ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said on Saturday that he will not appear before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a case pertaining to the disappearance of more than 50 Baloch students. The IHC, led by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, had summoned the prime minister, along with relevant caretaker ministers and secretaries for interior and defense, by November 9 if the missing students were not recovered.
In an interview with a private news channel, PM Kakar explained, “I will be abroad due to my participation in COP 28. Obviously, as the prime minister, there are several commitments. Apart from this, we will ensure our representation in other relevant forums.”
Addressing allegations of favoritism as elections approached, PM Kakar said that caretakers had no favorites and were dedicated to ensuring transparent elections. He acknowledged that justified complaints from political parties would be addressed. However, he also admitted sporadic instances where authorities had restricted parties from holding rallies.
Concerning the post-election scenario, PM Kakar urged big political parties and stakeholders to consider the situation, acknowledging potential allegations of transparency issues.
PM Kakar, a former leader of the Balochistan Awami Party, clarified that he had no intentions of joining any political party at the moment. However, he expressed that once the caretaker setup concludes, he would contemplate future decisions. In terms of the economy, he hinted at upcoming “good news” in the coming weeks, praising the Special Investment Facilitation Council for representing policy consistency regardless of the ruling party.
Interior Minister Criticizes Court for Summoning PM
Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti had expressed reservations about summoning the prime minister, stating that it was inappropriate for the court to call the premier for every minor issue.
PM Kakar, supporting Bugti’s statement, claimed that the number of missing persons in Pakistan was the “lowest in the region.” He reiterated that caretakers had no favorites and said that there were no restrictions on any party regarding electioneering, addressing concerns about favoritism towards any specific political party.
