Tag: Miftah Ismail

  • PM Shehbaz’s alleged audio leak; Govt forms JIT

    PM Shehbaz’s alleged audio leak; Govt forms JIT

    The federal government has constituted a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the data hacked from Prime Minister’s (PM) House, after several audio leaks surfaced on the internet.

    Following the audio leaks, an investigation was initiated to probe the data leak from the PM House, with one member each in the JIT to be included from the country’s intelligence agencies.

    The investigative team will examine how the data was hacked and will investigate if devices were installed in the PM House or if the phone calls were recorded. The team will also check which officers were present in the house at the time of the incident. Meanwhile, Special Branch personnel designated at the PM’s secretariat will also be interrogated.

    The premier has also called a meeting of the National Security Committee on Wednesday, September 27, related to the recording at the PM House. The meeting will be attended by the heads of security agencies.

    On Saturday, September 24, alleged audios of PM Shehbaz and other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders leaked online.

    In one of the audio clips, PML-N Vice-president Maryam Nawaz allegedly can be heard complaining to her uncle [PM Shehbaz] about Finance Minister Miftah Ismail.

    The second clip allegedly concerns a conversation between PM Shehbaz, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Tarar, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and former National Assembly (NA) speaker Ayaz Sadiq about the resignations of PTI MNAs. The audio is said to be a recording of a cabinet meeting.

    Party leaders can be allegedly heard discussing whose resignations from PTI will be accepted. Moreover, the leaders can be heard saying that the final decision will be taken by PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif who is in London.

    In another audio clip, PM Shehbaz and an unidentified man can be heard allegedly discussing facilitating Maryam Nawaz’s son-in-law Raheel.

  • Miftah Ismail responds to a follower, reveals which restaurant he will visit when back in Karachi

    Miftah Ismail responds to a follower, reveals which restaurant he will visit when back in Karachi

    After resigning from the post of Finance Minister, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, Miftah Ismail, can’t wait to get back to dine at his favourite restaurants in Karachi.

    Miftah took to Twitter on Sunday and announced his resignation.

    Where many commended and congratulated Miftah for his dedicated work as finance minister, a follower questioned him about which restaurant he would like to visit once back in Karachi.

    Miftah replied, “I am going to visit Zahid, Idris & Javed Nihari houses, Al-Kebab, Ghaffar and Meerut Kebab, & Gola at Dhoraji. Many choices fortunately.”

    Karachi is Miftah Ismail’s hometown.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the PML-N leader and Senator, Ishaq Dar, is coming back home to Pakistan after almost five years. It is being reported that Dar will take over the finance ministry from Tuesday (September 27).

  • Dar aaraha hai: Ishaq Dar flying back with PM Shehbaz

    Dar aaraha hai: Ishaq Dar flying back with PM Shehbaz

    Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Senator, Ishaq Dar, is coming back home to Pakistan after almost five years.

    According to media reports, he is flying back with Prime Minister Shehbaz Shairf. Following his return, Dar — who is slated to become Pakistan’s new finance minister — will take the oath of his ministership on Tuesday, September 27, 2022.

    On Sunday, Miftah Ismail resigned as Finance Minister of Pakistan.

    “I worked to the best of my ability for four months, and remained loyal to the party and the country,” the PML-N statement quoted Miftah as saying during the meeting between Nawaz Sharif and other party leaders in London.

    Earlier, it was reported that Dar would take over the finance ministry from Tuesday (September 27).

    It is pertinent to mention that Ismail is an unelected member and thus couldn’t continue in office for more than six months. He took charge of the ministry in April.

    The Sharif brothers and Dar had a four-hour long meeting in London following the prime minister’s arrival from New York after attending the United Nation’s 77th General Assembly.

    While speaking to Geo News Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that Dar, who has been Pakistan’s finance minister four times in the past, will “Facilitate PM Shehbaz on economic affairs.”

  • PM Shehbaz’s many alleged audio leaks in 24 hours, PTI raises questions

    PM Shehbaz’s many alleged audio leaks in 24 hours, PTI raises questions

    Audios allegedly of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders have been leaked.

    Following the leaks, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter, saying, “PM House’s data has been put on sale on the dark web. It is a major failure of our intelligence agencies, especially the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Besides political matters, important discussions on security and foreign affairs are in their hands.”

    Similarly, his party member Shireen Mazari said that the real issue is that who placed these hacking devices.

    “Real issue is who bugged the PMO/PMHouse in the first place. The hacking happened because devices were placed in these locations. So who is responsible and where did orders or decision come from? That is a question that must also be focused on,” she tweeted.

    ‘TV par ulti baatein karta hai’: Maryam Nawaz about Miftah Ismail

    In one of the audio clips, PML-N Vice-president Maryam Nawaz allegedly can be heard complaining to her uncle [PM Shehbaz] about Finance Minister Miftah Ismail. “

    “TV par ulti baatein karta hai” (He says strange things on television), she allegedly says.

    “He doesn’t take responsibility, says strange things on TV which people make fun of, he doesn’t know what he is doing,” the voice said to be Maryam’s says in the clip.

    “He clearly cut corners,” the voice said to be PM Shehbaz can be heard saying as she wishes for the return of former finance minister Ishaq Dar.

    It is pertinent to mention that Dar will take over as the Finance Minister in the coming week.

    The second clip allegedly concerns a conversation between PM Shehbaz, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Tarar, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and former National Assembly (NA) speaker Ayaz Sadiq about the resignations of PTI MNAs. The audio is said to be a recording of a cabinet meeting.

    Party leaders can be allegedly heard discussing whose resignations from PTI will be accepted. Moreover, the leaders can be heard saying that the final decision will be taken by PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif who is in London.

    At one point, Ayaz Sadiq can be heard saying that “Will tell them that the signatures were not correct,” allegedly talking about those PTI members whose resignations they did not want to accept.

    The third clip is allegedly a conversation between Maryam Nawaz and the PM where they are discussing the return of former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

    A voice said to be Maryam’s can be heard saying that “Army has decided to bring Musharraf back to Pakistan so before it looks like that they have an imposed a decision on us, I asked Abu (Nawaz Sharif) to tweet in favour of Musharraf’s return.”

    At the time, Nawaz had tweeted, saying: “I have no personal enmity or animosity towards Pervez Musharraf. I don’t want anyone else to suffer the trauma I have had to endure.”

    ‘Her son-in-law is very dear to her’: PM Shehbaz

    ‘Her son-in-law is very dear to her’: PM Shehbaz allegedly says in another audio leak, referring to Maryam Nawaz’s son-in-law.

    In that clip, PM Shehbaz and an unidentified man can be heard allegedly discussing about facilitating Maryam Nawaz’s son-in-law Raheel.

    The unidentified man can be heard briefing the person, alleged to be the premier, about the consequences of taking the decision.

    At this, the voice thought to belong to the PM says: “The son-in-law is very dear to Maryam Nawaz. Tell her very logically about this and then I will talk to her.” He also said that he would personally meet him once he returns from Turkey.

    At this, the other person allegedly advises PM Shehbaz to get this work done from former finance minister Ishaq Dar, to which he agrees.

  • Pakistan is out of danger, there is no risk of the country going bankrupt: Miftah Ismail

    Pakistan is out of danger, there is no risk of the country going bankrupt: Miftah Ismail

    The present coalition government has lifted Pakistan out of danger, according to Federal Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, as there is no chance of the nation becoming bankrupt.

    In an interview during Geo News show “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath” on Monday, the minister stated that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan had put the country at risk of default. However, he said, Pakistan is not currently in danger of going bankrupt.

    The economic crisis were made worse by flash floods. But we’ll run the economy effectively. The country’s economy won’t be in danger, he continued.

    The finance minister added that the government would implement measures to stabilise the currency market within the following four to five days.

    He claimed that certain banks offered overpriced dollars as a result of the circumstance. The minister stated that the Prime Minister has taken strict notice of these banks and has requested a report from the Governor State Bank within two days.

    Eight banks have also received letters regarding this and will also face penalties.

  • Summary to deduct two days’ salary of government employees sent to PM

    Summary to deduct two days’ salary of government employees sent to PM

    According to Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, a summary to deduct two days’ amount of government employees’ salary is being sent to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif for approval in order to assist the flood-affected families.

    Additionally, he requested that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) should instruct banks to direct a portion of their profits and staff pay to be withheld in order to support flood victims at this crucial time.

    According to Brecorder, Miftah claimed the federal government has provided Rs28 billion for the flood victims while speaking to the Jamiyat Panjabi Saudagaran Delhi Karachi members at the group’s office.

    “I am ready to contribute Rs60 billion for the flood victims, and I have already requested the PM for the consideration, yesterday. This amount will be arranged from the budget, and some other sources,” Ismail said.

    Govt to pay Rs25,000 to one woman from each affected family

    The federal government has decided to pay Rs25,000 for one woman from each family over the next two weeks in order to help flood-affected families who are currently in desperate need of assistance in various districts across the nation.

    This will help them to pay for their essential living costs and prevent them from having to spend the night sleeping on the ground on an empty stomach.

    Import of essential food items

    In response to comments about rising vegetable and petroleum product prices, he said that the government is importing essential products from nearby nations, particularly onions and tomatoes. It is possible to import onions from the neighbouring country of India, and two international organisations have been contacted in this regard.

    Standing crops have been damaged by the monsoon floods, according to Miftah. Loss of at least $10 billion has been calculated thus far.

    He estimated that it will cost about Rs500 billion to rebuild. He acknowledged that the main problem facing the average person is inflation, and he promised to lower electricity rates in two months and put inflation under control in four to five months.

    Ismail said that by successful negotiations with the IMF and obtaining the required support from friendly nations, particularly Qatar, he had saved the country from a potential default.

    He also blamed the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine for the recent increase in fuel costs for gas, diesel, and coal in Pakistan and around the globe.

    The Finance Minister said that the decision to impose ban on import of some luxury products was in larger interest of the country.

  • ‘Govt has 13 months but I may not have that much time’: Miftah Ismail

    ‘Govt has 13 months but I may not have that much time’: Miftah Ismail

    Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Friday, September 2, said that the government has 13 months more of its tenure but he may not have that much time left.

    Addressing a seminar in Karachi, the Finance Minister said, “The government has 13 months but I may not have that much time,” said Ismail, hinting at the increasing criticism and dissatisfaction that his party has expressed over his performance.

    In recent times, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has shown dissatisfaction in how Miftah is handling the country’s economy.

    ‘Misleading and incorrect’: Nawaz Sharif reacts to reports that he is ‘dissatisfied with Shehbaz’

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has distanced himself from statements attributed to him regarding his brother and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He said that they are “misleading and incorrect”.

    “I remain hopeful that the sincere and tireless efforts by SS under the most challenging circumstances will bear fruit and he will steer the country out of the mess created by Imran Khan,” tweeted Nawaz Sharif.

    Nawaz Sharif’s tweet came after senior analyst Suhail Warraich revealed that he is not satisfied with the performance of his brother Shehbaz Sharif or Finance Minister Miftah Ismail. Warraich said Nawaz wants Shehbaz to review his policies.

    “Nawaz had already said that they should not take over the government and go towards elections. It seems like he [Nawaz Sharif] has made up his mind that he wants the economic policies reviewed, and he would want Ishaq Dar to manage it. He [Nawaz Sharif] does not trust Miftah Sahib,” said Warraich on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’.

    “Mian Sahab repeatedly kept telling me to go and meet Shehbaz Sharif and ask him what are these policies and that he [Shehbaz Shairf] needs to review his policies,” said Warraich.

    Warraich said that Nawaz is not happy with PML-N’s present narrative.

    Warraich further revealed that Nawaz’s next narrative will be directed against the judiciary, not the army. He said Nawaz will write a letter to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to complain about the delay in hearing of his cases.

    The senior analyst said that Nawaz Sharif believes that like Quaid-e-Azam, cases should be faced without being jailed, and added the former premier is of the view that he should return once the jail issue is resolved.

    “Nawaz believes Imran is a fascist who needs to be dealt with first, while matters of democracy can be taken care of later,” Warraich added.

    Suhail Warraich recently met Nawaz Sharif in London.

    This is not the first time Nawaz Sharif has reacted to his brother’s policies and government. Earlier this month, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz tweeted that Nawaz Sharif was unhappy with the government for increasing petrol prices.

    Read more: ‘I am an easy target’: Miftah Ismail reacts to criticism after another petroleum hike

    “Mian Sahib strongly opposed this decision and even said that I cannot burden the people with one more penny. And if there is any compulsion of the government, I am not involved in this decision and he left the meeting,” tweeted Maryam.

  • IMF board approves disbursement of $1.17 billion in bailout funds

    IMF board approves disbursement of $1.17 billion in bailout funds

    The seventh and eighth reviews of Pakistan’s bailout programme were approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) board on Monday, releasing $1.17 billion to the cash-strapped nation.

    Pakistan is now set to get a $1.17 billion loan tranche from the international lender within the next six days.

    “Alhamdolillah, the IMF board has approved the revival of our EFF programme. We should now be getting the seventh and eighth tranche of $1.17 billion,” said Finance Minister Miftah Ismail in a tweet announcing the news.

    Additionally, the Finance Minister praised the Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, “for taking so many tough decisions and saving Pakistan from default.”

    The previous payment was made to Pakistan in February, and the subsequent tranche was scheduled to be released following a review in March.

    However, the PTI government drastically reduced petroleum prices by providing substantial subsidies to the country, which caused the program’s fiscal objectives to be missed.

  • Asad Umar defends Tarin’s alleged audio leak, Miftah asks Tarin to quit politics

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Asad Umar along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Finance Minister Taimur Jhagra held a press conference following the alleged audio leak between former federal minister Shaukat Tarin and provincial finance ministers.

    Earlier in the day, an audio was leaked in which Tarin allegedly asked Punjab Finance Minister Mohsin Leghari and KP Finance Minister Taimur Jhagra to write letters withdrawing from the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) deal.

    Umar said Tarin had asked both provincial finance ministers to request the federal government to renegotiate the IMF agreement due to the recent floods and the devastation caused both in KP and Punjab.

    “Can anyone say this isn’t good advice?”

    Umar accused the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) of acting against the state’s interest and international commitments by voting and speaking out against legislation related to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and IMF agreement during PTI’s tenure.

    He said that Tarin, as a former finance minister, had every right to “give advice” to Jhagra and Leghari. “There is nothing wrong in Tarin speaking to Jhagra and Leghari on the phone and giving advice.”

    “If Jhagra felt that there was something wrong in it, then he would not have brought himself before the nation,” he added.

    Taking a jibe at the government, Umar posed a question: “Tell me if you are asking money from foreign governments, then why can’t you ask the IMF to give us space this year to use our money for flood-related expenses?”

    ‘Bring Khan to power but not at the cost of Pakistan’: Miftah Ismail

    Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said that Shaukat Tarin should leave politics and “Asad Umar and Taimur Jhagra should be ashamed of themselves”.

    “Imran Khan should ask the nation for forgiveness. Taimur Jhagra should resign and Shaukat Tarin should quit politics. Is this why you do politics?”

    He termed the PTI’s move the “most shameful thing”, saying that the real faces of PTI leaders have now been exposed.

    Referring to the IMF Executive Board meeting, which is set for today (August 29), Miftah said that by the will of God, the country will hear good news tonight after the IMF approves the pending tranche.

    Miftah Ismail also asked PTI supporters to question party Chairman Khan about whether the letter Jhagra wrote was in the state’s interest. “Do support Imran but tell him he is not bigger than Pakistan. Bring him to power but not at the cost of Pakistan.”

    “When they are writing letters against Pakistan’s interest, it is your responsibility to say no. Consider Pakistan’s interest to be sacred. If Pakistan’s interest is not sacred to a person, he is not fit to govern the country.”

  • Jhagra responds after Miftah accuses KP govt of jeopardising IMF deal

    Jhagra responds after Miftah accuses KP govt of jeopardising IMF deal

    After Finance Minister Miftah Ismail accused the KP government of plotting to derail the IMF deal in a late-night press conference, KP Finance Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra stated that the province is currently dealing with a flood scenario that takes precedence over everything else.

    In a previous letter to Miftah, Jhagra connected the payment of the Rs100 billion in alleged liabilities with the clearance of the provincial cash surplus for this fiscal year, which is a requirement of Pakistan’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    This occurs just three days prior to the revival of IMF’s multibillion dollar credit programme. The K-P government has already agreed through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to achieve the Rs117 billion cash surplus that is required by the IMF arrangement. Ismail is a co-signatory of the Letter of Intent (LoI) that was recently sent to the IMF in order to revive the programme.

    “Please note that in these conditions [floods], and without the resolution of the issues highlighted previously, for the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to actually leave a surplus will be next to impossible,” Jhagra wrote in the communique sent to Miftah on Friday.

    Miftah Ismail’s call, according to Jhagra, was “interesting,” and the two will now meet on Monday to resolve their issues. However, the provincial finance minister stated it was “sad” that in Pakistan, one needed to “shout to be heard.”

    Jhagra confirmed in a series of tweets that he had actually addressed a letter to the federal finance minister and not the IMF. The provincial minister sent a letter that included images as well.

    Jhagra went on to say that despite raising the same issues with Miftah at their meeting on July 5, they decided to return the IMF MoU to Islamabad within 24 hours with the approval of the chief minister of KP.

    Jhagra added that the KP administration would never back down from advocating for a strong federation or from bringing up its concerns at the centre.

    At a late-night press conference, Miftah called the letter “deplorable.” He labelled the letter as a “conspiracy to derail the IMF programme and sink the rupee.”

    He questioned whether PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who was seeking to obliterate Pakistan and its economy out of a desire for power, had any set parameters.