LAHORE: Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid has termed the Federal Government Inspector of Railways (FGIR) inquiry report on Tezgam fire tragedy ambiguous, stating that a high-level committee comprising additional general managers will look into it for further necessary action.

“The report submitted by our FGIR is not a solid one, as it neither mentions clearly the short circuit nor explosion of gas cylinders. This report seems vague and we will look into it since a committee of AGMs has been constituted in this regard,” he said while speaking to journalists at a press conference here on Saturday.

“We are not going to change this report, rather we will punish the officials responsible for the tragic incident. That is why we have constituted this committee. Moreover, we are also waiting for the forensic report,” he said when asked why a committee was constituted since there was no need for it [regarding the report].

The minister said he didn’t influence to stop making the report public despite the fact he had the power to do so under the law.

Says panel of additional general managers will look into it for further action

The minister in a recent TV show had expressed anger over the newly-appointed PR’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dost Ali Leghari (former FGIR) for declaring (before media) short circuit as main reason for the incident.

“Last time I had avoided appointing the FGIR as CEO due to his negativity. But then I did it recently on the basis of his seniority so that no one could raise any objection,” the minister said in the talk show.

“He (the CEO) doesn’t know which thing he is to discuss on new channels or not. Actually they all (PR officers) are hands in glove. We had the power to send this report to the committee of AGMs. But I didn’t do it,” he told the TV host. “I will fully support conducting a judicial inquiry into such a tragic incident that claimed many lives and left several injured,” he said.

During Saturday’s press conference, Mr Rashid, when asked about the Supreme Court’s reprimand in a recent hearing, reiterated that the PR audit reports taken up by the apex court were not of the period of the PTI’s government. “These [audit] reports are related to the last PML-N’s tenure.”

When asked to comment over the apex court’s remarks of declaring the PR the most corrupt department in the country, he said: “The court has already warned us of serving a contempt notice. And it seems that you (the journalists) want me to face the contempt. But I will not speak anything on this since the CJP has the power to pass such remarks.”

To another question, he expressed wonder over the statements of Chaudhrys of Gujrat. “I am really surprised to see their statements. But I will talk to them after returning from Karachi. But I assure you that they (Chaudhrys and MQM) are not going anywhere,” he claimed.

The minister said clearing the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) track within the next 15 days (as per the court directions) was not possible without help of the Sindh government. The remaining 6-km stretch of the KCR is very problematic, as it is under illegal occupation of a huge population. So it is not possible for the PR alone to clear the area. “That is why I am going to Karachi to meet the Sindh CM.”

The minister said he had also apprised PM Imran Khan of the [KCR] issue.

“However, the PM has advised me to satisfy the court regarding the problem,” he said. The minister claimed that neither Nawaz Sharif would return nor Maryam Nawaz would go abroad. “But Shahbaz Sharif can return,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2020