* Khoso says tenure of interim govt won’t be extended
* Balochistan’s situation volatile but elections will be held there under any circumstances
* New PM to take oath today
By Farooq Awan
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Sunday finally nominated an 84-year-old retired judge from Balochistan as country’s caretaker prime minister, a week after the parliament was dissolved and political leaders failed to agree on a name for the slot.
“We discussed openly all four names forwarded for the caretaker prime minister and have picked Justice (r) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso as the head of interim set-up,” Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ibrahim said after the commission’s second meeting on Sunday.
Minutes after being designated as the sixth caretaker prime minister of Pakistan, Justice (r) Khoso told reporters at the Balochistan House that holding fair, free and transparent elections was his top priority. The interim government will extend all-out cooperation to the ECP in conducting elections in a transparent manner, he said and assured that the tenure of the caretaker set-up won’t be extended at any cost.
Khoso said he will keep friendly relations with all the political parties of the country. He said he will induct good people in his cabinet, which, according to him, would comprise only 10 to 12 members. He said elections were the only solution to all the issues facing the country and added that he will hold meetings with all the political leaders soon. “I will meet everyone to build a consensus for holding elections on time and in a free, fair and transparent manner,” he said.
Khoso said his appointment was important for Balochistan province and added that he will try to take all nationalists Baloch leaders on board. He admitted that the law and order situation in Balochistan was very volatile, but affirmed that the elections in the province will be held ‘under any circumstances’.
“I have very good relations with Balochistan caretaker chief minister and I will hold meeting with him very soon to discuss the situation,” he said. Maintaining law and order was responsibility of the provinces, he said but assured that the federal government will extend every help to the provincial governments in maintaining law and order.
To a question on negotiation with Taliban, Khoso said it was premature to say anything on this critical issue. He expressed his ignorance over the issue of MQM’s reservations over delimitation process in Karachi.
The newly appointed prime minister will take oath of his office on Monday (today) at 1:00 pm at the Presidency. President Asif Ali Zardari will administer the oath. Khoso was provided prime minister’s protocol and security cover as soon as the Election Commission announced its decision.
President Asif Ali Zardari has welcomed the nomination of Justice (r) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso as the caretaker prime minister.
Presidential spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar quoted the president as saying that the nomination of Khoso by the ECP was culmination of the constitutional process initiated to ensure free and fair elections. The president said ECP’s decision will be welcomed across the political divide.
The president said that the forthcoming general election under a caretaker neutral set-up, selected through a constitutional process and by an independent and empowered Election Commission for the first time in the country’s history, was a very significant and welcome development that should help in banishing the spectre of manipulation in transfer of power.
The president asked the people to exercise their right to vote and elect the representatives who best represented their hopes, aspirations and priorities.
Outgoing Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf telephoned Justice (r) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso soon after the Election Commission announced its decision. Raja congratulated Khoso on his nomination as caretaker prime minister and assured him the fullest cooperation. He expressed the confidence that the country will benefit from his knowledge, capabilities and experience in the run-up to general election.
Raja hailed Khosa’s nomination as a proof of commitment towards democratic process and upholding of rule of law and constitution in the country.
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