F.P. Report
LAHORE: Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid on Thursday referred to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan as “Firdous Sahab”.
Addressing the media persons, Rashid said, “I do not think I am capable for the Ministry of Information. Firdous Ashiq Awan is a great minister and experienced. I sometimes give answers for Prime Minister Imran Khan but it is Firdous Ashiq Awan Sahab’s job to run the ministry.”
When a journalist pointed out that he referred to Awan as “sahab instead of sahiba” and asked whether it was also a slip of tongue, Rashid said, I said no such thing, any way a fight has been started in the country over ‘sahab and sahiba’. Firdous is a strong woman and won’t really be affected by my statement.”
“Bilawal is just cranky these days,” he added.
On Prime Minister Imran Khan referring to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as “sahiba”, Rashid said, “PM called Bilawal sahiba and that is the end of it, why is this topic being dragged on?”
“An environment of judo karate has been created in the National Assembly. The debate over ‘sahab’ and ‘sahiba’ has gone off track,” he further said.
“All thieves have one agenda that they don’t let PM Imran, the economy or the assembly function,” he added.
Regarding reports of Usman Buzdar’s removal as Punjab chief minister, Rashid said, “Even yesterday, Buzdar was with Imran Khan. PM Imran is standing with Buzdar.”
