Former finance minister Miftah Ismail has formally announced his resignation from his positions within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), signaling his exit from active electoral politics.
In his letter of resignation, Ismail stated that he wanted to make official the changes that were already in effect. He submitted his resignation as General Secretary of PML-N Sindh and withdrew from all party committees.
Throughout his letter, Ismail expressed his gratitude towards the party leadership for their trust in him both within and during his time in government. Particularly, he thanked party leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif for their support and consideration over the years.
While thanking other senior leaders, including Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Ayaz Sadiq, Pervaiz Rasheed, and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Miftah acknowledged their kindness and support during his political journey. Despite his decision to withdraw from active electoral politics, Ismail reiterated his commitment to a socially just, economically stable, and well-governed Pakistan.
Ismail’s Political Journey
Ismail had a crucial role as finance minister, leading the government’s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, he faced criticism from within his party, most notably from Maryam Nawaz, for his economic decisions, including a petroleum price hike.
After leaving the finance minister role, Ismail joined forces with a group of ‘political mavericks’ to start the “Reimagining Pakistan” campaign. This movement held several seminars discussing the country’s challenges, seeking to develop a consensus on Pakistan’s future course of action. Despite speculation, Ismail and the other leaders have maintained that this campaign is apolitical and will not be used to launch a new political party.
