Islamabad: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Miftah Ismail slammed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on doubting his ability to keep economy afloat. “I don’t know why Dar was brought back but Dar thought that he could run country without International Monetary Fund,” Ismail said while speaking during private TV channel talk.

Former Finance Minister said attempt to run country without help of Fund resulted in harming Pakistan, however, government soon realised that it has no option other than embracing tough conditions of global lender.

He stated, “Strange system” has been established in Pakistan under which small section of elites makes all decisions. “Every country is ahead of us and reason behind it is fault in governance,” Ismail said. He said that governance system could never be fixed without devolution of authority. Politician stated that authorities needed to create employment opportunities for lower class.

“We have seen democratic system of government, presidential system and dictatorship as well,” he said, adding that elite system has to be abolished. “We are at fault as well as we couldn’t change this system,” he said.

When asked about recently started national dialogue and formation of new political party, Ismail said that he is still part of PML-N but he has no plans to take part in elections in future. He, however clarified that party has taken no action against him.

Ismail added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was satisfied with his performance and did not want to replace him. IMF deal was restored and default risk had also been minimised in my tenure, he said.

This is not first time two PML-N leaders have openly confronted each other. Dar and Ismail have been in verbal war since Miftah took over as Finance Minister in April last.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 27 2023

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