PM Imran regrets Sharif’s departure: Rashid

Sheikh Rashid says govt could not bring back Dar, bringing former premier is more difficult

LAHORE:

Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that Prime Minister Imran Khan is regretting former premier Nawaz Sharif’s departure as the government could not bring back ex-finance minister Ishaq Dar and it is more difficult to bring back Sharif.

“The opposition’s all parties conference (APC) was supposed to be organised after Eid, but Muharramul Haram is here. Even after Muharram, the APC will not be held. It will go to their throat,” the railways minister said while addressing a news conference on Saturday.

The minister said that Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will not get what he wants from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party, adding that as his politics is already bad, he wants others’ to be the same.

Rashid said that the PML-N and the PPP could not launch any movement against Imran, so “they are seeking NRO”. “Premier Imran will do anything but will not give NRO. He is already regretting that Sharif is gone,” Rashid added.

Rashid criticised the opposition leaders, including Maryam Nawaz, Shehbaz and Rehman, saying that they did not have trust in each other.

To a question, Rashid said that Sharif has not forgotten enough to make the same mistake as Shehbaz Sharif. One sacrifice of Shehbaz is enough for him. The dead and tired opposition can do no harm to Imran. “If it comes out, it will get tired.”

To another question regarding the government steps to bring back Sharif, Rashid said that when Dar and Suleman Shehbaz could not be brought, then bringing Sharif would not be an easy task.

Rashid said that the train service would be restored fully after receiving refurbished passenger coaches from the workshops.

“Workshops were not in working position earlier due to the coronavirus pandemic,” he said.

The minister announced 10% discount in fares of all classes of Shalimar Express train from August 25.

He also announced computerised online booking on freight trains in order to increase the railways income.

To another query, he said that not a single employee or worker would be sacked from job and the railways was also working on regularisation of contract employees.

Rashid said that the PTI government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, would complete its constitutional tenure, adding that the opposition was not in a position to start any movement against the government.

Earlier, the minister chaired a meeting of the railways administration and officers to review the accidents happened during the last year, their causes and fixation of responsibility. PR Chairman Habibur Rehman Gilani and Chief Executive Officer Dost Ali Leghari were also present in the meeting.

Sanaullah’s reaction

“Forget the politics of PML-N and think about the oppressed families whose loved ones died in the train journey due to your incompetence,” according to a statement quoting PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah.

Maryam’s appearance in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) hit the politics of Rashid and Imran Khan hard, he said, accusing the government of being weary and destroying every sector of the country. “People have no hope of relief from the weary plunderers.

“Pindi's devil keeps his tired rotten politics alive in the name of Nawaz Sharif.”