Sheikh Rashid says second book to reveal 'sensational events of Pakistan's history'

LAHORE: Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Sunday said his second book will reveal the "sensational events" of Pakistan's history.

Rasheed made the comments during the book-launching ceremony of his debut writing project, "From Lal Haveli to the United Nations", which had been in the works for some time now.

"In the new book, I will unveil the sensational events of the country's history," he said. "That book," he added, "will be published five years after my death."

The name of the second book has not yet been disclosed.

Meanwhile, the debut 352-page book "From Lal Haveli to the United Nations" — which includes 12 chapters and 31 pictures — touches upon the important events of the minister's 50 years of politics.

On an earlier occasion, Sheikh Rashid had discussed excerpts of his book, some of which are shared below:

'False accusations an insult to politics'

He writes how former prime minister and PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif was disqualified in the Panama case on his petition.

"I consider making false accusations an insult to politics," he adds, noting that the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the LNG case against former prime minister and PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi be handed over to NAB Chairperson Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal.

The anti-graft watchdog subsequently filed a reference against Abbasi, he adds.

Rashid says time proved that former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf's position was wrong and that of the Chaudhry brothers right. "The former army chief had wanted to be a president but without his uniform," he writes.

The Chaudhry brothers were not in favour of giving an NRO to Benazir, the minister says, adding that if Musharraf had not given one to the late premier, he would not be where he is today.

'Political earthquake'

Speaking of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, the federal minister says matters were settled during a meeting between the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief and Prime Minister Imran Khan in London.

Rashid further explains how the command and control centre of the operation during the 2014 Model Town massacre was at the Punjab Chief Minister House.

He says when the 2014 Azadi March was attacked in Gujranwala, Imran Khan called Chaudhry Nisar from his container. The incumbent premier used to keep his movement separate and unique from that of Qadri's, he adds.

A "political earthquake" erupted when 34 PTI members resigned from the assembly, he writes further. The decision to go to the assembly and the TV station was made in a container — something that lawmaker Javed Hashmi did not agree to.

However, "Imran Khan wanted to overthrow the Nawaz Sharif government no matter what," he adds.

"When Imran Khan raised his finger, I advised him against doing so in the future," Rashid says. "Whatever Imran Khan decides, he does not back down regardless of the consequences."

The railways minister recalls how during the 2014 march, Khan sent a message to Beijing's ambassador that if the Chinese president was to come to Pakistan, he would have the route cleared.

He notes that certain selected people attended Qadri's sit-in, while participants from that of Imran Khan's came in from different districts.

Shedding light on former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Rashid says her real killers were honourably acquitted due to the PPP's non-compliance.

"It is false that Benazir's relationship with Asif Zardari was strained before her assassination," he notes. "No case was registered against the people whom Benazir expressed suspicions some 24 hours before the assassination."

Pakistan and its nuclear facilities

On Pakistan being an atomic power, he says the United States could have besieged Islamabad's nuclear facilities had the latter signed the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Matters were settled amicably in a meeting between Musharraf and nuclear physicist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, Rashid says. A statement that the "father" of Pakistan's uranium enrichment project made after talks with the former army chief was "his own and he has apologised for it".

'Attempted suicide in eighth grade'

On a more personal note, Rasheed details how he attempted suicide back when he was in eighth grade.

"When I arrived home late after a tour to Murree, I was beaten and then I intended to commit suicide. Unable to find poison, I made a noose from a bedsheet and hung myself from the fan.

"But my brother broke down the door to my room upon hearing me yelling [in pain] and saved me from committing suicide."