KARACHI: Former Federal Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has publicly expressed skepticism about Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif completing his term until 2027, while launching a broadside against the government’s economic policies. Speaking to the media in Karachi, the senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader delivered a series of critical remarks on national issues.
Ismail began by condemning the recent suicide bombing in an Islamabad mosque, calling for national unity to eradicate terrorism, particularly emphasizing the need to eliminate militants in Balochistan. He linked the province’s instability to a lack of rights for its people.
Shifting to the economy, the former minister sharply questioned the narrative of economic stabilization. “If the country is becoming economically stable, then why is poverty and unemployment increasing?” he asked, criticizing the reliance on IMF loans as a false foundation for stability. He stated unequivocally that there is no real economic stability in the country.
Ismail, aligning with his party’s stance, advocated for privatization and blamed losses in state-owned companies on rampant theft. He accused the current government of failing to pass a single law in favor of the public and predicted a further rise in prices during the upcoming Ramadan.
In a notable political comment, he said, “I do not think Shahbaz Sharif will remain the Prime Minister until 2027.” He also strongly rejected Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) demand to bring Karachi under federal control, referencing the party’s past governance and advocating instead for stronger local government systems akin to those under former President Musharraf.
