KARACHI: Former finance minister Miftah Ismail has dismissed recent allegations by government members as baseless, asserting he never earned a single rupee from the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, the senior leader of the Awaam Pakistan Party said if anyone has evidence, they should present it publicly; otherwise, they should apologise or take the matter to court.
Ismail clarified that he had no knowledge of the project he is being accused of being involved in, stating it was initiated in 2019 when he was in jail. The BISP-related meeting took place that year and decided to launch the programme in 10 districts annually.
He added that his company only supplied goods to the World Food Programme and never profited from BISP. He accused two PML-N senators and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry of spreading false allegations and demanded that Mr Chaudhry either apologise or provide evidence in court.
Ismail further stated that if he is guilty, then former finance ministers Ishaq Dar and Muhammad Aurangzeb are equally responsible, as they were part of the same government decisions.
Criticising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Ismail pointed out a conflict of interest, alleging the PM owns two sugar mills and his son is also a mill owner. He questioned the ethics of the Prime Minister making sugar-related policy decisions, especially when sugar imports coincide with the start of the crushing season.
He also mentioned Ishaq Dar’s role in the Sugar Advisory Board, calling it another conflict of interest. “Did Anusha Rahman not notice any of this?” he asked.
Ismail claimed sugar was intentionally exported during Shehbaz Sharif’s tenure while the public was forced to buy it at high prices. “They are lying because I speak the truth about them,” he added.
