Saad Rafique regrets harsh words against top leaders

Says he may have reservations on some judgments but judiciary is not controversial

LAHORE: Federal Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said that nine odd months back when things were heading to a wrong direction where they would spiral out of control “I changed my narrative”.

“I immediately realized that some forces are trying to pitch institutions against each other to create instability in the country “, he added. He said that anyone who promotes this policy of confrontation will be no less than a traitor. Saad Rafique said, “I can only appeal to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters and voters, if they pay any heed to my advice to abstain from abusing anyone…this is what mature parties should do or at least this is what I think.”

He was addressing a press conference in Lahore, along with his younger brother Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique to clarify the claims made by a section of the electronic media regarding his National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigation.

He said that he has always abstained from using harsh words against anyone and added that he used one or two harsh words against General (retired) Pervez Musharraf, Imran Khan and Zardari which he regrets.



He even clarified his statement regarding “loha ka chana”. He said that his statement was against their political opponents not any institution. Saad Rafique also regretted the treatment meted out to him during a recent court hearing. He said he does not deserve such a treatment.

“Whatever happened, we have to move on…we can have reservations with some judgments but that does not mean the institution is controversial,” said the PML-N leader.

He also condemned the recent allegations levelled by PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudary.  He said how can Fawad blame him or Rana Sana Ullah, the provincial law minister, for the firing incident. He said that these were very “below the belt” allegations. He said that they don’t believe in taking revenge.

The railways minister said that he has even not taken revenge from his father’s murderers and added “What can be more important to us than that.”

During his press conference, he blamed Imran Khan for bringing the culture of confrontation in Pakistan for his petty gains. “We should abstain from this fight at a time when Pakistan has been brought on grey list, when Kashmiris were being subjected to worst kind of torture,” said Saad Rafique



He also suggested the institutions to abstain from overstepping their boundaries. The railways minister said that a smear campaign is being run against him and his family by distorting facts.

He said that the document of his property shown by a section of the media was in fact a document he provided to NAB and is also a part of asset declaration with Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He added that whatever he does with his property is done through white money and declared to the state.
It is pertinent to mention that Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif was the first to reject policy of confrontation opposing the very narrative of his elder brother former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
Punjab Government Spokesman Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan also regretted the irresponsible statements from certain political elements on the sad incident of firing on the residence of SC judge Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan.

In a statement issued to media, Malik Muhammad has said that Supreme Court is also monitoring all developments on the investigations. “JIT is investigating on professional pace and would submit its report to concerned government officials and to Supreme Court as well” he said.

Malik Ahmed Khan added that the JIT consists of representatives from all departments and hopefully all political leaders would avoid unnecessary comments till the completion of inquiry.