PHOTO: EXPRESS
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJ) Justice Gulzar Ahmed issued this order while heading a three-judge bench that was hearing a suo motu case initiated by former CJ Mian Saqib Nisar against billions of rupees losses incurred by the PR due to alleged mismanagement.
During the hearing, the chief justice expressed annoyance over the PR’s performance. He said the entire department is politicized and nothing is functioning properly.
The chief justice also criticized Sheikh Rashid without naming him. He observed that a person should first travel by train before taking charge of the ministry.
“The stations and railway tracks are not in order. Every passenger travelling by train is in danger and not feeling secure. The freight trains are also not operating. The world is using bullet trains but we are still operating antiquated railways,” he noted.
Another member of bench, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, said the audit report about the PR revealed losses to the tune of billions of rupees. The bench also questioned why the PR record is not being computerized.
The bench also asked about last year’s fire incident. On 31 October 2019, Tezgam passenger train caught fire while traveling from Karachi to Rawalpindi, resulting in at least 75 deaths.
The counsel representing the Ministry of Railways said the department had probed into the matter and taken action against two officials. However, the CJ rejected outcome of the investigation.
Later, the bench summoned the PR’s top officials. Rashid will be first minister to be summoned by incumbent CJP. Justice Gulzar last week also raised questions about alleged illegal appointments in the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the national flag carrier.
The incumbent CJ has not taken any new suo motu notice so far but is hearing the public interest cases which were initiated by former CJ Mian Saqib Nisar. The last CJ Asif Saeed Khosa had adopted a policy of judicial restraint by not hearing these cases last year.
However, Justice Gulzar in his first speech had said eradication of corruption and maladministration will be his top priority.
Former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique had also appeared before the apex court during tenure of CJP Nisar and submitted a reply with regard to billions of rupees losses faced by the PR during his period. He had stated that no corruption or irregularities had been mentioned in the audit paras.
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