Good Tiding for Balochistan 

Caretaker prime minister Anwaar-Ul-Haq Kakar has assumed his responsibilities as the 8th caretaker prime minister after taking the oath of office. The choice was unexpected, given the considerably stronger candidates that were in the running for the post, but it seems that outgoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Raja Riaz have compromised over Anwaarul Haq Kakar, a hitherto little-known senator from the Balochistan Awami Party. This would suggest that, despite all reservations, Mr Sharif and Mr Riaz ultimately made a good choice. They had earlier decided that the caretaker PM should be someone from a smaller province and a non-controversial personality as their aim was to remove the sense of deprivation in small provinces.” Mr Kakar will, therefore, serve as the eighth caretaker PM of Pakistan, having been entrusted by the two gentlemen with the task of keeping the country running till public representatives elected by the people return for the job.
His selection will undoubtedly be scrutinised and re-scrutinised in the coming days, and will be dissected for its implications for the country amidst the uncertainty that clouds the upcoming polls. Whatever the eventual verdict may be, one can start by considering some positives. Mr Kakar hails from a party which has worked with both the PTI and PDM. Though BAP is widely perceived to be propped up by the military establishment, he is perhaps as politically non-controversial and palatable a choice as could be in the present circumstances. Indeed, his selection seems to have been generally well-received, with even PTI representatives welcoming the decision. That Mr Kakar represents Balochistan is also a cause for celebration. He may bring with him a perspective to the job that has been missing so far.
PM Kakar must remain focused on the responsibility entrusted to him, which is to hold free and fair elections within the 90-day period provisioned for in the Constitution. He must do all he can within his power to preclude this possibility. The biggest challenge will be to ensure that delimitations under the recently notified census are completed as quickly as possible. Perhaps he can begin by ensuring that the ECP has everything it needs to complete this task without further imperilling constitutional timelines.