KARACHI: After months of public disagreement over the party’s economic policies, former finance minister Miftah Ismail has parted ways with the PML-N, and also quit electoral politics.

On Saturday, Mr Ismail announced he was stepping down as PML-N’s Sindh chapter general secretary and was “no more interested in active politics.”

Mr Ismail informed the party about his decision through a letter addressed to PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal. He also thanked the leadership “for the opportunity to serve the country.”

When asked about the reasons behind his decision, Mr Ismail said there was no “significant development”.

“Actually I am no more interested in active politics. I don’t know why but I am not going to do politics anymore,” he told Dawn.

“Though you would not find me anymore actively involved in politics, I would vote for PML-N and convince my close circles of friends and family to do the same.”

A PML-N source told Dawn that Mr Ismail had also resigned from the party’s economic council and its central executive committee.

Mr Ismail was entrusted with steering the economy out of the severe crisis after PDM came into power following the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan.

However, as inflation continued to rise and deal with the IMF not secured, Mr Ismail was replaced by Ishaq Dar almost five months into the job. Since then he has constantly expressed open disagreement over his successor’s policies.

He also went on a cross-country campaign with another estranged PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former PPP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar. The group held seminars and press conferences in major cities along with other like-minded leaders from across the political arena under the banner of “Reimagining Pakistan.”

In February, Mr Abbasi, who briefly served as the prime minister during the previous PML-N government, also stepped down as the party’s senior vice president over policy differences.

Mr Ismail was long believed to follow the same route especially due to his public tiff with Mr Dar, who enjoyed the firm backing of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

After he was re-elected as PML-N president earlier this month, PM Shehbaz said Mr Dar was working hard to steer the country’s economy out of the present difficulties. “Tho­se who were unduly criticising Ishaq Dar have no place in the party,” he said without naming anyone.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2023