Dar to assume charge as finance minister
Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Ishaq Dar will assume charge as the finance minister on Tuesday as a decision in this regard was taken during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with party supremo Nawaz Sharif in London on Saturday.
Both Sharifs met here for over four hours at Shehbaz’s flat. Dar was also in attendance. A source privy to the contents of the meeting told media that it has been decided that Dar will assume charge as the finance minister on Tuesday.
PM Shehbaz is set to leave for Pakistan on Sunday and it’s not clear yet whether Dar will fly with the premier or later.
The source said that Nawaz had not been happy with the economic policies of Miftah and had called for a change in the direction of economic policies.
Nawaz, according to the source, is worried that the rise in prices of commodities had directly affected ordinary people which has impacted the support base of PML-N.
Earlier, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed that Dar will return to Pakistan next week.
Dar, himself, had told media in an interview that he will take oath as a Senator immediately after his return. The former finance minister said that he would perform whatever duty is assigned to him by Nawaz and Shehbaz.
PM Shehbaz, along with Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb reached London after attending the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York a day earlier.
Other than the decision on Dar’s role in the government, the two leaders also discussed the ongoing situation in the country and meas ures taken by the sitting coalition government.
The strategy to deal with PTI chief Imran Khan’s call for a long march, and ending PTI’s government in Punjab was also discussed. It was decided that Imran Khan’s long march will be dealt with by all legal means and no one will be allowed to create anarchy in the country, said the source privy to the meeting.
The meeting decided that the next general elections will be held on time and no pressure from the PTI will be tolerated. The trio also discussed the problems facing the country including economic challenges and other issues.Sources said that the premier apprised his elder brother about the meetings with world leaders including US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of 77th UNGA session in New York. During the meeting, Dar’s return and the issue of his Senate oath were also discussed. The trio also discussed ways to manage the economy, inflation and reducing dollar price. Dar, who alongside Nawaz lives in London in self-exile, apprised the participants about his plans for returning to the country and his appearance before the accountability court. He said that after his appearance, he will take oath as a senator.
“I will do whatever duty I will be given by the party leadership like in the past,” the insiders quoted him as saying during the meeting. Government sources said that upon Dar’s return to Pakistan, the current team of the finance ministry will give him a briefing on the current economic conditions of the country.
After becoming the senator, Dar will take oath as the finance minister.The trio expressed hope that the former finance minister would emerge victorious in the court as well.
On Wednesday, Dar said that his doctor had given him “conditional permission” to return to Pakistan and expressed his willingness to appear in court for hearings within 15 days.
