Justice (r) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso took oath as the sixth caretaker chief executive of the country, with President Asif Ali Zardari saying the formation of caretaker government though constitutional means had strengthened democracy.
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by leaders of various political parties, senators, National Assembly speaker, former parliamentarians, ministers and diplomats.
Former prime ministers Yousaf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf and services chiefs also attended.
The caretaker prime minister is about 84 years old and serious questions have been raised by commentators over his ability to run the affairs of the country, as the economic and governance issues of Pakistan are at a critical stage.
“We don’t know about his health condition as health deteriorates at such an old age. We also don’t know about his mental calibre. So it is difficult to pass a comment over his abilities to perform,” said noted analyst Hassan Askari Rizvi while talking to Pakistan Today.
He added that the caretakers usually did not have to take policy decisions and we should also not expect a retired judge to take drastic steps.
“He would have to make sure that the polls are held smoothly and bureaucracy observes impartiality,” he added.
Khoso is the sixth caretaker prime minister after Ghulam Mustafa Khan Jatoi who served from August 6, 1990 to November 6, 1990, Mir Balakh Sher Mazari from April 18, 1993 to May 26, 1993, Moin Qureshi from July 8, 1993 to October 19, 1993, Malik Meraj Khalid from October 6, 1996 to February 17, 1997 and Muhammad Mian Soomro from November 16, 2007 to March 24, 2008.
Justice (r) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso was born on September 30, 1929 in Village Azam Khan of Jaffarabad district in Balochistan and graduated from University of Sindh in 1954. He passed LLB in 1956 from University of Karachi.
He joined the legal profession in 1957 and enrolled as an advocate of High Court of West Pakistan Karachi Bench in 1959 and advocate of Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1980.
He was elevated as an additional judge of Balochistan High Court on June 20, 1977 to June 1979 and again elevated as additional judge on March 31, 1985.
Khoso was made a permanent judge of the Balochistan High Court on March 31, 1987 and appointed the chief justice of Balochistan High Court on December 13, 1989.
He retired as the chief justice of Balochistan High Court on September 29, 1991.
After taking oath, Khoso called on President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed matters of national interest. The meeting was held at the President House.
The president congratulated the caretaker PM and assured him of full cooperation.
Zardari said the new democratic tradition had brightened the future of democracy in Pakistan and hoped that the caretaker government would ensure free and fair general election.
Khoso said he would try his best to come up to the expectations of the nation and hoped that democracy would keep growing in the country in the days to come.
Hassan Askari Rizvi has raised baseless suspicions about the caretaker Prime Minister's health, he knows fully well that caretaker Prime Minister is there till new elected Prime Minister takes over (few months may be).
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