Pakistan’s former top judge appointed interim PM until July 25 election

Pakistan on Monday appointed former chief justice Nasir-Ul-Mulk as interim prime minister until general elections on July 25. The elections are expected to usher in the second-ever democratic transition of power in the nuclear armed nation of 208 million people. Monday’s appointment was announced by premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Reuters reports. The move comes amid growing political and economic instability, and ends weeks of wrangling between Abbasi’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party and the opposition. The interim administration does not usually make any major decisions until the new government is elected. However, it may be forced to act to shore up the economy amid a worsening macro-economic outlook.