ISLAMABAD: On August 29, 2018, Opposition walked out of the Senate summit to show anger over Sheikh Rasheed’s statement.
Newly sworn-in Railway minister said that railway is not anyone’s father’s property. This angered the opposition party. After the heated argument, opposition members walked out of the chamber.
According to the details, this happened during the Senate summit, under the presidency of deputy chairman Senate, Saleem Maandvi Wala. Railway minister, Sheikh Rasheed said that railway lost 30 billion in 2013, which jumped to 41 billion in 2018. Railways own 20000 hectares land which is superfluous, he added.
The total liabilities of Pakistan Railways stayed Rs 82.89 billion during the financial year 2016-17, Rasheed stated.
While voicing his opinion about this whole issue, he said ‘we will take this issue to the cabinet. The cabinet will decide whether to lease the land or sell it.’
During his speech, Sheikh went a little harsh. He bitterly said that ‘railway kisi ki baap ki jageer nahi hai. Qabza mafia nay railway ki zamen ko baap ki jageer ko samjha hua hai. (No one received railway in heritage. Qabza mafia considers railway their personal heritage).
The opposition protested at the Minister for Railways ‘ statement. The opposition was of the opinion that Minister for Railways used non-parliamentary language. They said that we are walking out to the non-parliamentary statement. Members of the opposition bench protested the use of such a phrase by the railways’ minister.
In response, Muslim league Nawaz’s senator, Javed Abbasi pointed at Government’s incomplete quorum. He criticized the absence of PTI’s national assembly members. Bring all your people first, he disparaged.
Deputy chairman delayed the summit when even after ringing bells many times, the quorum could not be completed.
A Muslim League Nawaz opposition member later replied Shiekh Rasheed with even harsher comments. ‘Laal Havel bhi kisi k baap ki Jageer ni hai. ( Laal Haveli is also not anyone’s personal heritage).’