LAHORE: Angry passengers who could not board the Rawalpindi-bound Subak Kharam Express at Lahore Railway Station, on Thursday, have rebuked President Mamnoon Hussain’s bid to ‘promote’ railways by travelling in it.
There was a curfew-like situation at the railway station even before the movement of the president and track No2 was entirely sealed. Stringent security measures were taken at the railway station. The enraged passengers chanted anti-government slogans. They chanted “Go-Nawaz Go” slogans when their confirmed tickets were cancelled. Passengers of other trains which got late due to the president’s travelling joined them. According to reports, Business Express which had to leave Lahore station at 3 pm departed at 9 pm on Thursday. Similarly, Karachi Express left at 11 pm instead of 5 pm.
Some passengers were also stopped from entering the station due to stern security measures.
Talking to Pakistan Today, passenger Arsalan Khan criticised the government for cancelling his confirmed ticket. “It does not make any sense to cancel the booking of an entire train for an individual. The president is not even the person who is looking after the affairs of the State,” he said.
Another passenger Muhammad Faiq, 55, also criticised the Railways authorities and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government. “I had a confirmed ticket of economy class but I was denied boarding rights. What is the purpose of giving protocol to a person who is least bothered about the affairs of the State and the government? He just enjoys protocol and perks at the President House,” he said while talking to Pakistan Today.
A third passenger Muhammad Ali reprimanded the Railways authorities and the president alike. “Is there any person who would ask the authorities why the railway station has been turned into curfew-like place? Women, children and adults all suffered due to this one person. The trend of the protocol only progressed in this government tenure. Was the purpose president’s trip was teasing people?” he questioned.
President Mamnoon and his family travelled from Lahore to Rawalpindi on a train and the Railways authorities allegedly booked an entire train to facilitate the president and his security staff. According to some reports, all tickets of the economy class were cancelled but passengers of business and AC parlour were allowed to travel with the president. Mamnoon Hussain and his family departed at 4:30 pm for Rawalpindi from platform No 2 after a two-day visit to Lahore.
Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique denied claims of passengers and their family sufferings as a result of the president’s journey.
Khawaja Saad Rafique said, “The train was not declared special despite the president was travelling in it.” He added: “The train stopped at all stations before reaching Rawalpindi station.”
President Mamnoon said he had chosen to travel through train to promote the Pakistan Railways. “The people should trust Pakistan Railways, that’s why I travelled on a train. I also travel via the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) with common passengers,” he said in a statement released by the President House.
He lauded Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique for bringing improvement in the railways.
