Shehbaz slams Imran in latest video message for obstructing Orange Line

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif slammed PTI chief Imran Khan on Friday in a video message, blaming him for traveling in luxury while the common man suffers.

In a short video message, the Punjab chief minister criticised Imran Khan, stating that he has no regard for the common man and only cares for himself.

Shehbaz Sharif also expressed disappointment at PTI's Lahore President Waleed Iqbal for filing a petition against the Orange Line project that caused its delay.

"It is so unfortunate that Imran Khan travels in luxury in his Pajero and has no regard for the transport issues of the common man," he said.

Shehbaz Sharif said that while the poor people suffered from dengue in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Imran took to the mountains.

Also read: Supreme Court decrees in Orange Line's favour

Granting conditional approval to the Punjab government, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of multi-billion Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project setting aside the verdict of Lahore High Court (LHC).

The apex court allowed the provincial government to go ahead with the train project provided it fulfills 31 conditions including ensuring the safety of historic places.

Justice Maqbool Baqir of the three-judge bench of the apex wrote a dissent note.

SC’s bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal had reserved the judgment on April 17 in a case of the metro train on a petition filed by Punjab government.

Earlier, Lahore High Court ordered to safeguard and preserve the historic buildings and mosques situated on the route of Orange Train.

The proceedings in SC began after Punjab government had filed petitions with the apex court following LHC’s verdict ordering halt of Orange Line construction.

The other judges of the bench are Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel.

The apex court ordered the government to complete the train project on its planned date; however, it directed it to constitute two committees within 30 days to oversee the technical aspects of the project.