Rashid alleges massive corruption in railways

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Awami Muslim League (AML) president and former Minister for railways Sheikh Rashid has alleged massive corruption in Pakistan Railways and announced to hold protest across the country to press the government for the restoration of this vital sinking organisation.

Talking to reporters here on Friday, he said: "At present there is dispute over commission in engines and tussle is going on between minister and chairman of Pakistan railways." He said no efforts are being made to streamline the affairs of railways and passengers are facing manifold problems.

He demanded inclusion of the names of corrupt PIA and railways officials on Exit Control List (ECL). He said AML is holding a sit in at Lahore railway station to protest against present state of affairs in the organisation.

To a question, Sheikh Rashid said he is staunch supporter of unification of all factions of Muslim League but Mian Nawaz Sharif is not paying heed and going in loss.

He claimed that a new alliance comprising Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamaat-e-Islami, Sunni Tehreek, JUI, AML etc., would prove to bring a change in the country's politics.

It may be mentioned that federal minister for railways Gulam Ahmed Bilour said that as many as 153 trains had been suspended due to shortage of diesel and the railways had no sufficient amount for giving salaries and pension to its employees. Pakistan Railways was currently facing acute shortage of locomotive resulting in delay of passenger trains on major routs and suspension of operation on small stations. During the last 20 years only 60 locomotives were imported and out of which majority were malfunctioning.

Rashid slammed the government over indifferent attitude towards national institution, corruption and mismanagement of railway bureaucracy. He alleged that railway infrastructure is being destroyed under a conspiracy. He said the use of kerosene oil in the railway engines led to develop faults in the locomotives, while railway diesel is being stolen with connivance of black sheep in the organisation.

Rashid said that over Rs 2 billion have been plundered in the name of repair of faulty locomotives, while no genuine repair has been carried out that resulted in total collapse and out of 520 locomotive fleet. At present, only 84 locomotives are running and these could also stopped at any time, he added.

Sheikh Rashid said that whenever, a hard will time come to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), AML will stand by them with its full strength and capability. To a question, he said that all transgressions happening in the country were because of friction and division in the Muslim Leagues, if Muslim League was united then no body could defeat them.