Miftah confirms to form new political party

New political party has yet to be named

KARACHI:

Former finance minister Miftah Ismail confirmed on Sunday to form a new political party.

In an op-ed published in an English-language daily, he announced forming the new party, which has yet to be named.

Speculations were doing the round that disgruntled PML-N leaders Miftah Ismael, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokar were forming a new political party.

In his op-ed, Miftah said that the new party would be of “a different kind” and its leadership would comprise of “women and young people” and would also constitutionally mandate term limits for party leaders.

He added that the party would avoid targeting one province or ethnic group and would not rely on the dynastic or family politics that dominated its contemporaries.

Read more: Miftah dismisses reports of joining PPP

Miftah wrote that the impetus for forming his new party was the need to “radically restructure our governance”. “We are fast reaching the point of no return — and it is imperative we take a hard look at our ineffective governance that has failed our people,” he mentioned.

He deemed Pakistan’s current political leaders “out-of-touch and short-sighted” with regard to Pakistan’s future. “I am sorry to say they lack both the courage and the competence to change the course of this country,” Miftah said.

The former finance minister stated that Pakistan needed to be run by individuals with a track record of integrity, competence and results, emphasising that younger people would make up the core of the party’s leadership and public appeal.

“We want to present to our people a new vision of Pakistan, a nation focused on its people — especially the young,” he wrote.