LAHORE: Railways Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique has termed formation of a judicial commission a win-win situation for both the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

`The (setting up of) judicial commission will help further improve masses` trust on the electoral system,` Mr Rafique told newsmen after formally adding a rehabilitated locomotive to the Pakistan Railways (PR) fleet at a ceremony at Mughalpura Loco Shop here on Saturday.

Expressing pleasure over a positive response of the PTI, the minister said that much before the launch of the Islamabad sit-in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had sent a request to the Chief Justice of Pakistan for constituting the commission.

`The terms of reference were the bone of contention. There had beendiscrepancy in the statements of Imran Khan Sahib on the container and the stance of the PTI negotiating team. However, I am happy that Khan Sahib has started attaining maturity... it is perhaps the good effects of his second marriage... I wish I could have another one, said the minister in a lighter vain.

Regarding reports about the imposition of Governor`s Rule in Sindh, the minister said no such proposal was under consideration `anywhere in the power corridors of Pakistan`.

About allegations leveled by death row prisoner Saulat Mirza, Mr Rafique said all political parties should purge their ranks from criminals under a self-accountability me chanism.

A decision to launch an indiscriminate operation in Karachi was taken after a consensus in the all-party conference convened by the government.

The MQM too was a part of the APC and had supported the operation to restore peace in the Sindhcapital.

Earlier, the minister said at the ceremony that the railways would start transporting oil to Jamshoro power plant from March 25.

Efforts were under way not only to improve facilities for commuters in trains but also to increase the volume of freight service.

`At present, some 300 freight trains are leaving the Karachi port city for various upcountry destinations in a month on an average and we are struggling to take the tally to 350,` he said.

He said the project to rehabilitate 27 locomotives which had been procured from Germany in 1985 would be completed by the end of current year.

`This is the sixth locomotive of 3000 horsepower capacity rehabilitated and added to the PR fleet under the first such initiative in the country. After rehabilitation all the 27 locomotives would add Rs3 billion annually to the PR kitty, he said.

Each locomotive has the capacityto haul 2,250 tons with minimum fuel consumption. `Hopefully, the locomotives will remain operational for another 15 years. It is the first locomotive containing a black box which can preserve record for seven days in case of any accident, said Mr Rafique.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Railways (PR) and a private company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the transportation of coal from Karachi to three destinations.

PR Chief Commercial Manager Zubair Shafi Ghauri and Awan Trading Company`s Chief Executive Officer Aslam Awan inked the MoU under which railways would transport every month some 22,000 tons of coal from Sindh capital to Kundian, Chicu Ki Malian and Shahdara (Lahore).

The minister told newsmen af ter the MoU signing ceremony that the company had deposited Rs160 million as four months` fare in advance to the PR.