Dr Ishratul Ibad all set to re-enter national politics

• Announces launching of new political party
• Our intent is very clear
• I have full confidence we will make a positive contribution
• Establishment is showing a lot of restraint
• Advises government to act and not just react

DUBAI: Dr Ishratul Ibad, the former governor of Sindh, will be making a return to national politics, and this time with his own political party.

The former senior leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), who has been living in the United Arab Emirates since 2016, has announced the launching of a new political party in the near future.

Talking to Leading News, Dr Ishrat said that there is a need for a political platform in Pakistan’s prevailing conditions. “After discussions (with colleagues) we have had till now, we have come to the conclusion that there’s a need for a political platform (in Pakistan),” he said. “Insha Allah, we will establish a political platform.”

“Our intent is very clear and we are approaching this with full conviction and commitment,” he said, adding: “We have started this effort with an intention to deliver to Pakistan. According to our capacity and thinking, we would want to make efforts, which in our understanding, will take Pakistan towards a better direction.”

The former Sindh governor said that they (his party members) are working towards this with complete sincerity and “I have full confidence that we will make a positive contribution”.

When asked about the ‘Pakistan First’ slogan with reference to his association with the former and late chief of army staff and president, General Pervez Musharraf, and the then set-up, Dr Ishrat questioned the reasons, situation and conditions that lead to such a set-up.

“If you look at Pakistan’s current situation and I make a list of the reasons for such a set-up, all the reasons prevail.”

He said that if the establishment is not going towards such a set-up, it means that it is exercising a lot of restraint, as the country is facing multiple crises. “There’s law and order, there’s economic crisis, there’s instability. In such circumstances, it sometimes becomes a compulsion to intervene. I believe that the establishment is showing a lot of restraint, otherwise, all ingredients are there (for such a move),” he said.

When asked how much time he thought was there (before the establishment runs out of patience), the soft-spoken Dr Ishrat said: “If things are not put on the right track on emergency basis and no immediate action is taken to address the prevailing issues and to lessen the restlessness and frustration among the masses, then I would say there’s very little time.”

However, he added that if the government starts identifying the problems, intellectually addresses and handles them, changes it narrative and gives hope to the people, matters can be controlled. “But it has to be done on an emergency basis with complete sincerity,” he said.

“Merely reacting won’t work. If there’s an issue, you (government) only react and that too harshly, both politically and administratively. You will have to act,” Dr Ishrat said.

When asked if he was in contact with Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Miftah Ismail, the former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders who just recently formed a new political party by the name of ‘Awaam Pakistan’, Dr Ishrat replied in the affirmative. He said they were doing a good job, adding that people with the same thinking work together in any situation.

He said it was not necessary to be in the same party, adding that good work can be done together while maintaining their respective identities. “Whoever is doing good work, we will be with them.”