Sheikh Rasheed loses temper over journalist's question regarding train accidents

Dunya News

Rasheed spoke to media after the Tezgam train fire incident which killed a huge score of people.

LAHORE (Dunya News) - Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Thursday lost his temper during media questioning over the Tezgam train inferno incident.

While talking to media, Sheikh Rasheed began speaking without even letting a journalist complete his statement and said, “Stop asking questions being biased”.

After the mediaman asked Rasheed to let him complete his question, Railways Minister interfered again asserting, “I have already heard your question”.

Without even listening to the reporters, Sheikh Rasheed expressed that if he was trying to blame him for the number of accidents occurred during his tenure. “Least number of accidents has happened in my tenure and I am even ready to present the record”, he added.

He again stopped the reporter saying if he is going to ask a question or start a speech here. After so many interferences during reporter‘s questioning, Railways Minister asserted in a non-formal way that the reporter is not bound to ask all the questions, as if he holds a contract for it. Sheikh Rasheed said verbatim, “Saray sawaal tunay tou nahi karnay na, tunay thayka tou nahi liya hua”.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Thursday accepted the negligence of the railways staff for allowing the Tableeghi Jamaat passengers to bring gas cylinder with them.

Talking to media, he said that those responsible for the negligence will be punished. Regarding demand of his resignation, Rasheed said the people who want him to resign must wait till Sunday. “My resignation is no issue,” he said.

Earlier today, at least 73 passengers lost their lives and over 40 sustained critical burn wounds on Thursday when three carriages of a Tezgam Express caught fire due to explosion in gas canisters purportedly used by Tableeghi Jamaat passengers to cook breakfast near Talwari Station in Liaquatpur area of Rahim Yar Khan. 

Emergency has been declared in all hospitals of the district. The wounded were rushed to hospitals in the nearby city of Bahawalpur and elsewhere in Rahim Yar Khan district.

At least 12 of the injured persons are in critical condition, whereas 18 dead bodies could not have been identified. Women and children are also amongst the victims. Many of the dead and injured were shifted to DHQ Hospital in Liaqatpur.