Country stepping back rather than moving forward: CJP

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said Pakistan is stepping back rather than moving ahead despite being a nuclear state.
He gave these remarks while presiding over a 2-member bench of Supreme Court (SC) during the course of hearing of suo motu notice of non-payment of pension and salaries to railways employees.
Railway Board Secretary Shafi Ullah told the court that payment would be started to pensioners and employees from November 1. However, it could take one month in making payment to the pensioners through banks, he added.
The corruption had destroyed railway department, the CJP said and added that a senior citizen and a person who spends his whole life in serving railway, loses his life while standing in queue for receiving pension but no one cares for him.
Former Railway minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said the present management was responsible for destruction of railway department. Railway’s technical staff had been sent on leave forcibly and grade-16 employees had been allowed to work in place of grade-19, he added.
Railway scrap had been sold out at throwaway rate and influential people were occupying railway land, he said adding that situation in railway could be improved if illegally occupied land was recovered.
Shafi Ullah told the court Sheikh Rashid was responsible for the prevailing situation in railway. The then railway management wanted to run cargo train but Sheikh Rashid ran 20 passenger trains due to which deterioration set in, he added.
The CJP remarked what a plight of railway was that a bulb costing Rs 400 had been purchased at the rate of Rs 700. How such type of corruption would be contained, he questioned.
Railways chairman said railway scrap worth Rs 500,000 per metric ton had been sold out at the rate of Rs 28,000 metric ton. However sale of further scrap had been stopped, he added.
The CJP remarked, “Electric cable which was laid upto Khanewal has been stolen due to negligence. You have no money for PSO. Circular debt comes to you. How will payment of salaries amounting to Rs 2 billion be made to employees per month. How the affairs will run one when a grade-18 officer would be inducted on purchase duty in place of grade-21 officer, he questioned.”
Railways chairman said task force had been constituted to increase revenue of department. The hearing of the case has been adjourned till November 10.