By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has found unequivocal support from party stalwarts at a time when he has been facing criticism from within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) amid speculations of ex-financial czar Ishaq Dar’s return to Pakistan to replace him.
The support for the incumbent finance minister has come from Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, saying that his understanding of economic issues is unmatched, and it is time to stand with him, especially, when he is feeling the heat from within.
The finance minister, who has been facing severe criticism for repeatedly jacking up petroleum prices and over delay in the revival of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, among other things, himself admitted that he has ample support from party stalwarts but there are others who have been criticising and opposing him.
“I have support from the federal cabinet and PML-N but there are few party members criticising and opposing me,” Miftah said, adding that he understands that party leaders were unable to go to their constituencies after the government took some tough decisions to fix economic issues.
Expressing his gratitude to party stalwarts, Miftah revealed that he is under immense pressure because of being the face of the ruling alliance’s “unpopular decisions”, adding that he did not even want to hold the last press conference where he had to announce the increase in petroleum prices once again.
“I did not want to go for the last press conference, and I had even refused before being persuaded by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,” Miftah revealed. “I swear it has never happened that I was unable to find suitable words; I kept thinking what words should I be using to start the press conference.”
Asked if he will be willing to leave the finance portfolio for Dar, Miftah said that it is not about his willingness or unwillingness as it is the prime minister’s discretion to keep him or anyone else as the country’s financial czar.
“I know only one thing that I would comply with whatever decision the prime minister takes within the next 15 minutes of becoming aware of it,” Miftah said, adding that 15-minute time would be enough even if PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Tauqir Shah conveys the decision of his removal.
He, however, emphasised that he will stay with the party and do whatever task he is given even if he is replaced or moved somewhere. “This has to be PM’s decision; it is his discretion,” he reiterated.
Dar’s return and lobbying within the party circle built pressure on Miftah to the extent that he has since been repeatedly saying that he is ready to hand over the reins of the finance ministry to the senator-elect, who is in London since 2018 and faces a corruption reference wherein he had been declared a proclaimed offender.
Party’s internal rifts over Miftah’s future have not only aggravated but created a situation where stalwarts had to openly come out in his support.
“FM Miftah is among the hardest working members of PM’s team,” the defence minister tweeted, saying that the finance minister was accessible to all stakeholders. “He is performing v. well under difficult circumstances, with immense criticism from vested interests – including, and unfortunately, from within PMLN,” Asif said. “Time to show solidarity with Miftah.”
“Miftah Ismail’s knowledge of economics and the Pakistan economy is without parallel in Pakistan politics today,” declared former premier Abbasi. Calling the finance minister one of the most effective members of the PM’s cabinet, the senior PML-N leader said that he has “played a crucial role in saving Pakistan from default and in implementing PMLN’s economic reform agenda”. The government’s spokesperson, Marriyum Aurangzeb, was not available for comments.
