Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Saturday praised Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for showing ‘responsibility’ on the remarks made by the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif against the military leadership, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

It is pertinent to note that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said he was shocked when he heard Nawaz Sharif's speech during the Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) first rally in Gujranwala last month.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9baOC_QfsI

Sheikh Rashid claimed that Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz’s politics is heading towards a dead alley. “Imran Khan is ready to talk on anything except National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO),” he added.

Sheikh Rashid that the PPP chairman had made it clear that in the meeting of PDM before the Gujranwala rally, no decision was taken to talk against any institution.

PML-N and its leadership were taking the politics to closed street, he said, adding “during my career as politician, I did not see any political leader who did not prefer dialogue over any other option. Prime Minister clearly said that they were ready to hold dialogues on all issues except NAB cases and NRO,” he informed.

Addressing a press conference at Pakistan Railways’ Camp Office in Karachi, Sheikh Rashid assured that there will be no martial law in the country while he also ruled out the presidential form of system.

The minister said Imran Khan is not going anywhere and he will complete the five-year term.

Sheikh Rashid said: “I wanted to expand China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) from Karachi to Jalalabad to bring ease in trade.”

Sheikh Rashid said that an amount of Rs6 billion would be paid to all pensioners from Grade1 to Grade16 within half and a month as they were not paid since last four years.

As many as 14 kilometers track of Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) had been cleared up to Orangi, the minister uttered, maintaining “we are ready as we have done our part work and it is the work on the part of Sindh government to build underpasses and bridges.”

He further informed that 15 KCR coaches of 40 were manufactured, believing that we would achieve the target of manufacturing the rest 25 coaches till bridges and underpasses were built by the provincial government.

Pointing out the issue of Tijori Height, the minister said that the poor should be careful from land-grabbers who had occupied the land of railways illegally because the Pakistan Railways owned this land because it had paid. They could not complain to us, if anyone lost his or her money, Sheikh Rashid cleared.

“We held a meeting with different people,” the minister said, suggesting that they should come for the lease of land or property under the rules.

“We have increased 25% on the overwork of 33,000 technical employees,” he stated, adding “We wish to extend the CPEC from Karachi to Peshawar and then to Jalalabad as the trade volume could be increased.

“You will get new thing from Gilgit-Baltistan after 16 November as all parties are there for election campaigns,” he said, telling that they were participating in the elections but we would see whether losers would accept the results or not.

Replying to another question, Sheikh Rashid stated that five freight trains had been privatized and 12 passenger trains would be privatized soon because it had increased the revenue by 25 percent.

The government would privatize all freight trains because they were generating more revenues, he reaffirmed, articulating that the privatization did not mean to hand over all things to the private sector but the government would have power to oversee the matters.