Former caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar was elected a senator again on Thursday.
According to the details, the unopposed election phase for seven senators from Balochistan has concluded. Following this, the returning officer has issued notifications to the successful senators who won without any opposition.
Ahmad Khan Ghilzai (JUI-F), Aimal Wali Khan (ANP) were also elected as senators.
Sarfraz Bugti, former interim interior minister, sent his resignation to caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on December 13, which was accepted Friday night.
He cited personal reasons for stepping down from his position.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Qadir Yar Tawana confirmed the report on Friday when contacted for the version of the ministry by Geo News.
Close aides of Bugti said he had decided to resign from the office about two months ago to take part in the upcoming general elections. His resignation was accepted hours before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the schedule of the general elections in 2024.
As per sources of Geo News, Sarfaraz Bugti resigned to contest the election on a Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N)’s ticket.
They said he was expected to call on the PML-N leadership in a few days.
He is currently associated with the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).
Bugti had been elected as a senator from Balochistan in 2021.
The 42-year-old had previously served as interior minister for Balochistan after winning a seat in 2013 as an independent candidate, but later joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
In a related development, Balochistan caretaker Minister for Sports and Culture, Nawabzada Jamal Raisani and Adviser to the Chief Minister on Mines and Minerals, Mir Umair Muhammad Hasni, also resigned from the interim provincial cabinet on Friday.
According to a report published by Geo News, caretaker prime minister Anwarul Haq Kakar owns assets worth 4 crore, 81 lakh, 82 thousand, and 580 rupees, while also owning a share of 50 thousand in Chagai Mining Limited (CML).
The caretaker Premier has disclosed the value of 10 tola gold at 80 thousand rupees; he also has more than 22 million rupees in two banks. The caretaker prime minister has disclosed the value of his house furniture at four lakh rupees.
The caretaker finance minister, Shamshad Akhtar, has revealed the price of a house in Karachi DHA Phase 6 as four million and a plot in DHA worth Rs25,000.
Shamshad Akhtar has shares worth more than three lakh rupees in Pakistan State Oil (PSO).
The caretaker finance minister has 39 lakh 24 thousand rupees in banks, while his furniture is worth two lakh rupees.
According to the details of the assets revealed by caretaker interior minister Sarfaraz Bugti, he owns a two-kanal house in Multan worth one crore, while he also owns a flat worth Rs 2.5 million in Multan United Mall. The caretaker interior minister has a house worth three crore and 12 lakh in Islamabad and a plot worth one crore in Quetta.
Sarfaraz Bugti has Rs 67 lakh 98 thousand in cash, while his account has Rs 635,000. The value of his furniture is Rs 68 lakh. Sarfaraz Bugti has also declared 90 camels, 8,870 sheep, 4060 goats, 400 cows, 80 calves, and 86 buffaloes among his assets; his livestock is worth six crore and 97 lakhs.
According to the document, the caretaker federal minister of information, Murtaza Solangi, is the owner of assets worth two crore and 32 lakh rupees. Solangi has one crore, 27 lakh rupees, while his wife owns two houses in Islamabad worth 31 lakh rupees besides 18 lakh cash.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has confirmed that general elections will be held in the next three to four months, adding that polls are “certain”.
To a question about his plan of action if the caretaker Prime Minister gets an extension, he told a local TV station that he could see the country going to polls in the next three to four months, The News reported on Wednesday.
“I think within a few months… a few months can be translated into three, three-and-half or four…that needs to be seen…this will conclude and we will go to the electoral process,” he commented.
On asking the same question on elections, he replied, “I am not just hopeful; rather, I am certain”.
He stated that because of the short time, the caretaker government is giving priority to policy matters to make the journey of the future government smoother.