly, Raja Riaz Ahmad, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Kakar, 52, is an ethnic Pushtun from Balochistan and a member of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) -- a party considered close to the powerful establishment of the country.

“Kakar’s name came from somewhere else and it had to be accepted by all stakeholders,” a member of the outgoing ruling coalition was quoted as saying by the

wDawn newspaper.