Tag: Saad Rafique

  • Elections should be held once: Saad Rafique

    Elections should be held once: Saad Rafique

    Federal Minister for Railways and Aviation, Khawaja Saad Rafique, has said that elections in Pakistan should be held once, otherwise there is a risk of anarchy.

    Talking to the media in Lahore on Tuesday, he said that the country cannot face another crisis.

    Taking a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said that Khan cannot dissolve the assemblies as the constitution has given that power to the leader of the House.

    Saad said that there were no particular circumstances that led to the dissolution of provincial assemblies, claiming that pressure was put on chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to do so.

    He also said that Khan should participate in All-Parties Conference (APC), as he was of the view that all political parties should unite and play a role against terrorism.

  • Thal Express set to hit track back after 2 years on April 21

    Thal Express set to hit track back after 2 years on April 21

    Railways Minister Saad Rafique on Wednesday announced restoration of Thal Express between Multan and Rawalpindi after remaining suspended for over two years.

    According to ARY News, “It has been decided to restore the Thal Express (129-Up/130-Dn) running between Multan – Rawalpindi – Multan via Attock with effect from 21-04-2023,” the minister announced in a tweet.

    The Thal Express would run between Rawalpindi and Multan via Muzaffargarh, Layyah, Bhakkar, Kundian, Attock and Golra Sharif.

    Back in 2019, former prime minister Imran Khan inaugurated the Thal Express. Pakistan Railway had suspended the train service in 2008 due to financial losses and the shortage of locomotives.

  • ‘They need to hold their tongue’, Saad Rafique demands action over Azam Swati’s ‘threats’ against ECP

    ‘They need to hold their tongue’, Saad Rafique demands action over Azam Swati’s ‘threats’ against ECP

    Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) leader Saad Rafique, said while referring to Federal Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati’s accusation on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of taking bribes and being on the payroll of ‘someone’ said: “They need to hold their tongue.”

    “If the government is making such threats, it is the responsibility of Pakistan’s civil society and political parties to fulfill their responsibility and their voice [against such verbal attacks],” he reiterated.

    PML-N leader further added that the relevant institutions, whose responsibility was to serve justice, should take notice of action over threats made against the ECP.

    A day earlier, Swati said that the ECP was responsible for destroying Pakistan’s democracy and for rigging all elections. Swati added that such institutions should be “set on fire”. This happened when the Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs met today to vote on two key election bills.