Islamabad, May 28: Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Nasir-ul-Mulk was on Monday appointed the caretaker Prime Minister until the general elections on July 25.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and leader of the opposition Syed Khursheed Shah announced at a joint press conference that after six weeks of negotiations they had agreed on Mulk's name to head Pakistan's government during the election process.
"We have selected a candidate for caretaker Premier who will prove to play a democratic role in the upcoming general election," Abbasi said, adding "every name was discussed, and this name was decided upon. It's a name no one can point fingers at".
Shah, who heads the Pakistan People’s Party, also said it was a "historic day" and Mulk had been chosen for his merits, Dawn online reported.
The former judge now has to form an interim government to rule the country for two months, starting on Friday, a day after the term of the current legislature, led by a government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party, comes to an end.
During this period, the interim Prime Minister and his government have to carry out routine and urgent activities and avoid controversial decisions, important political steps or measures which could affect future governments, according to Pakistan's electoral law.
Born in 1950, Mulk was a judge in Pakistan's Supreme Court between 2005 and 2015 and served as Chief Justice for 11 months (6 July, 2014 to 16 August, 2015).
Mulk was one of the seven judges who signed a restraining order on November 3, 2007, when former President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency and forcibly sent the judges home.
He is also remembered for the way he conducted a contempt case against former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
A total of 105 million voters are eligible to vote in the elections for the Parliament and four regional assemblies, set to take place on July 25, in which the ruling PML-N is facing a challenge from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by former cricketer Imran Khan.
This is only the second time since independence when a democratically elected Pakistani government is finishing its full term, after a PPP government completed its tenure in 2013.
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Lahli (Haryana) (PTI): Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj entered the record books on Friday as he became only the third bowler in the history of Ranji Trophy to claim all 10 wickets in an innings.
Kamboj, 23, achieved the feat in the home team's Group C game against Kerala at the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium on the outskirts of Rohtak.
Kamboj ended with incredible figures of 10/49 in 30.1 overs.
Premangshu Chatterjee of Bengal (10/20 vs Assam, 1956) and Pradeep Sundaram (10/78, Rajasthan v Vidarbha, 1985) of Rajasthan are the other two bowlers to have taken 10 wickets in an innings in the country's premier domestic tournament.
Overall, Kamboj is the sixth Indian bowler to grab a 10-wicket haul in First-Class cricket. The legendary Anil Kumble, Subhash Gupte and Debashish Mohanty are the others on the list.
The pacer entered the third day's play with eight wickets to his name and claimed the wickets of Basil Thampi and Shoun Roger to complete the remarkable feat.
As a result, Kerala were all out for 291 in their first innings.
While running through the Kerala batting line-up, Kamboj also went past 50 First-Class wickets in 19 matches.
Kamboj, who was picked by Mumbai Indians for the 2024 IPL after an impressive domestic season, recently represented the India A in the ACC Emerging Asia Cup tournament in Oman.
Kamboj was among the leading wicket-takers with 17 scalps from 10 matches as Haryana went on to win the Vijay Hazare Trophy title for the first time.
This season he became only the third pacer to record an eight-wicket haul in the Duleep Trophy, behind Mohanty (10/46) and Ashok Dinda (8/123).
Kamboj has 23 wickets from 15 List-A games to his name.
Best bowling figures in Ranji Trophy history:
10/20 – Premangshu Chatterjee – Bengal v Assam (1956-57)
10/49 – Anshul Kamboj – Haryana v Kerala (2024-25)
10/78 – Pradeep Sunderam – Rajasthan v Vidarbha (1985-86).
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List of Indian bowlers with 10-wicket haul in First-Class cricket:
10/20 – Premangshu Chatterjee – Bengal v Assam (1956-57) - Ranji Trophy
10/46 – Debasis Mohanty – East Zone v South Zone (2000-01) - Duleep Trophy
10/49 – Anshul Kamboj – Haryana v Kerala (2024-25) 10/74
10-74 - Anil Kumble – India v Pakistan (1999) -- Kotla -- Test match
10/78 – Pradeep Sundaram – Rajasthan v Vidarbha (1985-86) - Ranji Trophy
10/78 – Subhash Gupte – Bombay v Pakistan Combined Services and Bahawalpur XI (1954-55).
1⃣ innings 🤝 1⃣0⃣ wickets 👏
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) November 15, 2024
Historic Spell 🙌
3⃣0⃣.1⃣ overs
9⃣ maidens
4⃣9⃣ runs
1⃣0⃣ wickets 🔥
Watch 📽️ Haryana Pacer Anshul Kamboj's record-breaking spell in the 1st innings against Kerala 👌👌#RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/RcNP3NQJ2y