Pakistan relies on its Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk by appointing him as interim PM to oversee Elections

May 29, 2018:

Interim administration in Pakistan usually does not make any major decisions until the new government is elected.

Former Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk has been named has Pakistan’s Interim Prime Minister to oversee the General Elections scheduled for July 25.

Outgoing Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi stated that,“No Pakistani can lift a finger (against) such a name”.

Announcement has put an end to weeks of tussle between Abbasi’s ruling PML-N party and Pakistan People’s Party.

He further added that,“We have chosen his name on the basis of merit. We took our parties into confidence and decided upon this name. Every name was discussed, and this name was decided upon. It’s a name no one can point fingers at.”

Former Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk took oath as 22nd Chief Justice of Pakistan in 2014. He belongs to Mingora town in Swat. His father Kamran Khan was a businessman known for his philanthropic work in the region.

Prior to joining the bench, he taught at the Khyber Law College under Peshawar University. He is remembered for the way he conducted a contempt case against then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. He convicted the chief executive for 30 seconds on a charge of contempt while maintaining the dignity and honour of the court, and left the issue of Gilani’s disqualification to the Election Commission and then Speaker of the National Assembly, Fehmida Mirza.

Mulk is one of the seven judges who signed a restraining order on November 3, 2007, when military ruler Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency and forcibly sent the judges home. Mulk later rejoined the judiciary on September 20, 2008, when he took a fresh oath as a judge of the Supreme Court with his seniority intact.

The Former Chief Justice served as Interim Chief of Election Commission, will head a technocratic government until the elections as Current Government and Parliament will be dissolved on Thursday.

Source HT