Rashid says bringing Nawaz back is no easy task
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LAHORE: Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid is of the view that bringing PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif back to Pakistan is a difficult task.
“It is the government’s desire since Imran Khan is already upset over Nawaz’s departure to the UK. But it is not easy to bring him back to Pakistan since Ishaq Dar and Salman Shahbaz couldn’t be brought back so far,” the minister said at a press conference when asked about news reports of the government planning measures to get Nawaz back.
“But it is a desire that [he] comes back and faces trial.”
The minister called the opposition “dead, tired and rusted” that could not compete with Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“Both the PML-N and the PPP are seeking NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) through someone. But PM Khan will never give it to them,” he said, claiming that the premier will complete his five-year term since the opposition is not in a position to mobilise the masses against the government.
However, he said, Maulana Fazlur Rehman could manage to gather his followers and students on the roads.
“But at the moment even he is not in a position to do so since the maulvis and madressah students have understood that they wasted their time the last time,” he added.
Talking about a possible multi-party conference in the near future called by the opposition parties, Rashid said that chances were slim, adding that earlier the meeting was scheduled after Eid, and then after Muharram.
“Actually, the Maulana wants a written agreement with the PML-N in this regard. But Shahbaz Sharif will not give anything in writing; he will just talk. So, I think whatever the Maulana wants from the PML-N and PPP, he won’t get it.”
In his typical style, Mr Rashid said the opposition had no chance with the army’s General Headquarters.
Shifting the focus to his department, the minister said that in accordance with the Supreme Court verdict, he would carry out restructuring of the railways. International tenders for Main Line-I would be floated by Sept 10 and the PR had decided to start online booking of freight trains.
“We have also decided to offer a discount of 10 per cent in fares of Shalimar Express from Aug 26.”
Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2020
