Fighting terrorism: Military courts need of the hour: Saad Rafique

10 new power vans added to the railways operational network.

LAHORE: Those who are criticising military courts should clarify whether they are with the nation or the Taliban, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said on Monday.

Rafique was talking to reporters after a ceremony held to mark the induction of 10 new power vans in the railways operational network at the Cantonment Station. General Manager Javed Anwer was also present.

“During the All Parties Conference (APC), the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had agreed to the idea of establishing military courts to expedite the disposal of terrorism cases. A PTI leader, Hamid Khan, has now challenged the setting up of the courts,” Rafique said.



“All the political parties had declared the establishment of the military courts the need of the hour at the APC chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after the Peshawar tragedy,” Rafique said. He said that the courts had been established after the passage of the 21st Amendment. “PTI should clarify its position on the issue,” Rafique said.

Rafique said that the financial position of the railways was improving. “There is no plan to stop the operation of any train. The management is considering public-private partnership in the operation of trains,” he said.

“There is also no proposal to remove workers. However, action will be taken against any official involved in corruption or misuse of authority,” the minister said.

He said that the management wanted to provide facilities to passengers. “A number of steps are being taken to improve quality of services,” Rafique said. “It has been decided to bring a change in the freight trains,” Rafique said.

He said that the management had also decided to raise the salaries of railway police personnel from the next financial year.

Pakistan Railways now has 20 power vans. “Now, Pakistan Railways is in a position to operate 10 freight trains. The revenue from freight trains will increase,” Rafique said.

He said that the management had decided to discontinue the stops ordered on political basis. “Around 124 passenger coaches will be renovated for induction over the coming months,” Rafique said. He said that the railways had diesel for 10 days’ operations. “Efforts are being made to increase the stock to 30 days,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2015.