The appointment of Mir Hazar Khan Khoso as caretaker prime minister of Pakistan on 25 March 2013 marked a culmination of decades spent within the country's legal and judicial framework. Selected by the Election Commission of Pakistan, he assumed the role during a critical political transition, tasked primarily with overseeing general elections following the dissolution of the sitting government.
Early Education and Legal Beginnings
Born in 1929 in Jafarabad, Khoso pursued his higher education at the University of Sindh, where he graduated in 1954. He subsequently obtained a law degree from the University of Karachi. His professional journey commenced in 1957 as a lawyer for the West Pakistan Karachi Bench. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he operated as a public prosecutor in Jacobabad and served as a law professor at Law College Quetta.
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Khoso ascended through the judicial ranks, becoming a judge at the Balochistan High Court in 1977. By 1987, he was confirmed as a permanent judge, later serving as the provincial chief justice beginning in 1989. Between 1990 and 1991, he held the position of Governor of Balochistan on two separate occasions. His judicial career expanded to the national level when he served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan from 1994 to 1996. Prior to this, he presided as the chief justice of the Federal Shariat Court from 1992 to 1994.
Caretaker Prime Ministership
In 2013, Khoso was tapped to serve as caretaker prime minister, a position he held from 25 March to 5 June. During this tenure, he managed a fourteen-member federal cabinet that took its oath on 2 April 2013. In addition to his primary duty of facilitating the 2013 general elections, he concurrently managed portfolios including Finance, Defence, and Foreign Affairs. His administrative actions included the inauguration of the Sohbatpur District in Balochistan.
Later Years and Legacy
Beyond his tenure in the prime minister's office, Khoso contributed to public service as a member of the Pakistan Public Service Commission from 1986 to 2001 and as chairman of the Sacked Employees Board. His work remained rooted in the legal structures of Pakistan until his death in Quetta on 26 June 2021. He practiced Islam throughout his life and was a native speaker of Urdu and Balochi.
Fast facts
- Born: 1929, Jafarabad
- Died: 2021, Quetta
- Citizenship: Pakistan, British Raj
- Education: University of Karachi, University of Sindh
- Caretaker Prime Minister term: 2013
- Chief Justice of Federal Shariat Court: 1992-1994
- Languages: Urdu, Balochi
Questions readers ask
What was the main purpose of Khoso's caretaker government?
He was appointed to oversee the transition of power and ensure that general elections were held in June 2013.
Did he hold cabinet positions other than prime minister?
Yes, during his 2013 tenure, he held the portfolios of Federal Minister for Finance, Defence, and Foreign Affairs.
