Leader is not ousted through ‘maligning campaign'

Federal railways minister also inaugurates model railway station

OKARA: Pakistan Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said a political leader could never be ousted through what he termed ‘maligning campaigns’ of the opponents.

He expressed these views while addressing a gathering of PML-N workers at the new building of the Model City Railway Station on Tuesday.

“Anyone who has engineered the “minus Nawaz” formula is playing wronging the country and PML-N,” he remarked.

“Our rivals like Imran Khan and Zardari move to K-P and Sindh, respectively, as general elections are just round the corner,” Rafique said. He added Zardari must focus on removing garbage from Karachi as the cosmopolitan turning to ruin.

Criticising Sheikh Rasheed, the railways minister said after announcing his resignation from the national assembly, the AML leader escaped abroad. “I can confidently say that Rasheed will never resign before January 31 as, under the law, no by election would be held.”

The minister claimed that load-shedding had almost finished across the country and CNG filing stations were open round-the-clock.

Briefing the gathering about the newly-constructed model railway station, the minister said the project was completed in a period of 20 months at a cost of Rs280 million. The total covered area of the building is 45,580 square feet with a waiting room for 120 passengers.

The building also houses several washrooms, two water filter plants, prayer area besides the offices of railway authorities. He told the audience that the model railways station would accommodate commercial activities. Rafique said the Pakistan Railway has more than 100 of the latest locomotives.

Earlier, MNA Chaudhary Riazul Haq Juj requested the minister to issue orders to make Okara a station for the business train and night coach. He also demanded the minister open the city western side railway level crossing which was closed since 20 months creating difficulties for the masses.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2018.