The former finance minister was grilled by the BBC host over the properties owned by him and his family
Former Finance Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar faced some serious grilling at the hands of BBC’s Hardtalk host Stephen Sackur. The former finance minister also maintained that he was in UK for cervical treatment during the interview.
Dar appeared cornered when he was inquired about his properties in Pakistan and overseas, as well as his personal net worth. He claimed that he only had one house in Pakistan was which sealed by the government. He also kept on emphasizing that his wealth was declared in his tax papers.
The host also asked him about the Dubai properties owned by his children. Dar appeared to be dodging the question before calling his children adults. Dar also falsely claimed that many people had died in the custody of NAB.
2018 elections were rigged
Dar called the 2018 elections has rigged and the worst ever. He claimed that the 2018 election was stolen from his party and the whole world was a witness to this. He said that it were a few individuals and not the whole military that was subverting the democratic process in the country. Dar also said that Nawaz is not against the army and has issues with certain individuals at the top.
Twitter has a field day
Twitterati had a field day after the interview was broadcast. People from the civic society, journalists and other let their emotions known to Ishaq Dar.
Hypocritical attitude continues
Ishaq Dar is one of the many opposition leaders facing cases from the National Accountability Bureau. A few of them, like Dar, are overseas, enjoying protection against Pakistan’s law. These liberties are provided to them by the British Government by allowing them to stay. Interestingly, BBC is also a publicly owned entity. While on the one hand, the state allows indicted people to avoid courts in home countries, its own mouthpiece tries to shame them on the other. This is truly hypocritical of the government in the UK.