The decision to appoint a caretaker government was announced in January of this year. Deliberations began in March and several names have been thrown into the mix. These include candidates for a caretaker Prime Minister, as well as other members of the caretaker cabinet. While it is not mandated to carry our key policy changes, the caretaker setup is responsible for implementation of measures for CPEC, terrorism, Karachi Operation, Balochistan Peace Programme, and National Action Plan. It is also responsible for a smooth and fair election process in the upcoming general elections, which some would say is the need of the hour. In light of these requirements, here are the possible candidates that have come up for inclusion in the caretaker setup.
The following is a potential list for the PM of the caretaker government.
Abdul Razzak Dawood
A prominent politician and industrialist, he is the former Commerce minister of Pakistan. He is also the founder of Descon, Pakistan’s only company to be included in the Engineering News-Record list since 2007.
Tassaduq Hussain Jillani
He served as the 21st Chief Justice of Pakistan. He is an avid proponent of fundamental civil liberties. He was also part of the 7th caretaker government of Pakistan
Dr. Hafeez Pasha
A prominent economist, he also served as the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Development Program Assistant Administrator and a director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific.
Ishrat Hussain
Former State Bank of Pakistan governor, he also served as the chief economist for Asia-Pacific region and between 1997 and 1999 headed World Bank’s operations in Central Asia as well.
Other prominent names for the caretaker federal cabinet include.
Maleeha Lodhi
The first woman to serve as Pakistan’s representative to the UN, she is also a military strategist, academician, and political scientist. She was also named by the Time magazine as one of a hundred people in the world who will help to shape the 21st century.
Barrister Taimur Malik
He is an international lawyer and founder of Courting the Law and other law and justice initiatives in Pakistan. He is also a former executive director of the Research Society of International Law Pakistan. He is being considered for the position of Minister of Law and Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, Human Rights as well as for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development.
Mushtaq Chhapra
A holder of the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, he is the founder of the Citizen’s Foundation, he is responsible for providing quality education to 1000s. A philanthropist and businessman he is up for the position of Federal Education and Professional Training Ministry.
Dr. Salman Shah
He is the former caretaker Finance Minister of Pakistan. He has also served as an advisor to the Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz. He is well versed in matters related to international financial institutions and is being considered as a reliable choice for the finance ministry.
Dr. Adeeb Rizvi
He founded and heads the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation. His expertise in healthcare makes him the perfect candidate to handle the health portfolio in the caretaker setup.
The need for a caretaker government typically means an additional hassle and a kink in the democratic processes of a country. However, the candidates make it abundantly clear that it is being taken quite seriously by the Prime Minister and the opposition governments, who are responsible for appointing the caretaker government. The list of names is all in all comprised of professionals who have vast local and international experience to positively take up key positions in the caretaker setup. Opposition leader, Khursheed Shah said that he is committed to appointing a caretaker government that is acceptable to all political parties. It seems that with the possible involvement of these names a lot more may be pacified than just the politicians. The civilians as well will hopefully react well to these inclusions, which will ensure a smooth transition towards the next government of Pakistan.
