The Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar arrived late for a discussion with students at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) on the otehr day, prompting some students to voice their objection.
A student, according to an insider, expressed, “I want to express my distress. Sir, you came to a university, students took out time, and the professors were waiting for you. Yet, you were still 50 minutes late… Sir, I am ashamed to say that my Prime Minister, indeed the Caretaker Prime Minister, does not respect education. Perhaps I felt this way.”
In response, the Caretaker Prime Minister cited the delay as due to a cabinet meeting. “There are many things discussed in the cabinet meeting that have far-reaching consequences… If I make decisions that have not been appropriately discussed, the work for which I was chosen will not be done. I am not chosen to talk with you at LUMS”.
He stated, “Our relationship is cordial… You had the right to leave from here. Do not be disappointed over such things”.
LUMS students also raised questions about the non-conduct of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within 90 days. Anwar ul Haq Kakar responded, “The parliament has passed the law that the Election Commission has to give the election date, and this is not within my mandate.”
When a student asked why they came to talk to students in LUMS while there are so many issues in the country, the concerned Prime Minister replied, “I wanted to go to all the provincial capitals. I wanted to come to LUMS so that I could see whether there are people in our generation who can confront challenges that I am facing.”
During their question, a student said, “Sir, when you were elected…” Other students used the word “selected” to correct them. Anwar ul Haq Kakar responded, “I was not selected, I was nominated.”
Addressing the students at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Kakar encouraged them to fearlessly explore various paths for their future without being afraid of making mistakes— a reality that was driven home soon when the students did not hold back from touching hot-button issues, putting him on the back foot as he struggled to find satisfactory answers.
Regarding delay in Punjab and K-P polls, the prime minister said that the matter did not pertain to the tenure of the interim set-up and referred to Article 254 of the Constitution which said that any delay or failure to comply with the legal requirement as to time, did not render an act invalid or unconstitutional because it happened late.
He said that the caretaker government was a product of a constitutional order after the former leader of the house and leader of the opposition in the previous National Assembly adopted a constitutional procedure and agreed upon his nomination.
He said that the previous parliament had passed a law in which the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was mandated to announce an election date.
“It is the mandate of the ECP and not of the Caretaker Prime Minister to set a date for the general elections,” he said, adding if he was mandated under the constitution, he would have given the same.
PM Kakar further said that the caretaker government would assist the ECP with the provision of finances and security for a smooth process and assured to fulfil their constitutional duty.
Replying to a question regarding an incident involving Afghan nationals, the caretaker prime minister said that he had already given direction to the relevant authorities of the interior ministry to ensure the dignity of the repatriated women and children as there might be vulnerable groups.
The prime minister said that Pakistan had entertained on its soil for decades those Afghans who had been registered as refugees and compared the treatment meted out to immigrants’ boats in the Mediterranean Sea.
