RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Sunday said that there was no threat to the PTI-led government in centre and Punjab, adding that MQM, PML-Q and other allies were standing with Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“All rumours about change are wrong and the PTI government will complete its five-year term,” he said while talking to media here.

He said that Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar would stay in his office as the prime minister had selected common men in Punjab and KPK as chief ministers as main politicians were hungry for power.

“The good news will come from Punjab after a visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan,” he said, adding that there was no threat to Buzdar-led government in Punjab and if anyone was in danger, that were Sharifs and Zardaris.

He said the PTI was committed to rooting out corruption from the country and those who were corrupt will not be part of the prime minister’s cabinet.

The minister admitted that inflation had gone up in the country, but held previous government responsible for the situation, adding that previous rulers ruined the economy and looted the money.

He asserted that the government was striving hard to put the country on development path and by 2021 the economic conditions would be improved.

About massive increase in prices of wheat flour and sugar and shortage of these commodities in the country, Mr Rashid claimed that sugar mafia had created these problems, but the government would resolve these issues.

He said that he would suggest to the cabinet in next meeting that price control committees should be established with lawmakers as its members to monitor prices of daily-use items as public representatives knew ground realities better than bureaucracy.

He said that after completion of health facilities, university and college projects in Rawalpindi, he would say goodbye to politics and would take care of hospitals and educational institutions.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2020