Ishaq Dar agreed to resign, then changed mind: sources

LONDON: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had agreed to resign from his position but later on changed his mind, sources informed Geo News on Sunday. 

However, Dar's decision to continue on post irked some of the senior leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, according to sources. 

A trusted source shared that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqab Abbasi had asked Ishaq Dar to resign because of his absence from Pakistan due to his medical treatment. 

The PM had asked Dar to resign after speaking to PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, source said. 

It has been learnt reliably that PM Abbasi asked Ishaq Dar to step aside in the view of the current circumstances – to which Ishaq Dar initially agreed.

“Ishaq Dar agreed that he will resign and there are several witnesses who can vouch for that,” said the source.

The source, on condition of anonymity, revealed that Shehbaz Sharif robustly reasoned with Ishaq Dar that he should step aside as his absence from Pakistan isn't sending a good message, and that the PM was right in his demand that Dar should step aside.

The matter was discussed in detail with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who advised Dar that it was right decision to resign and that an economics advisory council should be formulated to run affairs related to economy, said the source.

He added that Nawaz Sharif suggested that till next general elections this economics advisory council, comprising around five members, shall run financial affairs of the country under the guidance of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

The source said it was decided that Ishaq Dar will resign over the weekend and Dar had agreed but he backtracked on his promise stating that his resignation will send a wrong message.

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“This happened after names for the economics council were finalised and a way forward agreed. Ishaq Dar’s decision to stay on has not gone down well within the circle of senior PML-N leadership,” shared the source.

Ishaq Dar has been in London for around a month. He has attended clinics on Harley Street and has been admitted for treatment. 

Sources have told that Ishaq Dar has been advised by the doctors to take rest and make return plans to Pakistan upon the completion of his treatment.

Geo News has learnt that former PM Nawaz Sharif is set to reach London early next week for a week and he will hold talks with Ishaq Dar. 

The source said that Nawaz Sharif is of the view that Ishaq Dar should step aside and once he has spoken to him in London about it he will definitely take his advice and move on.

A corruption reference pertaining to Dar's owning assets disproportionate to his known sources of income was filed by NAB in light of the Supreme Court's July 28 judgment in the Panama Papers case. Ishaq Dar has denied any wrong doing.