ISLAMABAD:Rejecting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) hue and cry over the deputy prime minister’s appointment, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah came forward to defend the decision of the federal government led by his party to appoint Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on the key post.
The allegations were levelled after Dar was given the deputy PM’s portfolio by the incumbent government, who is a close relative and aide to Nawaz Sharif — the PML-N supremo.
Sanaullah admitted that there was ‘bitterness within the party’ for not appointing Dar as the finance minister. He signalled that the ruling party found a way to compensate Dar for the finance minister’s portfolio.
“Dar deserves this post even if he is not a close relative of the Sharif family,” Sanaullah said, adding, “Our party and the government deliberated to honour Dar in this way.”
It was a matter of politically honouring someone through deputy premiership, he claimed.
Regarding his own appointment as minister, the PML-N stalwart said that Nawaz would decide about giving a ministry to him after concluding his China visit. Nawaz will hold consultations with the party’s senior leadership regarding his ministry, Sanaullah added.