SC seeks business plan from railways minister

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Expressing resentment over poor performance, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed sought business plan to make railways profitable from Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed. The Supreme Court bench headed by the chief justice of Pakistan heard the Railways losses case. During the hearing, the railways minister appeared before top court. CJP Gulzar Ahmed expressed resentment on Sheikh Rasheed over poor performance of his department. He also directed to present business plan and remarked that the contempt of court proceeding will be implied in case of deviation from business plan. The minister replied that the Railways Ministry will go forward on the directions of the Supreme Court. Justice Gulzar also said that 70 people had lost their lives in Liaquatpur train accident. What did you take any action,” he asked. Sheikh Rasheed said that 29 officials responsible have been terminated from their services. The court questioned that they all may be from the low rank officials when the high rank officials will face the consequences. To reply, the minister said that the action will also be taken against high rank officials. “You too are high rank officer, you should have better resigned from the post, there are no engines or tracks, the railways land from Karachi to Khyber has been given to the people,” the court remarked. The chief justice said to Rasheed that in his tenure, there are cases of illegal appointments and occupation of Railways lands. It seems that your administration has failed to run this department smoothly, he asserted. The minister informed the court that no one was given the railway land, adding that he worked more than 18 hours. He also blamed Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform of not cooperating with Railways despite repeated complaints. Later, the top court has summoned Asad Umar in next hearing. A day earlier, while hearing railways losses case, CJP Gulzar Ahmed has remarked that no other institution is more corrupt than railways in Pakistan.  During the hearing, the top court expressed anger over the audit report and said that no other institution is facing corruption more than railways. The chief justice said that the train passengers are taking risks of their lives in Pakistan, adding that the railways department has failed to install proper tracks and signals to ensure the safety of the passengers. CJP Gulzar further has remarked that all the department of railways is involved in the country’s politics and nothing is working in right direction. SC Justice Ijazul Hassan also said that the whole world is developing transportation system but Pakistan is still lacking advance system. “Not a single thing is working properly in Pakistan Railways, he added. The Supreme Court summoned Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed, secretary and chief executive officer (CEO) on January 28 in railways losses case.