Khoso is Pakistan caretaker premier

Pakistan’s caretaker premier Mir Hazar Khan Khoso on Sunday listed the fragile law and order situation and holding of free and fair elections as the top priorities of the new interim administration.

“My first priority is holding free and fair polls,” the 84-year-old former judge told the media shortly after he was chosen as the caretaker Prime Minister by the Election Commission on Sunday afternoon. “The administration will try to ensure that the law and order situation is good (for the polls),” Khoso, who is known for his honesty, said when he was asked to list his priorities.

He described the upcoming elections, the law and order situation and Pakistan’s financial position as the biggest challenges facing the interim set-up.

Khoso, a former Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court and Federal Shariah Court, was chosen as the caretaker premier by the Election Commission after the Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition and a bipartisan parliamentary committee were unable to forge consensus on the issue.

17 securitymen killed

Meanwhile, at least 17 Pakistani soldiers were killed when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden water tanker into a check post in the restive North Waziristan tribal region of the country.

Six securitymen were killed instantly when the attacker on attacked. Eleven other personnel died later, a military spokesman said. No group has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack.