Dar relieved of his duties

LONDON: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday accepted Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s request to be relieved of his duties, reported Geo News.

Ishaq Dar was relieved of his three roles, including his duties in the Finance Ministry, and has been informed of the decision. The matter and the contents of the letter, earlier sent by Dar, were also discussed by the premier with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, said sources.

The News has seen the letter sent by Ishaq Dar from London to the Prime Minister’s House requesting for “Leave of Absence” in the light of his health.

Dar had arrived in London around a month ago and has been seeking treatment at a Harley Street hospital. The finance minister has been attending the clinic for treatment three times a week and also spent a week in the hospital.

Dar has stated in his letter to the prime minister that he wishes to seek “relief for now from looking after the three divisions” that he has been heading for approximately four years.

The News has learnt that Ishaq Dar spoke to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and took him into confidence prior to writing the letter to PM Abbasi seeking relief. It’s understood that Nawaz Sharif advised him that in the current circumstances it was the best option to let Shahid Abbasi run economic affairs of the country through an advisory committee of economic experts.

A source in the Prime Minister’s Office, when reached for comment earlier, said that the premier is aware that Ishaq Dar has requested to step aside from his role in view of his medical treatment in London.

He said that the whole cabinet is of the view that Ishaq Dar provided excellent leadership to Pakistan’s economy and helped turn around Pakistan. He said Ishaq Dar took the economy in dire straits from the previous government and worked selflessly for Pakistan.

A source close to Ishaq Dar said that he never had any issue with unanimous decisions of his party colleagues and leaders of the party. The source refuted the reports which had suggested that Dar was clinging on to his role despite reservations from his party colleagues and party leaders.

The source claimed that Dar has performed brilliantly for four years and not only stabilised but also provided the right direction to the economy of Pakistan. The source claimed that Dar and the Sharif family are being victimised through the courts and that fact is known to all.

Ishaq Dar has always respected courts and will appear before the courts when he is in good medical condition and when doctors allow him to travel.

It’s understood that doctors have advised the finance minister to travel only when he is medically fit. An accountability court in Islamabad has declared Dar a proclaimed offender, rejecting his plea for exemption from appearance.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) announced last week it will reinvestigate the finance minister in the Hudaibya Papers Mills case. NAB is initiating reinvestigations into the case to fulfill legal requirements in the light of a Supreme Court verdict, the anti-graft body said in a statement.

A corruption reference pertaining to Dar's owning assets disproportionate to his known sources of income was filed by NAB in the light of the Supreme Court's July 28 judgment in the Panama Papers case. Ishaq Dar has denied any wrongdoing and said cases against him are politically motivated, aimed at getting Nawaz Sharif and family punished through him.