'Voters to lean on Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan's candidates in Feb 8 polls'

• Stripping PTI of iconic 'bat' symbol inappropriate decision: Miftah.
  
• Politico resigned as PML-N's Sindh general secretary in June 2023.
• Ex-finance czar dispelled reports of joining Pakistan Peoples Party.

Former finance minister Miftah Ismail has predicted a tough battle between the nominated candidates of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in the February 8 general elections.

Speaking to journalists at Lahore’s Alhamra on Sunday, Ismail anticipated that voters would primarily lean on Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan’s candidates, forecasting a tough electoral battle in the forthcoming polls.

The disgruntled PML-N leader also commented on the Supreme Court’s verdict and termed it an "inappropriate decision" to strip the former ruling party of its iconic electoral symbol — ‘bat’ — before the general elections.

He added that regardless of the top court’s verdict, the nation would still cast votes for those candidates who won PTI founder and PML-N supremo’s approval.

To a question regarding the ongoing privatisation of state-owned entities, the economist strongly favoured immediate selling of loss-making government institutions to the private sector which would be beneficial not only for economically and operationally paralysed organisations but also for the country.

He claimed that the fares of air travel would be dropped if Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is privatised.

Later in December last year, Ismail had dismissed media reports claiming that he was joining the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

In June, the disgruntled politician had announced that he was stepping down as PML-N's Sindh general secretary and all other party positions.

The politico had announced the decision after months of bitterness over his removal and the subsequent appointment of Ishaq Dar as the finance minister in September 2022.

He announced his resignation from the party office in a letter to Ahsan Iqbal, the PML-N secretary general.

Since he relinquished the finance ministry portfolio, Ismail has been continuously criticising the current political system, with much of it aimed at his successor as he failed to steer the country out of the economic crises.