‘Nawaz, Zardari tied our hands and feet and threw us to IMF’, says Rasheed

SUKKUR: Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Monday slammed the past governments for burdening Pakistan with loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and said the current government is trying to take the country forward.

“Nawaz [Sharif], Zardari tied our hands and feet and threw us to the IMF,” he said while speaking to reporters in Sukkur.

“The thieves are making noise, those who robbed the country are talking about progress, but the government is working on taking Pakistan forward. Prime Minister Imran Khan will take the country forward,” he said.

The Awami Muslim League chief lamented that electricity tariffs would increase because of the “dowry passed on by the previous government.”

Hailing the Pakistan-China ties, Rasheed said the friendship between the two neighbours is “taller than the Himalayas”. He mentioned that the government is working with China on a number of projects, and said efforts are being made to build four industrial zones in all four provinces.

The minister said he wishes to make the railways a source of employment for the people. “We will make decisions in Pakistan’s favour.”

He observed that it was the first time a sitting government did not interfere in by-elections.

Taking a jibe at Pakistan Peoples Party’s Khursheed Shah, Rasheed said the veteran leader was an “ugly politician of a beautiful city like Sukkur.”