Dr Ishrat Husain. PHOTO: FILE
Welcoming the appointment of Justice (ret’d) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso as the interim prime minister, shortlisted nominee for caretaker PM and dean of the Institute of Business Administration Dr Ishrat Husain said that it is the first time that the process of selecting an interim prime minister has followed a democratic process, upholding the edicts of the Constitution.
“I second Khoso’s call for free and fair elections,” he said, advising the interim prime minister to handle each and every political party in a most even-handed manner.
Dr Ishrat’s expectations from the office were similar.
“Had I assumed office, I would have worked for a smooth democratic transition in the country, so that we can take tough economic decisions,” he said, adding that the challenges the country faces currently call for these decisions.
According to Dr Ishrat, judges are not the only few good men in Pakistan.
“People here think that the most honest of men are judges – that is not true,” he said, adding that there are good and bad people in every profession.
“We have a tendency to label and brand people but stereotyping must be avoided,” Dr Ishrat said.
Accusations against him
What went against his appointment as caretaker PM were certain misunderstandings on the part of the opposition, Dr Ishrat said.
“They said I am a dual national, I am not. I travel on visit visas to the United States,” he said, clarifying the first of the allegations.
Perhaps the most important one was that he has worked in the World Bank. This, he said, was nothing to be ashamed of.
“There is nothing wrong with being associated with the World Bank,” Dr Ishrat said, adding that it was in fact a matter of pride for Pakistan, that one of its citizens went through that rigorous process and got selected for the post.
“The knowledge that I gained from my twenty-years of service is invaluable,” he said.
However, an agenda – of bailing the country out to the International Monetary Fund – was levelled against him. According to Dr Ishrat, the work he has done with the IMF shows that his dealing with them was very balanced.
“When I negotiated with the IMF, I made sure I kept the economic interests of the country in mind,” he said.
Dr Ishrat is of the opinion that dependence on the IMF and other traditional economic partners is no longer a viable option.
In Pakistan’s history, the only economist to have taken up the charge of the interim premiership is Moeen Qureshi, who assumed office in 1993.
“There is a difference between the two of us. He had no hands-on experience in Pakistan. I have been here for fourteen years,” Dr Ishrat said.
No political agenda
However, this does not end the string of misunderstandings against Dr Ishrat.
“I had been accused of having close connections with President Asif Ali Zardari because I’m a relative of Khalil Ahmad,” he said.
He said that till now he has not been affiliated with any political party, including the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party.
“I have been quite vocal in both my criticism and appreciation towards them,” he said.
Dr Ishrat said that he has written profusely about the macro-economic policies followed by the incumbent government. However, he has praised them for starting the Benazir Income Support Programme, which promises to help out the poor.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2013.
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Dr Ishrat is a true gem of a person. I wish the Election Commission would have had appointed dr Hussain as the interim prime minister. He would have had been instrumental in formulating the much required budget before the formation of the new government in May, 2013.