Kakar may visit Kuwait to attend funeral of Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar may attend the funeral prayers for Emir Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jabar Al Sabah, who passed away on Saturday morning.

Well-placed sources told The News that Islamabad, through diplomatic channels, sought relevant details from Kuwait City. It is being ascertained whether the Kuwaiti government would arrange for foreign leaders to visit the capital to pay last respects to the late Emir.

The schedule for Kakar would be drawn after receiving response from Kuwait.

The late Kuwaiti emir was viewed as close friend of Pakistan and he facilitated an announcement last month for huge investment when Prime Minister Kakar and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir visited Kuwait. Several MoUs were signed for investment in agriculture, mining, information technology and energy sectors.

Meanwhile, sources pointed out that new interior minister would be appointed in the wake of resignation of Sarfraz Ahmad Bugti soon, after return of the prime minister from Kuwait.

The PM is retaining the important portfolio for four days since Bugti stepped down on Dec 13.

Sarfraz Bugti planned to contest upcoming elections for the provincial as well National Assembly seats from Dera Bugti. He sitting member of Senate from Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) till March 2027, and he is aspiring to become chief minister of his province. He is likely to join the Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN) in a couple of days and before that he would also resign from the Senate membership and BAP, the sources said. The government would not delay appointment of new interior minister and it is speculated that some retired officers from Army or Pakistan Police Service (PPS) would be picked for the slot. Former chief of general staff (CJS) Lt-General (retd) Muhammad Saeed and former inspector general police (IGP) Dr. Zulfiqar Cheema are considered to be in the run for the position that would be held by the occupant for about sixty crucial days, since electioneering would be underway during these days.