Former federal finance minister Miftah Ismail has resigned from his post of Secretary General in the Sindh chapter of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He also announced that he would be taking a break from active politics.
In his resignation letter sent to PML-N General Secretary and Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqabl, Ismail cited the upcoming reorganisation of the party as the reason for his decision.
"Given the upcoming reorganisation of the party structure, I think it's time for me to make official what is already true and move on," he wrote in the letter as he resigned from his party post and all other party committees.
He appreciated party supremo Nawaz Sharif and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif for their kindness and consideration over the years.
"I shall always be grateful to them for their support and trust," he wrote as he also extended thanks to other senior stalwarts of the party.
"I won't be active in electoral politics anymore, I share with you a keen desire to see a socially just, economically stable and well-governed Pakistan," he wrote in what sounded like a goodbye letter.
His resignation comes days after news emerged that the party's central leadership was not keen on keeping either Ismail or Shah Muhammad Shah in any party position.
Ismail, together with former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has been campaigning for a major overhaul in the country, in particular, the basic economic social contract. Together, the two have gone across the country to engage with people from all sectors of life, especially business, under their "Reimagining Pakistan" campaign. There was hardly a platform that Ismail did not appear at -- whether physical or virtual.
Read his full resignation letter below
Miftah Ismail took over as the federal finance minister after the government led by Shehbaz Sharif took over after the vote of no-confidence in April 2022. He remained in the post for six months until senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar returned to the country and took reigns of the finance ministry.
During his brief tenure as finance minister, Ismail oversaw a period of resuming dialogue with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and implementing a slew of tough policies which have since helped Pakistan post consecutive positive current account deficit numbers.
But in this period, Ismail has publicly traded barbs with his senior and successor, Dar -- a party stalwart in ways that Ismail can never be.
In his resignation letter sent to PML-N General Secretary and Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqabl, Ismail cited the upcoming reorganisation of the party as the reason for his decision.
"Given the upcoming reorganisation of the party structure, I think it's time for me to make official what is already true and move on," he wrote in the letter as he resigned from his party post and all other party committees.
He appreciated party supremo Nawaz Sharif and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif for their kindness and consideration over the years.
"I shall always be grateful to them for their support and trust," he wrote as he also extended thanks to other senior stalwarts of the party.
"I won't be active in electoral politics anymore, I share with you a keen desire to see a socially just, economically stable and well-governed Pakistan," he wrote in what sounded like a goodbye letter.
His resignation comes days after news emerged that the party's central leadership was not keen on keeping either Ismail or Shah Muhammad Shah in any party position.
Ismail, together with former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has been campaigning for a major overhaul in the country, in particular, the basic economic social contract. Together, the two have gone across the country to engage with people from all sectors of life, especially business, under their "Reimagining Pakistan" campaign. There was hardly a platform that Ismail did not appear at -- whether physical or virtual.
Read his full resignation letter below
Professor Ahsan Iqbal
Secretary General PMLN
Islamabad
Dear Ahsan bhai,
Given the upcoming reorganisation of the party structure, I think it’s time for me to make official what is already true and move on. I therefore tender my resignation as General Secretary of PMLN Sindh and also resign from all party committees.
I thank the party leadership for entrusting me with responsibilities not only in the party but also in the government. The party Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif and President Mian Shehbaz Sharif have been most kind and considerate with me over the years. I shall always be grateful to them for their support and trust.
Senior leaders such as yourself, Khawaja Asif, Ayaz Sadiq, Pervaiz Rasheed, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and many others have also been very kind to me over the years. I cannot thank all of you enough for your leadership and friendship.
Although I won’t be active in electoral politics anymore, I share with you a keen desire to see a socially just, economically stable and well-governed Pakistan.
My best wishes to you, the party and all its leaders.
Sincerely,
Miftah Ismail
Miftah Ismail took over as the federal finance minister after the government led by Shehbaz Sharif took over after the vote of no-confidence in April 2022. He remained in the post for six months until senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar returned to the country and took reigns of the finance ministry.
During his brief tenure as finance minister, Ismail oversaw a period of resuming dialogue with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and implementing a slew of tough policies which have since helped Pakistan post consecutive positive current account deficit numbers.
But in this period, Ismail has publicly traded barbs with his senior and successor, Dar -- a party stalwart in ways that Ismail can never be.