The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday picked former Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso, a Pakistan People's Party (PPP) nominee, as the caretaker Prime Minister. Khoso's appointment as the caretaker Prime Minister brought an end to the week-long uncertainty following the dissolution of the National Assembly.
Making the announcement, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) former Justice Fakhruddin G Ebrahim said that the caretaker Prime Minister had been selected with majority as one of the five members of the ECP - former Justice Riaz Kayani, ECP member from Punjab dissented.
Kayani had proposed name of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominee former Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid. Hence, Khoso's appointment was made with majority of four votes in his favour from four candidates for the lucrative slot.
Earlier, upon failure of the Parliamentary Committee to pick up one person for the post during its three-day-long deliberations, four names, including PPP's nominated former Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso and Dr Ishrat Hussain, and PML-N's nominees former Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid and Rasool Bux Palejo, were forwarded to the ECP.
"We discussed all names in details during the two days of deliberations and ultimately...we selected former Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso as the caretaker Prime Minister with majority (vote)," announced the CEC, adding that only one member of the commission - former Justice Riaz Kayani - dissented and he proposed name of former Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid.
He said that the ECP could not decide the matter during the first day after the matter was referred to it as the commission's member from Sindh former Justice Mohammad Roshan Essani could not arrive to become part of the deliberations.
The Sunday meeting of the ECP was attended by all its members including Chief Election Commissioner former Justice Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, former Justice Riaz Kayani, former Justice Mohammad Roshan Essani, former Justice Shahzad Akbar Khan and former Justice Fazalur Rehman as well as Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan and other officials concerned.
Mir Hazar Khan Khoso will take oath as the caretaker Prime Minister on Monday (today) and President Asif Ali Zardari will administer the oath.
Khoso‚ 84‚ was born in village Azam Khan of district Jaffarabad in Balochistan. He graduated from the University of Sindh in 1954 and passed LLB in 1956 from the Karachi University.
He entered the legal profession in 1957 and was enrolled as an Advocate of High Court of the then West Pakistan Karachi Bench in 1959 and Advocate of the Supreme Court in 1980. Khoso was elevated as an Additional Judge of Balochistan High Court in 1977 and appointed permanent judge of the said High Court in 1987.
He served as the Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court between December 1989 and September 1991 when he retired in the same capacity. He was appointed as Judge of Federal Shariat Court the same year and elevated as the Chief Justice of the Court in November 1992. He held the office up to July 1994. Former Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso also served as Acting Governor Balochistan twice.
He would remain the caretaker Prime Minister till the general elections scheduled for May 11 this year.
Talking to newsmen after his announcement as the caretaker Prime Minister, former Justice Khoso said the caretaker set-up would provide full backing to the Election Commission in ensuring the holding of free, fair and transparent elections.
Giving his message to the opposition parties, he said that difference of opinion on selection of caretaker Prime Minister was part of the democratic process and gave an all out assurance that he would treat all parties equally. He said that he would meet all political parties and elections would be held on time.
Talking about his caretaker cabinet, he said that the size of the cabinet would be between 10 and 12 members, adding that politicians could also be included in the interim cabinet.
Commenting on the maintenance of law and order during elections‚ the caretaker Prime Minister-elect said that law and order was the responsibility of the provinces and he would talk to the provinces and ensure that elections are held in a peaceful environment.
"I will try my best to come up to the expectations of people," he said and also expressed the hope that people with good reputation would return to assemblies as a result of the general elections. He said that only elections were the solution of all issues, adding that he would quit if he could not hold elections on time.
Khoso said he would urge all political parties from Balochistan to participate in the upcoming general elections.
Comments
Comments are closed.