Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that if he were premier of the country, Miftah Ismail would be finance minister.
He also clarified that he is associated with the party and will perform all responsibilities assigned by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif. He added that the PML-N will not take part in by-elections.
While responding to questions regarding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that elections will be held on time.
He reiterated that there is no conflict between him and the party, saying that he attended the ECC meeting held recently in Islamabad.
Responding to the journalist’s question of how you rate Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s dealings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he said Dar’s dealings with the IMF are the same as the way you practice journalism.
In response to a question, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi stated that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government failed to fulfill its commitment to the IMF, and the current government is paying the price.
Abbasi further said that former prime minister Imran Khan and former army chief General (retired) Bajwa are openly admitting that they violated the Constitution; therefore, the court should take notice of it.
He said that he has no dispute with PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz, adding that giving her free rein is in the best interests of both leaders.
Meanwhile, during an informal interaction with journalists, Maryam called him her “elder brother”, saying that Abbasi was not angry with the party. Abbasi wanted to bring the youth forward in the party, she added.
It is pertinent to mention here that rumors started making rounds on social media that Abbasi was quitting the PML-N and setting up a new party comprising like-minded politicians since he resigned from the party’s key post soon after Maryam Nawaz’s appointed as the senior vice-president and chief organizer of PML-N.
