Setting an eight-day deadline for Shahbaz Sharif to resign as Chairman Public Accounts Committee, Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that he (Sharif) is unacceptable as Chairman PAC.
Addressing the workers of the Pakistan Railways at Carriage Factory here on Friday, Rashid said that Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif should resign as Chairman PAC. "Sharif is not acceptable in the PAC. I have informed Prime Minister Imran Khan that Sharif is not acceptable to me as PAC chairman," he added.
He further said that Sharif is trying to bargain by using his position, adding that no bargain would be acceptable. "They are here on a picnic. Giving interviews and getting their pictures taken. Speaker (Asad Qaiser) has done a wrong thing," Rashid said while referring to Sharif's appointment as PAC chairman. "I am quiet only because of Imran Khan," he added. He further said, "The speaker has no mandate to stop me from becoming member of the PAC. It is the right of the party to nominate a member. I am coalition partner and do not want to create issues for the government." Rashid added that he would challenge the mandate of the speaker to issue production order for Shahbaz Sharif when he is in the remand of National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
He further said that after meeting with Imran Khan on Thursday last; it has become clear to him that there is neither any deal nor any laxity (dheel).
The minister further said that domestic manufacturing of passenger coaches will start next year. The local production of locomotives will also start in the next phase, said the minister, adding that 24 new passengers and two freight trains have been launched so far. He further said that a summary has been sent to Prime Minister Khan to bring the salaries of railways police at par with the Punjab Police as well as for up-gradation of scales of the employees of the Pakistan Railways. He further said that locomotives were procured at exorbitant prices during the last government inflicting huge loss to the national exchequer.
On the occasion, the minister also announced three thousand rupees each for the staff of Carriage Factory.