The indictment of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in NAB’s corruption reference is a major development after former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s appearance before the bureau on Monday. Opposition parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) are right in demanding the minister to resign following the accountability court’s decision. The country’s economy can simply not afford to be in control of a finance minister facing trial over financial embezzlement charges. It would be a bitter irony if the Finance Minister accused of financial irregularities back home gets to contest Pakistan’s case at international economic forums. The country needs someone who can work towards keeping the economy stable and running, and this is something that will require undivided attention. It goes without saying that the Finance Minister has lost the moral authority to retain his ministership after his indictment by the accountability court. If ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s latest outburst against his disqualification by the Supreme Court is anything to go by, it is clear that the ruling party will continue to call in question the legitimacy of the ongoing inquiry. However, the PML-N leadership should realise that its grievances with the courts should not disturb the country’s affairs. Ishaq Dar has pleaded not guilty before the court, but was unable to come up with any substantive argument in his defence. Things certainly don’t look too good for the former PM and his children either, and it seems they will only complain of unjust treatment at the hands of the JIT and Apex court. It will be best if the under trial leaders of the PML-N can come up with evidence in their defence instead of just playing the victim card. The PML-N has every right to express concerns over the Apex court using controversial articles of the Constitution to oust Nawaz Sharif from his office. But governmental affairs are better left to be handled by those who are not directly involved in the ongoing corruption saga. * Published in Daily Times, September 28th 2017.