PM Kakar's govt becomes Pakistan's longest-serving caretaker set-up

• Caretaker premier serving in office since 131 days.
• Moin Qureshi served as prime minister for 92 days.
• Balakh Sher Mazari’s tenure was shortest.
  

ISLAMABAD: The caretaker government of Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has become the longest-serving interim set-up in Pakistan’s history as the general elections — supposed to be held within 90 days of the premature dissolution of the National Assembly — delayed owing to fresh delimitation of constituencies, The News reported on Sunday.

It has been 131 days since the incumbent caretaker prime minister assumed office following the dissolution of the lower house in August this year. The second longest-serving interim government was led by Mian Muhammad Soomro for 130 days, from November 16, 2007 to March 24, 2008.

PM Kakar took oath as the eighth caretaker premier on August 14, 2023, and his appointment’s notification was issued on the same day.

Previously, Justice Nasirul Mulk remained the caretaker prime minister for 79 days from June 1, 2018, to August 18, 2018. Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso was the interim prime minister for 71 days, from March 25, 2013, to June 4, 2013.

Malik Meraj Khalid served as the caretaker prime minister for 104 days, from November 5, 1996, to February 16, 1997. Moeenuddin Ahmad Qureshi became the caretaker premier for 92 days, from July 18, 1993 to October 18, 1993.

Balakh Sher Mazari’s tenure was the shortest. He served for 38 days as the chief executive, from April 18, 1993, to May 26, 1993.

While Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi led the caretaker set-up as a premier for 91 days, from August 6, 1990, to November 5, 1990.