PML-N leadership decides to remove Finance Minister Ishaq Dar

LONDON (NNI): The leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to remove Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the wake of inquiry into corruption allegations against him.

According to a private television channel report, the decision to take resignation from Ishaq Dar was taken at a high-level consultative meeting chaired by ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in London.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar along with other party leaders.

The development came three days after National Accountability Bureau (NAB) seized bank accounts and properties of Ishaq Dar, amid calls for his resignation.

On Wednesday, NAB sprang into action against Dar after an accountability court initiated proceedings against him in a corruption reference that was filed on the directives of Supreme Court in connection with Panama Papers case.

Reports said the PML-N top brass also discussed repeal of Article 62, 63 of the Constitution to pave way for Nawaz Sharif’s return to Parliament.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also reached London from New York to attend the meeting.

Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif is also likely to join the meeting on Sunday.

Party affairs, political future of the former PM’s daughter Maryam Nawaz Nawaz and differences inside the party are being discussed in the meeting, sourced said.