Imran Khan had refused to take PM Kakar in his cabinet despite establishment pressure: International media

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2023-09-24T06:21:23+05:00 News Desk

The international news agency, Nikkei Asia, published a report in August 2023 titled "Who is Pakistan's New Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar Kakar?" it went viral on social media.

According to Nikkei Asia's report, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar has a long-standing conflict with Imran Khan. In 2020, during Imran Khan's tenure as the Prime Minister, Anwar ul Haq Kakar was not appointed as the Federal Minister for Information despite pressure from the establishment.

According to the report, in the general elections of 2008, Anwar ul Haq Kakar was unsuccessful in winning a seat in the National Assembly from Quetta. During the rule of the Muslim League-Nawaz in 2015, Anwar ul Haq Kakar was appointed as the spokesperson for the Chief Minister of Balochistan. Anwar ul Haq Kakar has been a supporter of the military's policies in Balochistan and has criticized Baloch insurgents who oppose Pakistani forces.

In 2018, Anwar ul Haq Kakar left the Muslim League-Nawaz and won a Senate seat with the help of defected leaders. A few months later, the Balochistan Awami Party was established to strengthen the control of pro-establishment politicians in Balochistan. It is also believed that Anwar ul Haq Kakar played a key role behind the scenes, supported by military establishment.

Speaking to Nikkei Asia, political analyst Asad suggested that the military leadership had informed Anwar ul Haq Kakar about giving him an important role in the caretaker setup a month ago. The Muslim League-Nawaz tried until the last moment to appoint former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar as the Caretaker Prime Minister, but they lost to a favored candidate of the military leadership.

On the social media platform Twitter, a user shared Nikay Asia's report and wrote: During Imran Khan's tenure in 2020, there was a desire within the military to appoint Anwar ul Haq Kakar as the Federal Minister for Information, but Imran Khan refused."

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