Chinese minister sacked from party post

BEIJING - The Chinese railway minister was Saturday sacked from his post in the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) for violation of discipline.

Minister Liu Zhijun has been removed from the post of chief of the ministry’s party unit, the CPC’s discipline watchdog was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

Liu, 58, is under investigation over alleged “severe violation of discipline”, it added. The report did not specify the nature of discipline violation committed by Liu.

Sheng Guangzu, 62, head of the General Administration of Customs (GAC), was reportedly appointed to replace Liu.

According to DPA, Liu had served as a railway official for more than 20 years and was promoted to minister in 2003.

He oversaw a major overhaul of China’s railway network and led the drive to expand track from 80,000 km to 110,000 km between 2008 and 2012.

Under China’s one-party system, Communist Party posts are normally more senior than equivalent government posts.