Saad asks media not to politicise rail accident

LAHORE: Pakistan Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique has expressed disappointment with the media’s role in trying to create a controversy about the Gujranwala train accident that cost 19 lives and urged the media not to politicise the event before the final verdict by a joint investigation committee.
Addressing a press conference here at PR headquarters, he said criticism was not fair on such a big operation rather there was a need to appreciation or encouragement. He was of the view that PR appreciated the role played by the media in highlighting the progress made by Pakistan Railways, however, the Gujranwala incident had been unjustly played up in the negative light without plausible evidence.
Such media practices, he said, could be avoided, he asserted.He said that it was likely that the JIT would present its report before Eid and we should all wait for it instead of spreading disinformation.
He said that facts should be shared and pinpointing bad things was right but baseless criticism would damage the national department and about 22.5 million passengers could leave railways which had got back on track after a big effort of two years.He said the PR had successfully controlled its expenditures and brought down the deficit and a record figure had been achieved in freight and passenger sectors.