Irreconcilable differences: ‘Commission formed to satisfy Khan’s ego’

Rafique says there was no need to constitute a commission.

LAHORE: Railways Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique said on Saturday that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan would be unable to substantiate his claims before the judicial commission probing allegations of electoral malpractice in the 2013 general elections.

He was speaking to journalists at Railways Headquarter after attending the signing ceremony of an agreement between the department and National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) regarding the upgrade of railway stations. Rafique said there was no need to constitute a commission on this account.

He said the commission had only been set up to satisfy Khan’s ego. Rafique said many of Khan’s lies had been exposed since the day he had joined politics.

He said he would not be able to corroborate his assertions as the elections had been conducted in a free and fair manner.

The minister said the upgrade of railway stations would improve the ambience there and facilitate the provision of better facilities to passengers. Rafique said Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan would strengthen bilateral ties.

He said the department would ink agreements regarding investment in the railways sector by Chinese companies during Jinping’s visit.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2015.