Profile: Justice (retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso

Khoso has little — or to put it more precisely — no experience in administrative affairs.

ISLAMABAD: Little known to Pakistanis until today, Justice (retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso — the country’s sixth interim prime minister — faces the daunting task of holding free, fair and transparent elections.

He has little — or to put it more precisely — no experience in administrative affairs. And, political observers say, it will be a test of his administrative skills to oversee the historic transition of power in a country wracked by militant, sectarian and political violence. However, some analysts believe that the octogenarian jurist — known to former colleagues and friends as an apolitical, honest and upright man – could be instrumental in bringing “estranged Baloch” leaders back to parliamentary politics.

“Certain parties in Balochistan have yet not shown their willingness to participate in the upcoming elections. Here, Justice Khoso can use his Baloch connection to win them over,” said Justice (retd) Tariq Mehmood, a former member of the Election Commission of Pakistan. Justice Khoso hails from Goth Azam Khan Khoso in Jaffarabad district of Balochistan.



“Holding free and fair elections is the ECP’s responsibility. The caretaker premier plays the role of a facilitator,” Mehmood told The Express Tribune. “However, one area where Justice Khoso can be more effective is Balochistan in elections.”

Baloch observers, however, beg to disagree with Mehmood. “The real challenge is convincing those Baloch [insurgents] who have gone beyond the point of no return,” said columnist Muhammad Ali Talpur. “Not just Justice Khoso, nobody can woo them back,” he added.



A lawyer leader from Balochistan also doubted that Justice Khoso would be able to win over Baloch insurgents. “Firstly, he does not have any political experience or family connections among [Baloch] politicians.

Secondly, his area was the least troubled in the province. For these reasons, I doubt he would have much say,” said the lawyer leader, who wished not to be named.

Born on September 30, 1929, Khoso graduated in law from University of Karachi in 1956. He was enrolled as advocate in the High Court of West Pakistan, Karach bench, and Supreme Court of Pakistan. Khoso became a permanent judge of the Balochistan High Court in 1987 before serving as an additional judge twice.

Khoso was appointed chief justice of the BHC in December 1989 and retired on September 29, 1991. Khoso served as acting governor of Balochistan twice from June 25 to July 12, 1990 and then again from March 13, 1991 to July 13, 1991.

He was also appointed judge of the Federal Shariat Court in October 1991 and was later elevated as chief justice of the Federal Shariat Court in 1992. He held on to that office until July 8, 1994.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2013.