KARACHI: Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has said the caretaker government would act in accordance with its ruling if the Supreme Court issues a binding judgement for elections to be held within the prescribed period of 90 days.

In a Geo News show Jirga with Saleem Safi, PM Kakar, however, said that at present the law of the land states the Election Commission of Pakistan has the authority to announce poll dates.

He elaborated that if the matter is taken to the superior judiciary where various constitutional experts give their interpretations of the law and the Constitution, the “legal consequence [of this process] will be binding on us”.

“But until such a judgement comes, we are compelled to operate as per the [existing] law.”

Asked whether the interim set-up would abide by the superior judiciary’s decision if it concluded that elections were to be held within 90 days of the dissolution of assemblies, PM Kakar said: “No one should have any doubt about this.”

“Whatever the Supreme Court decides, it will be acceptable to us. It is for the judges to judge,” he asserted when asked about the courts deciding against polls being held after the 90-day period.

PM Kakar also asserted that the caretaker set-up term would not be extended “unconstitutionally”.

“We are an order of a constitutional continuation and will not stay [in government] even a moment beyond the period mandated under the constitution and law. But this [time frame] will be decided by the law and it is linked to the announcement of polls’ schedule by the election commission,” he said.

Asked about the incarceration of PTI chairman Imran Khan and his party members, the interim PM said if they were bearing the hardships of prison due to the political system and process, then it would definitely be a “big question mark on our political and democratic process and system”. But Mr Kakar characterised the events of May 9 as “an attempted coup and civil war, with the primary target being the incumbent army chief and his team”.

“The acts of vandalism and arson witnessed on May 9 were observed globally, and international newspapers extensively covered this tragedy. Such manipulative behaviour is unacceptable in any form of governance,” PM Kakar said.

He emphasised that the government’s intention was not to give the impression of seeking revenge against those involved in the May 9 violence. However, he added that failure to take legal action against individuals who violated the country’s laws and engaged in violence would imply complicity on the government’s part.

He also expressed his perspective on Islamabad’s approach to dealing with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and other banned outfits, saying, “The state possesses both negotiation and forceful means to address the TTP or any proscribed group.”

Inflation protests

The interim PM also addressed the inflation rise and clarified what he said regarding high power bills. “The marginalised group in the country needs to be protected at all costs, and we’re trying our best to build a system that would provide a long-term solution instead of temporary ones,” he said.

In response to inquiries about why the government is not pursuing privatisation of state-owned companies to generate revenue, he explained that the government was being cautious and not rushing into such measures. “Privatisa­tion is a step that previous administrations have undertaken, and since assuming office, we have taken additional measures in terms of development, accomplishing 10-20 per cent more,” he stated.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2023