ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed faces hugeembarassment in Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Expressing its resentment to Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashidover poor performance of his department, the Supreme Court (SC) said thatthe minister should have resigned.
The SC bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed,Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Sajjad Ali took up the case pertaining tolosses incurred by Pakistan Railways. The CJP said that Rashid should haveresigned following the October 2019 fire that had engulfed a train andkilled 73 passengers.
The railways minister replied that 75 people had been dismissed after thetragic incident, local media reported. The bench replied that they weretold two lower-level employees were fired. “When will the higher-rankingones be dismissed?” Justice Ahmed asked.
The bench asked the minister to present a business plan in the nexthearing, warning that if there was any deviation from the plan presented incourt, action will be taken.
The SC bench then adjourned the proceedings till February 12. The ministerand the secretary of planning have been summoned to appear in the nexthearing.
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The issue of KCR was also taken up during the hearing. Rashid termed the ML1 project as the only solution to the problems of the railway.
The court remarked that the railways does not has signal, tracks andneither boogies; whereas, railways land from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Karachihave been given to the people.
The minister denied giving land. “What was happening at other railwaystations including Keamari, see the condition of railway stations inKarachi,” the CJP said in his remarks.
