“The resignation of the prime minister is out of the question, and the demand is unconstitutional,” said Dar, while addressing a press conference held to showcase the government's economic performance.
Dar is the first senior leader of the PML-N to respond to PTI’s demand for the premier to resign as well as that of holding fresh elections. Imran's PTI has planned a sit-in in Islamabad to force the government to accept its demands.
The finance minister said the government is serious about electoral reforms. "Even the party [PTI] that is planning to hold the long march is involved in the finalisation of the terms of references of the parliamentary body on electoral reforms," said Dar.
He said the May 2013 elections were transparent as the media proclaimed during election transmissions.
“The march is nothing less than a drama,” said a visibly perturbed Dar, hoping that at the end of the day common sense would prevail and all political parties would join hands to save democracy.
"Barring two to three parties, all political parties were untied and have consensus that the political and parliamentary system should not be derailed," Dar added. He said consultation with political parties was also held on Wednesday and another round would be held on Thursday.
To gather 50,000 people in Islamabad to force the government to hand over the state is out of the question, Dar said.
"As long as they [protesters] remain within the ambit of the law and the constitution, the government would welcome peaceful protests," the finance minister added.
Further, he said, some politicians, who had lived abroad until recently, a veiled reference to PAT chief Tahirul Qadri, had been inspired by recent revolutions across the region but they could not fool the masses.
Dar said there was a turnaround in the economy by his government during its first year of rule, but cautioned that any political adventure would reverse the progress.
"The economic performance exceeded our expectations and the party remained committed to its election manifestos," said Dar.
COMMENTS (30)
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@Noon is Junoon: What war you going to? Is that what they are preparing you for, a bloodshed of Marchers at the hand of PMLN Supporters? What papers are you reading in your "country" Punjab?
IK go home and show some mettle in kpk where ur team is yet to make any visible achievement. Granted pml-n coyld have avoided the hubris it initially displayed on the recount issue, it does not merit any such major demand as change of government or change of pm. What stops maulana fazlur rahman from doing the same to ik in kpk. Ik has chosen a path of complete political immaturity proving himself just yet another power hungry politician without any scruples or principles.
God be with you Nawaz. If the lines are drawn and if they want war, we the supporters and voters will give them war and protect you till the last drop of our blood.
Mr. Ishaq,
Why should the rigged Prime Minister resigned, he will be kicked out along with you and all the Gullu Butt's. Just get redy for a long term jail.
Allah bless Pakistan and Nawaz Sharif.
@Abbas Alij:
Yes you are correct. Its a family corruption show in Punjab and center. Sons, nephews, son-in-laws, etc - all Sharif family members are involved in looting the country and ofcourse they will not want to see Sharif removed as they will then need to go out and get a REAL job, which none of them have the competence to actually get to begin with !
Says a money launderer, tax evader, loan defaulter, embezzeler, and commission agent.
Does rigging not happen anywhere else in the world? The defacto democracy....the US....Bush stole that election from Al Gore (surprise surprise Bush's brother was governor of the state in dispute).
So why does this country go to the extremes, attempt to derail a democratic process and destroy the fragile foundation of democracy? IK you are no different than the ones in power or the ones before them. So why should we support your attempt to grab power and that too at the expense of harming the business community and loss of innocent lives?
Your goal is to make Nawaz resign and that will accomplish what? It is foolish ideology if IK thinks he will have majority in the next election. That fall surely messed up his thought process or it must be the people he has asked to join his party...again revealing lack of political maturity.
@Abbas Alij: No wonder that the karachiwala, the laundry man reported friendly advice to the Sharifs to join his enterprise! There are other ways to make money, politics is getting nasty now.
Rex Minor
Resignation is out of question...throwing him out is very much on the cards. Keep your fingers crossed and your suitcases ready.
@Mogambo: Statements forced under duress by military are the most truthful, indeed.
Yes its right though I am not a voter and supporter of PML (n), But it is democracy to continue. So Nawaz govt should not be thrown away.
The same statement was issued in 1999 but when push comes to shove then people like NS can't stand the tide. Nawaz Govt is good form of family politics that has no place in modern democracy.
I would never use both word "Prime minister & Resignation" if I were in Dar seat! Now please come up with something solid against Qadri than persitant "Geographical References" of his origins.
Off course, if it were up to Ishaq Dar, he won't resign. Ishaq Dar's having a ball out there, burdening the country with high-cost debt which our generations won't be able to repay.
it seems that the so called political leaders are on one side and the masses on the other and they are unable to comprehend the situation. People are fed up of this dictatorial rule and want visible change as change is inevitable now.
The stock market is taking a retreat and the gains in the Marco economy could be reversed thanks to the self styled IK .
Ik is terrible for the economy , the former CJ has filed a suit against him for his blatant lying , not an iota of development in KPK where the his CM is totally empowered !!
IK is putting himself before the country .
PML-N is busy making statements, running around in circles in a panic, and making reservations to run off to Jeddah, London and Dubai, as they are so scared of Imran Khan and PTI ! Imagine, if they actually had a mandate that was legit to begin with, would they be so scared? No they wouldnt. The PML-N is full of crooks like Sharif and Dar, and as the saying goes, now the chickens are coming home to roost. Exposure time for PML-N, so the world can see how they stole the election,
Well this is no surprise. Thieves never give up ill gotten loot or power without reacting. This in the extreme can include killings of innocent as seen in Lahore.
This corrupt family spokesperson who mortgaged the country to IMF and with euro bonds at 8% has tenacity to now threaten us with such rhetoric.
The family mafia and servants of defaulter and thieves of rigged elections should be arrested and charged for treason
oh you meant the typo mistake you had in world bank report.
Isent Dar's daughter married to Nawaz's son? Family loyalty at its finest ! Although, Dar did squeal about Nawaz when he was in prison back in 1999, and gave full details of Nawaz and Shahbaz's money laundering methods and paper trail! Ofcourse, this being Pakistan that was all quickly forgotten and buried in a closet. Just goes to show, crooks never change!
There seems to be some kind of parallel Pakistan running in their minds at least this is what they believe.
Mr. Dar's certainty on the PM's fate is interesting for right now Mr. Dar should be thinking what his own fate is going to be?? He should first ask himself if "This Question is a Question?". Sounds trivial? It is not. For it was a Philosophy paper question at a University in England that I was attending. Delving little deeper one can find the answer which is not so trivial.
Th minister has spoken the truth; peoples march is a drama, a theatrical act from Shakepear perhaps, but it is not the Prime Minster but Imran Khan and Qadri and co, who have been choosen to play the role of Brutus.
Rex Minor
So Dar Sahab is elected chairman of the Election Reform Committee. He is close relative of Sharif. NO-one in National Assembly from PML-N is capable enough to become chairman. They call this democracy. Nawaz is PM, brother CM Punjab, Hamza Sharif is de-facto CM Punjab, Maryam Nawaz is head of Loan Project, relative Abid Sher Ali is water minister? This is democracy? or familcracy?
So finance minister said about economic performance that “The economic performance exceeded our expectations".
With these bad policies and low caliber you should keep such low expectations. You are right dear.
Ishaq Dar is a liar. Sharif is PM after rigging elections and that means he has no right to be in power. As for the economic situation, Dad went and borrowed more money from the Saudis and wrote of loans to his and the Sharifs factories and is claiming he is turning the economy around on the back if borrowed loans! Its sickening to hear his lies.
Dar Sahab, If this march is a drama, Then the statement you said in the Court, under oath, that Nawaz was doing money laundering was also a drama. A Drama under Oath. And your selection as the head of the Elections Reforms committee must also be a drama. Coz how can the Theif be head of a committee which is made to stop theft.