RAWALPINDI: Federal Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said that those who played the game of ousting an elected prime minister should have thought about the political destabilisation beforehand.
He said that in response to a question about conspiracies by political and non-political forces, wherein an elected prime minister is removed in such a controversial way, creates an uncertain political situation which has a negative effect on the economy. He remarked that those blinded in their quest for political victimisation are responsible for halting the country’s economic progress.
Talking to media on Wednesday after inaugurating the up-graded Awam Express, he said, “We weren’t allowed to work thanks to the dharna [sit-in] and other conspiracies,” adding that if this continues, investments will be taken out of Pakistan.
The minister also said that they should not be stopped from speaking, and remarked that when Nawaz Sharif spoke on the verdict, he was accused of attacking the courts. He also said that he does not take ‘political joker’ Sheikh Rasheed seriously.
He also said that it was a sign of doomsday that Asif Ali Zardari had been acquitted by an accountability court while Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by the SC for not getting the salary from his son.
Khawaja Saad Rafique also said that a big chunk of Railways’ land had been recovered and those who had occupied the Royal Palm Club were still at large.
He said that the expenditure for the up-gradation of the Awam Express had been met by the railways from its own income, adding that the Khyber Mail will be upgraded in around March next year. He also shared that 11 new railway stations were being established in the country, adding that the Pakistan Railways had witnessed a 10 per cent increase in its profits.
The minister said that the work on the rehabilitation of Kohat-Rawalpindi track had been kicked off and the train service on the route would start in December, adding that some four new railway stations were being set up. “The railways’ revenue was Rs18 billion in 2013 and during the current year it has earned Rs40 billion,” said Saad and added that the privatisation of national institutions was not a solution and those who considered it essential should see the turnaround of the railways.
The case of business train defaulters, he said, was with the National Accountability Burea (NAB), which had no time to hear it. He added that the revenue generated by the Shalimar Express had surged to Rs1.82 billion from Rs60.6 million in the past as its previous agreement was not renewed.