LAHORE: Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique says Pakistan Tehreelei-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan is basically a good man but `requires time to be a good politician.

`Khan Sahib speaks a lot and levels allegations without evidences,` said the minister after distributing prizes among the winners of Pakistan R ailway s (PR) 60th Inter-Divisional Athletics at railways stadium here on Saturday.

Terming tapping anyone`s telephonic conversation illegal and immoral, the minister said the act should be condemned. `As a political worker, I cannot be pleased with an illegal and immoral act with anyone belonging to otherschoolofthoughtin politics. So far as the conversation is concerned, there is nothing new to it, he said.

To a question, the minister said the role of MQM to maintain peace in Karachi could not be undermined.

The government wanted to restore peace in Karachi in any case without sideliningor targeting any political force.

`Target killers, extortionists and terrorists will have to be dealt with an iron hand and the government has adopted zero tolerance for these anti-state and antisociety elements. Every political party will also have to kick out criminals from its ranks to restore peace in Karachi,` said Mr Rafique.

To another question, the minister said defending the sovereignty of Saudi Arabia had not been just the responsibility of the Pakistan government. `It is `obligation` of every Muslim and nobody can be allowed to violate the sanctity of Makl(ah and Madina. Every Muslim is worried about the security of Saudi Arabia. The issue of Yemen is very sensitive,` he said.

Earlier, the minister told the winners of the two-day athletics championship that the Railways Sports Board would get Rs20 million grant during the next financial year.

He said a sum of Rs300 million had been allocated for the repair and renovation of residential quarters of low-paid rail workers.