Maryam wants to appoint Khaqan as PML-N president: Sh Rashid

LAHORE: Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed claimed on Saturday that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif had some differences with his niece Maryam Nawaz, as she wanted to appoint Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as the party president.

Talking to the media at Railway headquarters Lahore, he said the political death of the plans Shahbaz had brought from abroad had already happened. “Exactly the opposite of what he had thought had happened after his arrival in the country,” Sh Rashid claimed.

“Shahbaz Sharif has limited options at the moment,” the minister said adding that he was not at good terms with his niece Maryam Nawaz at all.

Sh Rashid also claimed that Nawaz Sharif would never return to the country now.

The minister said the decision to resume railways operations would be taken on May 10. He said that human thermal gates, with the coordination of China, had been installed at railway stations.

“Trains will be back on track within 24 hours if the lockdown is lifted,” said Sh Rashid. He said the Railways had manufactured 50 thermal gates, which would be installed at different railway stations, workshops, offices, etc. He said Pakistan Railways had also built a 300-bed hospital for people infected with coronavirus, and it could be moved to Taftan border after issuance of instructions.

To a question, the minister said that the fate of National Accountability Ordinance would be decided on April 27. For the purpose, the ministers had been in touch with the opposition because they wanted amendments to the NAB ordinance.

“I had already told you about the sugar scandal. [Prime Minister] Imran Khan would not spare anyone involved in corruption,” Sh Rashid said adding “Those responsible for sugar, flour and IPPs [Independent Power Producers] corruption would not be spared,” the minister claimed.

“Khusro Bakhtiar, Nadeem Babar and Razaq Dawood had left the meeting. Those who committed corruption of six thousands billion rupees in IPPs would not be spared. However, process may be prolonged,” added Sh Rashid.

“Had Imran Khan not been the prime minister, the [investigation] reports would not have been made public.

“All thieves will be put behind the bars in tenure of Imran Khan,” promised Sheikh Rashid.

The minister said the

Auditor General for Pakistan had been asked to audit three departments of Pakistan Railways till

June 30. He also paid tributes to the doctors combating coronavirus as the first-line soldiers.

Sh Rashid said former president Asif Ali Zardari knew it well that the next two, three months were not suitable for politics in the country. That was why he had “returned to his nest”, added the minister.