PM Kakar rules out 'deal' in Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday dismissed an impression that decision of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan was part of any deal with the interim government, state-run wire service APP reported.

“The caretaker government has ‘no soft corner’ for PML-N or any other political party…How can a caretaker government strike such a deal,” he said in an interview with a digital media platform.

The interim prime minister was responding to a question relating to the PML-N supremo’s homecoming who flew from London to Saudi Arabia yesterday with his announcement to land in Pakistan on October 21.

Kakar pointed out that Nawaz Sharif left the country as per the court decision “under the nose of Imran Khan’s government, and not the caretaker setup”.

“If Nawaz Sharif returns and takes part in politics, he will have to face some legal obstacles, he said. “The answers to these legal questions lie in legal remedies.”

Kakar was of the view that Pakistan is facing formation of “regimental camps” and the country has turned into a “fighting ground for political positions”.

He rejected a notion that the caretaker setup could be likened to the 90s ‘Kakar formula’ where both then prime minister Nawaz Sharif and president Ghulam Ishaq Khan were forced to quit on the proposal of then army chief General Waheed Kakar to make way for fresh election.

“This comparison is apples and oranges. It is out of context because in our case, the stint of the normal parliament led to its retirement and we are part of the constitutional continuation where leaders of the House and the opposition agreed upon my name,” he said.

There has been no interference from any institution in our case, Kakar maintained.

On general polls, the interim prime minister said necessary security and administrative arrangements were in place, adding that the government, in collaboration with the Election Commission, was in the process of finalisation of the required measures.

On the expulsion of Afghan refugees, the interim PM said the action was only against unregistered foreign nationals and over one million illegal “aliens”.

The government’s objective, he said, was to regulate the movement of unregistered foreign nationals through proper process.

On relations with India, Kakar said the “radicalised” RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) mindset of the ruling Indian party and the Kashmir dispute are the main hurdles in the maintenance of good ties.

“The situation between Pakistan and India needs to be improved, however, realistically at present, there is no such possibility,” he said. “The hegemonic designs of India needs to be curtailed as the country is turning into hell for its minorities, including Muslims, Sikhs, and others.”

Asked about any possibility of recognition of Israel, he said, “There are no such deliberations going on. Pakistan considers Israel an oppressor and stands with the rights of Palestinians to their existence and return to their land”.

On Pakistan’s economic stability, he said the country is witnessing a reversal of the value of the dollar. “The continuation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SFIC) will lead to sustainability.”

Kakar dismissed the impression that the army had taken over the mining sector on the SFIC platform. “The army’s role is a stop-gap arrangement to run the matters and at SFIC, it is providing impetus in the facilitation process.”

The interim PM emphasised the need for capacity-building of civil institutions as a pathway for a viable state economically.

In Balochistan, he termed security, governance, scarcity of resources, and mismanagement as the main challenges. Kakar recalled that during meeting of the apex committee held in Quetta, it was revealed that hundreds of ghost schools and health units existed in the province.

“Such mismanagement has led to making a few billionaires, but leaving the rest of the population deprived including the common Balochs, Pashtuns, and Hazaras,” he said.