LAHORE: Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad will be meeting the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the National Accountability Bureau chairman with the request to expedite proceedings on three mega corruption scandals in the railways.

“We will now pursue on a fast-track basis proceedings of the cases pertaining to Royal Palm and Country Club, Business Express and Shalimar Hospital which have been lying pending for the last many years,” said the minister at a news conference at Railways headquarters here on Saturday.

The original contracts in the three matters were tampered with, causing railways loss worth billions of rupees.

“The people who got contracts (for the three matters) are mafias… they not only occupied precious land but also did not give even a single penny to railways and now they are taking shelter of court orders,” he said while adding that he would personally request the CJP and the NAB chairman to expedite proceedings, enabling railways to get back its due amount and possession of its land. He said as part of the 100-day plan [to start 10 new trains], six have been launched while Sindh Express, Shah Abdul Lateef Bhitai Express, Lahore-Faisalabad Non-Stop would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Nov 23.

He said students opting to travel by trains during their winter vacation – from Dec 25 to Jan 10 – would get 50 per cent concession in fares. To a question, the minister said an inquiry committee, headed by federal government inspector of railways, had been constituted to investigate derailments since he took over. “I am not responsible for derailment that took place before me,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.