Current situation a test for all: Miftah

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) disgruntled leader Miftah Ismail has expressed concern about the current state of leadership in the country, saying that the existing political leaders do not deserve the status they are enjoying right now.

“The current political situation is a test for both civil and military leaders –Imran Khan, Asif Ali Zardari, the Sharifs, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief justice, and the army chief,” Miftah said while addressing a function on Saturday.

Miftah who briefly served as the finance minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before being unceremoniously replaced by Ishaq Dar is part of a group of politicians who have distanced themselves from the policies of the ruling coalition and call for national dialogue to steer the country out of the ongoing crisis.

The former minister said there is an urgent need for a new social contract and a new system that can provide employment opportunities for the youth. “The country can prosper if those in positions of power uphold their oaths and responsibilities.”

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He acknowledged that the federal budget, which was once $4.5 billion, has now dwindled to less than $2 billion, and even the army is facing difficulties.

Referring to the ongoing tug of war among political parties and within some institutions, he said the current "Game of Thrones" could not go on forever.

“Three transparent elections can resolve the problems being faced by the country. It is an established principle that free and fair elections are a way out,” he added.

Addressing the participants, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said there are some “artificial leaders” in both the ruling and the opposition parties.

Abbasi, who served as the PML-N’s senior vice president, resigned from the position on February 1 just a month after Maryam Nawaz, PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif’s political scion, was appointed as the party’s chief organizer and senior vice president.

The veteran politician echoed Ismail's sentiment that the current political leaders do not deserve the position they are enjoying. He said accountability in the political system should be ensured through fair elections.

“Creating new provinces and strengthening the system at the grassroots level can help resolve half of the country's problems.”

He said while the market-based system has been in place since the 90s, administrative solutions are needed to address issues like the wheat crisis, which he attributed to problems within the market.