PML-N can bring KP on par with Punjab: Saad Rafique

KOHAT: Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Wednesday said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would bring the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on a par with Punjab if voted to power in the province.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the restoration of Kohat Rail Car Service here, the minister said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan was alien to political norms. "Imran Khan is unaware of the political norms," he said, adding, abusing and levelling baseless allegations against political opponents had become a habit of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders.

He said difference of opinion was possible in democracy but there could be no permanent rivalry or enmity between politicians. "Only a fool makes permanent enemies and not a politician," he maintained.

The minister said that the basic problems of the country had remained unsolved even 70 years after the creation of the country. Saad Rafique said the interference of adventurists created hurdles in the development of the country. Imran Khan did not miss any opportunity to criticize the political opponents but kept a mum over the mismanagement and wrongdoings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he added.

He said when the dengue fever was at its peak in the province, Imran Khan went to scenic places to enjoy the pleasant weather and natural beauty. "Imran Khan did not utter a single word when a jail was attacked in Dera Ismail Khan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC) was made dysfunctional and a scandal surfaced in the Bank of Khyber in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," he added.

Mocking the Billion Tree Tsunami project of the PTI-led provincial government, the PML-N stalwart said no plants can be seen in the province. "The saplings planted in the province have worn a magic cap and thus cannot not be seen anywhere," he added. He said that Imran Khan used to dub the metro bus service in Lahore and Rawalpindi in Punjab as 'jangla bus' (scrape) but was developing the same by spending huge funds. "Even one cannot get a glimpse of the change the PTI had promised to bring about in the province after winning the election," he added.