Senate panel irked as Tezgam victims go without payout

Questions appointment of railways CEO saying incumbent is a ‘junior officer and dual national’

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate Standing Committee on Railways on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the non-payment of compensation to the heirs of Tezgam Express inferno victims and decided to approach the premier on the matter.

The body also raised objections over the appointment of a “junior and a dual national” as railways chief executive officer and sought details of the procedure for the appointment of CEO from the department.

The Senate Standing Committee on Railways met under the chairmanship of Senator Asad Khan Junejo.

Lamenting that the heirs of the victims of Tezgam incident had still not received the compensation, the committee chairman asked when the payment of Rs47 million would be made to them.

The committee decided to apprise Prime Minister Imran Khan about the issue.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmad sought reply from the railways for appointing a dual national on the position of railways CEO.

He said that the railways had short-listed six persons for the post of CEO but despite the presence of senior officers, the name of a junior officer was sent in the summary to the premier.

“The committee should be informed whether it is promotion or selection? Does the prime minister have the authority to appoint a junior officer instead of a most-senior as the chief executive?” he asked.

The railways secretary noted that a list of officials in all ministries holding dual nationality had been sent to the Establishment Division.

The committee sought details of the procedure for the appointment of railways CEO in the next meeting.

Taking up other issues, the railway officials observed that no update had been made on Quetta-Taftan route during the last 100 years and maintained that again a feasibility report had been prepared for the said route in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

Senator Mirza Afridi stressed on the need to increase the number of cargo tracks saying that trade would grow in the coming days.