PML-N leader and former Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has divided the internet over his recent remarks on Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.
Earlier, in a podcast with internet personality Nadir Ali, Miftah Ismail blamed Ishaq Dar for orchestrating a campaign to undermine him. The former finance minister also alleged that Dar also used to ask famous anchorpersons to tweet against him.
“Dar wanted to become a minister,” Miftah Ismail said. “Eventually his desire was fulfilled because he is the father-in-law of Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and he used to stay with him in London as well.”
Read more: Miftah Ismail tells what will he do after resigning from Finance Ministry
However, later, Miftah Ismail took to Twitter and said he “regretted” the comments he made on Ishaq Dar’s familial relations with Nawaz Sharif.
“In a podcast with Nadir Ali, I mentioned Dar Sahab’s relations with the party leadership, which has been given a spin by the media. Upon reflection, I regret doing so. I thank Fawad Hasan and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for pointing out my mistake. Here is the clip with the offending sentence,” Miftah Ismail said while sharing a clip from the podcast.
Interestingly, Miftah Ismail’s remarks went viral on social media. After Miftah Ismail expressed his regret over his remarks, many netizens expressed their sympathy for the former finance minister.
“Miftah Ismail’s removal as Finance Minister was painful because after so long someone was actually trying to do the right thing not for the party but for the country. Very unfortunate. I feel for you Miftah bhai, difficult to finally get the IMF program on track, for what?” Ali Moeen Nawazish said.
Miftah Ismail's removal as Finance Minister was painful, because after so long someone was actually trying to do the right thing not for the party but for the country…
Very unfortunate. I feel for you Miftah bhai, difficult to finally get the iMF program on track, for what? https://t.co/reQ2oP4FgU
— Ali Moeen Nawazish (@am_nawazish) January 5, 2023
“There is nothing to regret. It is a fact that: Dar is related to the party leadership, Dar is a finance minister simply because of his proximity to the party leader, Dar ran a campaign to oust Miftah Ismail, Dar does not inspire confidence among key cabinet members,” Vice President of the Asia Group Uzair Younus said.
There is nothing to regret.
It is a fact that:
1) Dar is related to the party leadership
2) Dar is finance minister simply because of his proximity to the party leader
3) Dar ran a campaign to oust Miftah Ismail
4) Dar does not inspire confidence among key cabinet members https://t.co/siJGwYCQJF
— Uzair Younus عُزیر یُونس (@UzairYounus) January 5, 2023
More netizens expressed their support for Miftah Ismail and condemned the way he was ousted as the finance minister. They also said that Miftah Ismail should not apologize for stating the facts.
Being one of the biggest supporters of PML-N, I believe Miftah Ismail deserved an honourable retirement from the seat of FM. He SAVED Pakistan from going DEFAULT ⚠️
His education, his experience… My party should be thankful for his services. I hope Maryam Nawaz will FIX this…— Saad Kaiser 🇵🇰 (@TheSaadKaiser) January 5, 2023
Miftah didn’t deserve this, he is so much better than so many PMLN leaders. PMLN is such a nepotistic party and every ministry has been granted on the basis of favoritism rather than merit in every PMLN tenure https://t.co/nsuQQpNLNN
— J110 (@jawismm) January 5, 2023
Miftah Ismail is a modest guy who succumbed to party pressure of petty Ishaq Dar. There’s nothing to apologize for when you’re stating facts. https://t.co/Nt8hW24HNH
— Ariha Fatimah Arain (@arihafatimah) January 6, 2023
Meanwhile, some netizens also stated that Miftah Ismail should not publicly criticize Ishaq Dar as it is bad optics. Instead of taking shots at the incumbent finance minister, Miftah Ismail should have done the honorable thing and resigned quietly from the party, netizens claim.
Read more: Khawaja Asif receives flak for posting a meme on Miftah Ismail
However Miftah Bhai criticizing Dar sahb is so bad for the optics. There's no one as experienced as Dar sahb & both can settle the scores indoors. After my Father's death, the party took unjust decisions hurting us further yet I never spoke about it publicly. Hope SS intervenes !
— Faizan Khan (@Faizankhaan91) January 5, 2023
Never the sharpest tool even in the economy shed, the now-miffed Miftah Ismail could’ve done the honorable thing and resigned from the PMLN the day he was fired. He was actually being a real jerk brining up the in-law relationship. There’s no media spinhttps://t.co/qSvC2sIz4F
— Mohammad Taqi (@mazdaki) January 6, 2023
PTI had several finance ministers. But when it was time for each of them to go, they did it quietly. It was a good lesson in maintaining discipline.
Breaking flanks like this serves no one, and especially not the person doing it. https://t.co/1tI0wNfVqM
— Aima Khosa (@aimaMK) January 5, 2023
All the Miftah fanboys, can you please state one decision/policy/measure that he took that wasn't painfully obvious and that too he took months too late? Kept lying, kept flip flopping, kept gaslighting the public, came up with multiple budgets with erros & nonsensical numbers.
— SocialPariah (@Non_graata) January 5, 2023