Sugar, flour crises report has sidelined COVID-19: Sheikh Rasheed

LAHORE: Federal Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Tuesday said that the sugar and flour crises report has sidelined novel coronavirus.

While talking to media reporters after inaugurating an automatic sanitizer walkthrough gate at Rawalpindi Railways Station, Sheikh Rasheed referred the shuffling in the federal cabinet as fielding in a cricket ground.

The railway minister said that the captain can change the fielding at any time. “Prime Minister Imran Khan has only replaced the fielding positions of his players,” he said.

The federal minister maintained that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s investigation report over the sugar and flour crises was released before time and it was better if it would have been issued on 25th April. He said he was confident that culprits will be punished after the forensic reports.

He further said that it is now Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision as to whether he will take action against those who are held responsible in the sugar, wheat crises or not.

He also denied Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar’s involvement in giving subsidy on sugar, “Razak Dawood, who was removed as commerce adviser to PM yesterday, could be involved,” he claimed.

Highlighting the situation caused by the coronavirus, the railway minister said that the pandemic could change the pattern of politics across the world by adding, “I am observing the situation which I have never seen since the 9/11 incident.”

Read more: Passenger train services to remain suspended: Sheikh Rasheed

Sheikh Rasheed last week also said that the decision of resuming train service in the country was bound due to the lockdown imposed by the government. He further said that if the prime minister allows, Pakistan Railways will resume its services.