ISLAMABAD: With the National Assembly standing dissolved, Pakistan is likely to get its eighth caretaker prime minister within days to lead the executive, ideally for a 90 days-time.
The Nawaz-led government exhausted its constitutional term after the dissolution of the 15th National Assembly on Wednesday night, with the approval of President Dr. Arif Alvi.
However, the prime minister and the leader of the opposition have so far failed to reach a consensus on the interim prime minister.
Seven people have served the post of caretaker prime minister in Pakistan’s history. WeNews looks back at the past caretakers.
Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi (Aug-Nov 1990)
Jatoi from Sindh province remains the first one to serve as the caretaker prime minister in the history of the country. He was the leader of the opposition at the time of his appointment as interim government head in August 1990.
Then-president Ghulam Ishaq Khan had appointed Jatoi after the dissolution of the National Assembly, resulting in the removal of the then-prime minister Benazir Bhutto on charges of corruption.
He remained in office for over three months before handing over the government to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif on November 6, 1990.
Balakh Sher Mazari (Apr-May 1993)
The second caretaker PM in Pakistan’s history was Balakh Sher Mazari, who took over as in 1993, less than three years after the general elections of 1990.
Then-president Ishaq Khan once again dissolved the National Assembly prematurely, ousting the then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif on April 18, 1993.
Moinuddin Ahmed Qureshi (Jul-Oct 1993)
Under an army-brokered deal, Nawaz Sharif and then-president Ghulam Ishaq Khan tendered resignations from their respective posts in July 1993. Before signing off, Khan appointed Pakistani-American economist Moeenuddin Ahmed Qureshi as the third caretaker PM on July 18, 1993. He oversaw the 1993 polls that marked the return of the Benazir-led PPP to power.
Malik Meraj Khalid (Nov 1996-Feb 1997)
Former NA speaker Malik Meraj Khalid took charge as the fourth caretaker PM after his appointment by then-president Farooq Leghari in November 1996. He served the post for around three months.
Khalid was succeeded by Nawaz Sharif, who again assumed the PM office after an overwhelming victory in the 1997 general elections.
Muhammad Mian Soomro (Nov 2007-Mar 2008)
Shaukat Aziz of the Musharraf-backed Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid was the PM when Musharraf ordered then-Senate chairman Mohammad Mian Soomro to officiate the caretaker setup following the government’s completion of the term.
After serving the country for nearly four months, Soomro transferred the power to Yousaf Raza Gillani of the PPP after the 2008 general elections.
Mir Hazar Khan Khoso (Mar-Jun 2013)
Mir Hazar Khan Khoso was the sixth caretaker PM. He was appointed in March 2013 after the end of the PPP-led National Assembly term under the then-prime minister Raja Parvez Ashraf.
Khoso was the first caretaker premier to be appointed by the Election Commission of Pakistan under Article 224A as the then-PM and leader of the opposition failed to reach a consensus on one candidate.
He served Pakistan for over two months and transferred the power to Nawaz as PM after the general elections in June 2013.
Nasir-ul-Mulk (June-Aug 2018)
After the dissolution of the National Assembly on May 31, 2018, former chief justice Nasir-ul-Mulk took charge as the last acting head of the government. He served for over two months
