Dar gets new Pakistani passport

Former finance minister to return next month after his 'treatment' is completed

LONDON:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former finance minister Ishaq Dar has been issued a new Pakistani passport after he confirmed his return to the country. 

Dar maintained that he would visit Pakistan next month as his ongoing treatment would be completed in the next 10-12 days. 

When asked about his possible role in the current government's economic policies on his return to Pakistan and taking over as finance minister, Ishaq Dar said he would take oath as a senator on his return to the country and maintained it was the discretion of the party as to which person should be given what responsibility.

Speaking about the cases against him in Pakistan and his bail, Dar said there was only one case against him filed by former prime minister Imran Khan, stressing it was a “fake” case".

"That is why when Imran Khan's government approached Interpol seeking my extradition to Pakistan, the documents shared with Interpol turned out to be completely unsubstantiated,” he recalled, adding the international body had exonerated him.

Read PML-N leader Ishaq Dar confirms his return to Pakistan next month

He added that the case against him was related to tax returns and that he had never delayed filing taxes. 

Miftah ‘happy’ to quit

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has said he would be content with being replaced with senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar and would happily vacate the post for the latter if the party leadership decided to do so.

In an interview with a private news channel on Tuesday, Miftah addressed the swirling speculations that Ishaq Dar was likely to return to Pakistan in the third week of July, and shrugged off the matter, saying he "does not feel anything about it".

The former finance minister can head back to the country if he desired so, he added.

"He is our elder and already a part of the economic team,” the incumbent finance minister said and revealed that recent economic decisions, including the ones to withdraw subsidies on fuel, came after taking the PML-N stalwart on board.