PPP slams railways for not sanctioning special train on Benazir's anniversary.

KARACHI -- Sindh Information Minister Saeed Ghani on Saturday criticised the railways ministry for refusing to sanction a special train for the leaders and cadres of the Pakistan Peoples Party from Karachi to Rawalpindi, where the party's slain leader Benazir Bhutto's 12th anniversary is planned to be observed.

'We had filed an application to the railways ministry 10 days ago to arrange for a special train for our workers and leaders from here [Karachi] to Rawalpindi, but despite earlier assurances made by the ministry, they have refused to arrange one,' said Mr Ghani while speaking to reporters.

'The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led federal government and its minister for railways [have] expressed vengeful treatment.'

He said the PPP's local leadership had been in contact with the railway authorities to book a full train for the cadres coming from across the province to head for Rawalpindi.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had announced at the general workers meeting that the party would hold its main event at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi on Dec 27 where Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a gun-and-bomb attack 12 years ago.

The party has planned to launch a countrywide agitation against the present federal government's policies after the main congregation in the garrison city.

'The railways authorities had been...