Ishaq Dar has practically left finance ministry: Sheikh Rasheed

MULTAN: Awami Muslim League’s Sheikh Rasheed on Wednesday claimed that Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar has practically left the finance ministry and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was looking for a replacement to head the country’s financial affairs.

While addressing a news conference in Multan, Rasheed said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Chief Nawaz Sharif has caused immense loss to the country and has destroyed it financially.

There is no official proof of Dar’s resignation from the ministry, however, Abbasi had removed him from his post as the chairperson of the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet. Abbasi became the committee’s head when the decision was taken in August, a few days after he was sworn in as the prime minister.

During the news conference, Rasheed also said that some ministers of PML-N from south Punjab were planning to leave the party.

Speaking in regards to the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case, the AML chief reiterated his previously made statement, saying it was the mother of all crimes. He added that the verdict on the case will decide the fate of PML-N, which is in power in the centre. 

According to Rasheed, if the Sharifs are indicted in the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case, no one would be able to save them.

The Hudaibiya Paper Mills money laundering reference was initiated over the confession made by Dar. In 2000, Dar admitted to his role in the alleged laundering of millions of dollars for the Sharifs.

The AML chief also spoke of the controversy surrounding the position of office-bearer for PML-N, saying Nawaz did not give a chance to his brother Shehbaz Sharif, who is also the chief minister of Punjab, despite being disqualified. 

Rasheed added that Nawaz has been in politics for the last 40 years but has not yet groomed a successor to lead the PML-N.