Those talking of in-house change need change in their own house: Sh Rashid

LAHORE: Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said those talking of an in-house change in the parliament need a change in their own house.

Talking to the media at the Lahore Railway Station on Thursday, he said the opposition parties had failed to change even Senate chairman, and how they could change the prime minister in the house. Sh Rashid said Pakistan Muslim League-N President and opposition leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif went abroad as ‘token’ with Nawaz Sharif. He said the return of Nawaz and Shahbaz to the country might be delayed.

The minister said those who were demanding new election in the country were not cooperating for completing the process of appointing the ECP members and the CEC. He also said that the parliamentary matters should not be decided through judiciary.

APP adds: Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid said that legislation for service extension of the COAS would be carried forward with simple majority in the Parliament. He said PTI had majority in the National Assembly to pass the amendment, adding two-thirds majority was not required for the purpose. “A joint session could also be summoned if need arises for the objective,” he added. To a question, Sh Rashid said that the opposition did not accept the election results, held in 2013 and 2018 under the supervision of unanimously appointed chief election commissioners. He said that the opposition had taken the issue of the members and CEC to the court, adding supremacy of the parliament would be affected if the issues supposed to be settled in the House, were settled after legal proceedings.

He said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman had said that December would be the decisive month, but nothing would happen and it would prove to be a good month for the government. To a question, he said the Sharif brothers would return to the country when the circumstances would become favourable for them. Otherwise, they would not come back, he added.

He said if a “convict” (Nawaz) could go abroad on health grounds, then why not Asif Ali Zardari on the same plea while he was just a suspect until now. Sabah adds: Railways Minister Sh Rashid Ahmad said Main Line-I will be a historic project in the 72 year history of the country. He said the 1872-kilometre long new track would be laid under the ML-1 project and it would generate 100,000 job opportunities. He announced reduction in fares of freight trains by 10 per cent after midnight on Thursday.