Tuesday, May 12, 2020
DISPATCH: On the Corona-virus, Pakistan’s Government Is Missing in Action
BY NEHA MAQSOOD
As the pandemic threatens livelihoods, the country’s poor are relying almost exclusively on the charity of fellow citizens.
During a televised broadcast on March 22, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his hesitancy in imposing a nationwide lockdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic, explaining that such a move would have devastating economic consequences for the poor.
“Twenty-five percent of Pakistanis are below the poverty line,” Khan said. “Today if I impose a complete lockdown, then my country’s rickshaw drivers, pushcart vendors, taxi drivers, small shopkeepers, daily wage earners … all of them will be shut in their homes.”
In Pakistan, where around 30 percent of the population lives in grave poverty, avoiding catching the coronavirus isn’t the only thing on people’s minds. Staving off hunger often comes first.
The coronavirus pandemic and the economic recession the International Monetary Fund predicts will follow it have imperiled the food security of many Pakistanis, and a broader economic collapse and escalating rates of unemployment would only add to the country’s poverty.
Pakistan’s citizens are nevertheless coming together to tackle this pandemic the best way they know how—through the act of charity. Given that Pakistan is a state whose tenets are rooted in the Islamic faith, many of its citizens believe that the best way to combat this crisis is through the spirit of altruism.
The government has launched its own initiatives, including the Ehsaas Program, which has been providing cash assistance of 12,000 rupees (approximately $75) to low-income families. Within a few weeks, the government managed to disburse 55 billion rupees (about $344 million) to 4.6 million families that registered for the program through a text-message service.
On April 1, Khan also set up a COVID-19 relief fund; the premier urged citizens via Twitter to donate funds to help those made destitute by the lockdown.
Meanwhile, local volunteer organizations and ordinary citizens have been using WhatsApp and various social media platforms to make appeals for donations and food—especially essential grocery items including sugar, oil, flour, lentils, and tea, a list that nowadays also includes sanitizer, masks, and soap.
The Human Development Foundation Pakistan, one of the oldest nonprofit development organizations based in the capital, Islamabad, has set out to support 5,000 impoverished families, according to the foundation’s CEO, Azhar Saleem. So far, the organization has provided rations to approximately 14,000 people.
Even ordinary citizens have stepped up to the plate, including Omair Shakil, a Pakistani physician and public health expert based in Boston. Shakil told Foreign Policy that by leveraging the power of social media, he managed to raise over $12,000 within two weeks.
He then proceeded to work with vetted organizations and individuals to distribute cash, ration bags, and personal protective equipment to public and private hospitals in need.
But despite their best intentions, community relief efforts and government schemes such as the Ehsaas Programme and the COVID-19 relief fund will have limited results.
Reports from those working on the ground indicate that most food and medical aid distribution has been limited to areas near major cities, depriving those living in rural areas. The latter, whose workers make up most of Pakistan’s informal sector and are dependent on daily wages, are more likely to be affected by the stringent lockdown measures.
Further, cash assistance programs like Ehsaas can become vectors of disease transmission, because they require in-person interactions. As Shakil noted, “The requirement for beneficiaries to collect their allotted monies from cash distribution centers carries the risk of community spread of the very disease that the program is meant to curb.”
Moreover, Ehsaas, which only provides monetary assistance to those who register via text message, is not particularly user-friendly, given that many rural families do not own smartphones and don’t always know how to claim the relevant benefits. Such programs only cater to people who can read and understand text messages written in Urdu.
In most regions of the country, Urdu is not the first language and Pakistan’s low literacy rate of 58 percent means that, without assistance, many non-Urdu readers will be unable to access the benefits of Ehsaas.
“Overall, community organization efforts can only work if citizens and NGOs have the support of the local administration,” argued Ahsan J. Pirzada, a lawyer who—by his count—raised over 7 million rupees ($44,000) through various online platforms and has been delivering ration packets to marginalized groups in Pakistan, including Christians, the transgender community, and slum-dwellers.
“The government could at the very least pass an ordinance which makes it easy for community organizations and citizens like me to register and open a bank account where people can donate,” Pirzada said.
While community relief efforts have provided temporary relief to the poor, they may not be a sustainable option given the protracted length of this pandemic and the uncertainty of future vaccine development.
While community relief efforts have provided temporary relief to the poor, they may not be a sustainable option given the protracted length of this pandemic and the uncertainty of future vaccine development.
For a nation that struggles with a weak health care infrastructure and still faces preventable deaths from polio and diarrhea, managing the COVID-19 crisis has been a major challenge.
The Khan administration’s blasé attitude came to light when Pakistan’s minister of health, Zafar Mirza, erroneously declared on Feb. 19, that the nation’s health care facilities were adequately resourced to tackle any outbreak, just as the pandemic was making its way around the world.
At the time of writing, there are over 30,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan with 667 reported deaths. It’s clear that the preservation of national pride and the government’s reputation was the greater priority at the time.
The skyrocketing of cases caused by the mishandling of pilgrims returning from Iran in mid-March revealed the complacency of the leadership. The faulty testing of the pilgrims, who were kept in quarantine near the border with Iran, allowed them to return to their hometowns, where they spread the coronavirus. Given that Pakistan shares borders with China, Iran, and India—three countries with a high number of reported cases—there was a dire need for effective cross-border cooperation and active health surveillance along the borders.
When the lockdown came, implementation was delayed or piecemeal, exposing the government’s lack of swift decision-making. Even after the application of strict social distancing guidelines, children and young adults—who can be an asymptomatic vector of transmission—continue to line the country’s streets playing cricket and socializing at roadside shops.
Even after the application of strict social distancing guidelines, children and young adults—who can be an asymptomatic vector of transmission—continue to line the country’s streets playing cricket and socializing at roadside shops.
Meanwhile, health care workers are refusing to come to work, condemning the lack of personal protective equipment provided by the government. Many health care workers at public hospitals are reportedly paying out of pocket to procure protective gear for themselves, hospital cleaners, and security staff. Without adequate testing and protective equipment, there has been a mass undercounting of cases, which has allowed for a faster spread of infections.
The coronavirus pandemic has also underscored the strained relationship between the government and the Islamic establishment. Unlike other Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan has not yet imposed a complete ban on mosque sermons and religious gatherings for fear of retaliation from Islamist groups. Clerics continue to refuse to obey Khan’s calls to limit prayer gatherings as thousands of people continue to pack mosques across the country.
Afwan, a painter who asked to only use his first name, attended a crowded Friday sermon in Karachi last week, explained to me the clerical establishment’s motives: “This unprecedented time is a sign from God that the world has sinned. I don’t understand why the government is trying to halt mosque gatherings, when it’s clearly the time for all Muslims to come together in larger groups to atone for our sins.”
Confronting such logic—and getting religious leaders to encourage safe behavior among their followers, as clerics in many other countries have done—will not be easy. But Khan must take the bold step of fully implementing a temporary shutdown of all mosques and other religious gatherings during the month of Ramadan to prevent a larger outbreak.
Pakistan is currently tackling one of its biggest challenges since independence. The coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown measures have devastated the lives of the country’s most vulnerable citizens. Pakistan does not have sufficient resources and funding to tackle the devastation caused by the lockdown.
Pakistan does not have sufficient resources and funding to tackle the devastation caused by the lockdown.
However, there are ways through which the government can prevent the country from going into a complete state of emergency.
There is an urgent need on the part of the Khan administration, which has so far shown limited involvement with aid programs, to facilitate and support community efforts to ensure that no family is left to go hungry. More funding must be directed toward procuring protective gear and tests for health care facilities and coronavirus management centers. Such measures will aid in Pakistan’s fight to contain the virus and prevent an economic fallout when lockdown is eventually lifted.
For now, the country is surviving purely on its citizens’ willingness to give.
Pakistan military seeks nearly Rs 64 bn for salary hike of personnel
The memorandum said that in the current fiscal, the salary of officers up to the rank of brigadier had been increased by 5%, junior commissioned officers and soldiers were given ad hoc relief of 10% of their basic pay.
#Balochistan issue: Bajwa phones Baqeri and begs his help to deal with Baloch militants
The Pakistan Army spokesman Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has telephoned Maj Gen Mohammad Baqeri, Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces, to discuss various issues.
According to ISPR, General Qamar Javed Bajwa has expressed concern over an attack on Pakistani security forces along the GoldSmid line (Iranian border) on Friday.
Six Pakistani soldiers including a Major rank officer, Nadeem Bhatti, were killed in the remote-controlled IED attack.
“The military chiefs of Pakistan and Iran have agreed to tighten security on both sides of the border,” ISPR statement claimed, adding that on the occasion, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that Pakistan has started installation of the fence on the border with Iran.
Bajwa reportedly stressed on mutual co-operation to ensure border security and to counter smuggling.
The Voice of America reported that General Bajwa said effective measures were needed to curb the movement of terrorists and drug smugglers.
The two military leaders also discussed various measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and border terminals.
According to ISPR, the Pakistan Army Chief reiterating his desire for regional peace and stability said that Pakistan wanted peace on the basis of mutual dignity, non-interference and equality.
Previously also Pakistan discussed cooperation against Baloch pro-freedom forces with Iran several times and at times even blamed Iran for supporting what it calls ‘terrorism’ in Pakistan occupied Balochistan.
The Pakistani military has begun installing a 1000-kilometre fence along the GoldSmid Line (Iranian border) which both countries claim is aimed at tightening security on both sides.
Pakistan claims that pro-freedom Baloch move to Iran after attacks in ‘Pakistani territory’ Eastern part of Balochistan.
Pakistan’s armed forces say that due to the difficult terrain it is not possible for Pakistan to fully monitor the 1,080 km long border.
Hence, Pakistan has decided to erect a similar fence on the Iranian border that they have erected on the Afghan border.
“Besides the installation of 1080 km long fence on the border, 215 border forts will also be built and a surveillance system will be installed”, ISPR claimed in its statement.
Pakistan: successful online May Day rally amid lockdown and pandemic
The Red Workers’ Front organized an online May Day rally in which workers from all parts of the country expressed their views and condemned government policies, which are leading to more hunger and death for the workers alongside huge bailout packages for the rich and powerful.
The meeting started at 9 in the morning and was broadcast live on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. It continued for more than five hours as more and more speakers wanted to participate and speak at the occasion. Sadly, due to time constraints and technical issues, not everybody present could participate. They are now sending video messages of solidarity, which are being posted on social media.
During the meeting, workers participated through their mobile phones, and explained the conditions prevailing in their sectors and how they can come together in this fight against the ruling class. Speakers representing electricity workers, airlines, railways, teachers, health workers and other sectors came onto the live call and explained the situation in their workplaces. The meeting got around 12,000 live views and at the time of writing, views for the meeting have crossed 15,000.
Pakistani workers in the Middle East, Europe, Australia and other parts of the world also watched this online rally, which was the only May Day meeting held this year. Usually, the Red Workers Front, along with many other trade union organisations and workers’ associations, organise May Day meetings across the country, in which worker representatives from that particular area participate with great enthusiasm. But this year, due to lockdown and pandemic, this was not possible. So an online meeting was organised and this assumed a countrywide character. This was also unique, as no other media outlet (including TV channels and publications) report the activities of workers. Now, for the first time, such a meeting was available for everyone to watch live.
The meeting was presided over by Dr Aftab Ashraf, who is also the central organiser of Red Workers’ Front. He also summed up the whole meeting and vowed to continue this struggle for the rights of the working class. He announced the launch of a campaign with demands for full employment, or an unemployment allowance of 20,000 rupees monthly. He also announced that the online meeting on workers’ issues will continue and that Red Workers Front will establish Mazdoor TV for these online discussions in coordination with their paper, Monthly Worker Nama.
Workers join the call and join the fight!
Other speakers included Ikhlaq Ahmed Khan, president of K-Electric Labour union CBA from Karachi; Majeed Zehri from the Railway Mehnat Kash Union in Balochistan; Arif Hussain Chairman of the Utility Stores Corporation workers’ union; Ehsan Ali Advocate from Gilgit-Baltistan; Abdul Wahid, Deputy General Secretary of the Port Qasim workers’ union in Karachi; Dr Khizer Hayat, Chairman Young Doctors’ Association in Punjab; Zeeshan Riaz, from Pakistan International Airlines and Faiza Rana, spokesperson for the Punjab Professors’ & Lecturers’ Association.
Comrades of the RWF also organised a meeting of workers in the Kotri industrial area of Sindh. Around 20 industrial workers participated to pay tribute to the Chicago martyrs, and discussed the issues faced by workers during the lockdown.
Representatives of the RWF were also invited by the online channel JK TV to a discussion around May Day. This one-hour show has more than 4,000 views now.
Additionally, the RWF published a poster on May Day with demands for full employment, PPE for all workers, and an end to privatisation, among other things. The poster was widely shared on social media.
Three labour leaders from Sheikhupura industrial area, near Lahore, announced that they would join the Red Workers’ Front after this rally and that all workers in their unions from the factories in this area will be part of the struggle for the emancipation of the working class from the tyranny of capitalism.
Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari demands federal government to take the locust attacks seriously
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressing a press conference has paid tribute to the health workers of Pakistan and has demanded relief for them.
Chairman PPP said that in this pandemic, food security is an issue that needs to be addressed worldwide and according to a UN report; Pakistan is more prone to face damages done by a lack of food security. After 25 years, there has been a locust attack and plant protection is the federal government’s subject.
He said that the federal government was given one year to prepare and it had promised us that it would send planes in March. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had brought in planes from Iran and other countries in 90s when locust had attacked. Federal government promised us six planes and only one plane was provided to us, he said. There have been locust attacks in Balochistan as well and the federal government has not helped at all. The way the federal government has not helped in the Covid-19 situation, similarly, no help has been offered during these locust attacks, he said. He also shared pictures showing the locust attacks all over Sindh (Jamshoro, Hyderabad etc). This is concerning for our agriculture, the federal government is sleeping and we demand that the whole of Pakistan should be protected. This is not an issue that only concerns the rural areas, cities too are impacted by it and we have to take this serious during the pandemic as well.
The federal government politicizes every issue. Responding to a question regarding President Zardari’s health, he said that according to the WHO’s guidelines, people with underlying conditions are advised to not leave their houses at all. President Zardari suffers from underlying conditions such as diabetes and cardiac complications; Shehbaz Sharif is a cancer patient, which is why they have refrained from attending the Parliamentary session. On the other hand, Prime Minister Imran Khan gets his salary from the Parliament, and still does not attend it, he is not doing his job.
Answering a question, he said that there has been no contact with the government after yesterday’s address; the batting line is still the same. Serious people are making non-serious remarks, we condemn Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s statement. When we talk about Sindh, it is said that we play the Sindh card. When I talk about Balochistan and its issues, then am I playing the Balochistan card, similarly if I am talking about KP’s issues then am I playing the KP card? When I talk about Kashmir and speak up about what our PM is afraid to say, then am I playing the Kashmir card? Shah Mehmood Qureshi should take back his words, and if not, he should resign.
If I extend my hand towards you, then I am met with remarks such as “we will prove our political strength” in Sindh. They talk about proving their political strength, but we know how their political strength has been proven. When he was our minister, we know who approached him and fueled his dreams of becoming a future prime minister of the country. 11 health workers have passed away while serving the country, 600 Pakistanis have died at the hands of the Covid-19.
Imran Khan uses the poor in order to benefit the elite; he met with the business-oriented class but not with the farmer representatives or trade unions. Khan sahib was trying to woo the industrialists and was fulfilling their demands, he was giving construction package to Anil Musarrat and other construction tycoons in the name of relief package. On the other hand, we in Sindh, wanted to give a corona relief package and wanted to provide relief to the people of Sind but the federal government tried to sabotage our efforts. The governor did not sign the package. We do not want to get into any debate and we will again send that package to the governor again. You have delayed relief for the people of Sindh. The PTI should copy paste our corona relief package for other provinces as well and we want the people of other provinces to benefit from it.
Responding to a question about locusts, he said that we were promised six planes but only one was sent and there is no pilot to fly that plane. The locust problem is also there in Balochistan and Punjab but the federal government has failed in fulfilling its responsibility there too. When the NDMA had claimed that it was preparing for the locust attacks, why is it that no preparation can be seen?
Answering a question he said that if the judicial and executive bodies are proceeding with their activities, then the National Assembly should do the same. He said that the National Assembly is there to hold the executives accountable and that its sessions should be held and the federal government should take our advice seriously. He said that if the federal government wants to give us more responsibility, then it has to give us more resources.
Responding to another question, he said that the federal government uses the constitution to hide its own failures. There is no problem due to the constitution. Plant protection is the responsibility of the federal government according to the constitution. He said that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto got the constitution passed unanimously and this constitution was attacked during Zia’s dictatorship and afterwards, during Musharraf’s dictatorship. It was ironic that General Zia’s name was a part of the constitution and we removed his name through the 18th Amendment. President Zardari was the most powerful president of this country but he gave up his powers and transferred them to the prime minister, thus making this country a democratic one. We restored the 1973 constitution and the anti-democratic people only oppose it because it is a democratic constitution, and they want a dictatorship. This is not the time to start this debate and we should not indulge in such tactics and should deal with the pandemic.
Responding to a question about the sugar report, he said that this is a gimmick because PTI never wants accountability and just wants its people and allies to stay loyal. This sugar gimmickry proves that either the prime minister is corrupt and wants to give benefit to his cronies like his ATM or he is too stupid. He said that he has been informing the media about the attacks on the 18th amendment and we were their target for victimization because they wanted to use the 18th amendment as a bargaining chip. They cannot alter the 18th amendment with only a two or three vote majority but if they want to meddle with it in the garb of the pandemic, then we are ready to resist them at every forum.
https://www.ppp.org.pk/2020/05/12/chiarman-ppp-bilawal-bhutto-zardari-demands-federal-government-to-take-the-locust-attacks-seriously/
Chairman PPP said that in this pandemic, food security is an issue that needs to be addressed worldwide and according to a UN report; Pakistan is more prone to face damages done by a lack of food security. After 25 years, there has been a locust attack and plant protection is the federal government’s subject.
He said that the federal government was given one year to prepare and it had promised us that it would send planes in March. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had brought in planes from Iran and other countries in 90s when locust had attacked. Federal government promised us six planes and only one plane was provided to us, he said. There have been locust attacks in Balochistan as well and the federal government has not helped at all. The way the federal government has not helped in the Covid-19 situation, similarly, no help has been offered during these locust attacks, he said. He also shared pictures showing the locust attacks all over Sindh (Jamshoro, Hyderabad etc). This is concerning for our agriculture, the federal government is sleeping and we demand that the whole of Pakistan should be protected. This is not an issue that only concerns the rural areas, cities too are impacted by it and we have to take this serious during the pandemic as well.
The federal government politicizes every issue. Responding to a question regarding President Zardari’s health, he said that according to the WHO’s guidelines, people with underlying conditions are advised to not leave their houses at all. President Zardari suffers from underlying conditions such as diabetes and cardiac complications; Shehbaz Sharif is a cancer patient, which is why they have refrained from attending the Parliamentary session. On the other hand, Prime Minister Imran Khan gets his salary from the Parliament, and still does not attend it, he is not doing his job.
Answering a question, he said that there has been no contact with the government after yesterday’s address; the batting line is still the same. Serious people are making non-serious remarks, we condemn Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s statement. When we talk about Sindh, it is said that we play the Sindh card. When I talk about Balochistan and its issues, then am I playing the Balochistan card, similarly if I am talking about KP’s issues then am I playing the KP card? When I talk about Kashmir and speak up about what our PM is afraid to say, then am I playing the Kashmir card? Shah Mehmood Qureshi should take back his words, and if not, he should resign.
If I extend my hand towards you, then I am met with remarks such as “we will prove our political strength” in Sindh. They talk about proving their political strength, but we know how their political strength has been proven. When he was our minister, we know who approached him and fueled his dreams of becoming a future prime minister of the country. 11 health workers have passed away while serving the country, 600 Pakistanis have died at the hands of the Covid-19.
Imran Khan uses the poor in order to benefit the elite; he met with the business-oriented class but not with the farmer representatives or trade unions. Khan sahib was trying to woo the industrialists and was fulfilling their demands, he was giving construction package to Anil Musarrat and other construction tycoons in the name of relief package. On the other hand, we in Sindh, wanted to give a corona relief package and wanted to provide relief to the people of Sind but the federal government tried to sabotage our efforts. The governor did not sign the package. We do not want to get into any debate and we will again send that package to the governor again. You have delayed relief for the people of Sindh. The PTI should copy paste our corona relief package for other provinces as well and we want the people of other provinces to benefit from it.
Responding to a question about locusts, he said that we were promised six planes but only one was sent and there is no pilot to fly that plane. The locust problem is also there in Balochistan and Punjab but the federal government has failed in fulfilling its responsibility there too. When the NDMA had claimed that it was preparing for the locust attacks, why is it that no preparation can be seen?
Answering a question he said that if the judicial and executive bodies are proceeding with their activities, then the National Assembly should do the same. He said that the National Assembly is there to hold the executives accountable and that its sessions should be held and the federal government should take our advice seriously. He said that if the federal government wants to give us more responsibility, then it has to give us more resources.
Responding to another question, he said that the federal government uses the constitution to hide its own failures. There is no problem due to the constitution. Plant protection is the responsibility of the federal government according to the constitution. He said that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto got the constitution passed unanimously and this constitution was attacked during Zia’s dictatorship and afterwards, during Musharraf’s dictatorship. It was ironic that General Zia’s name was a part of the constitution and we removed his name through the 18th Amendment. President Zardari was the most powerful president of this country but he gave up his powers and transferred them to the prime minister, thus making this country a democratic one. We restored the 1973 constitution and the anti-democratic people only oppose it because it is a democratic constitution, and they want a dictatorship. This is not the time to start this debate and we should not indulge in such tactics and should deal with the pandemic.
Responding to a question about the sugar report, he said that this is a gimmick because PTI never wants accountability and just wants its people and allies to stay loyal. This sugar gimmickry proves that either the prime minister is corrupt and wants to give benefit to his cronies like his ATM or he is too stupid. He said that he has been informing the media about the attacks on the 18th amendment and we were their target for victimization because they wanted to use the 18th amendment as a bargaining chip. They cannot alter the 18th amendment with only a two or three vote majority but if they want to meddle with it in the garb of the pandemic, then we are ready to resist them at every forum.
https://www.ppp.org.pk/2020/05/12/chiarman-ppp-bilawal-bhutto-zardari-demands-federal-government-to-take-the-locust-attacks-seriously/
#CoronaVirusPakistan - On #InternationalNursesDay, #PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari eulogizes nursing professionals and asks #PTI government for instant provision of required #PPEs to them
In his message on the occasion of International Nurses Day, the PPP Chairman said that nurses are the frontline soldiers along with doctors and paramedics during the war against COVID-19 and they should be appreciated, saluted, and rewarded for their brave role in protecting the humanity from the contagious disease.
PPP Chairman said that nurses in Pakistan are playing a revolutionary role in the war against coronavirus and entire nation eulogizes their hard work for caring and curing the COVID-19 patients despite dangers to their lives of being infected because of the failure of the Federal government to provide them of personal protective equipment as per their requirements.
https://www.ppp.org.pk/2020/05/12/on-internationalnursesday-ppp-chairman-bilawal-bhutto-zardari-eulogizes-nursing-professionals-and-asks-pti-government-for-instant-provision-of-required-ppes-to-them/
بلاول بھٹو کی شاہ محمود پر تنقید، استعفیٰ کا مطالبہ
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے وزیر خارجہ شاہ محمود قریشی کو آڑے ہاتھوں لے لیا اور ان سے استعفیٰ کا مطالبہ کردیا۔
اسلام آباد میں پریس کانفرنس کے دوران بلاول بھٹو نے کہا کہ وفاقی وزیر صاحب ہمیں پتا ہے آپ نے اپنا سیاسی لوہا کیسے منوایا ہے۔
انہوں نے کہاکہ وفاقی وزیر صاحب ہمیں مجبور نہ کریں کہ ہم بتادیں کہ کس نے آپ کو وزیراعظم بننے کا خواب دکھایا ہے۔
پی پی چیئرمین نے مزید کہا کہ ہمیں سب پتا ہے، وفاقی وزیر صاحب آپ نے ہماری جماعت کیوں چھوڑی تھی۔
ان کا کہنا تھا کہ وفاقی وزیر اب بھی پی ٹی آئی یا عمران خان کا نہیں اپنا سیاسی لوہا منوانے کی کوشش کررہے ہیں۔
بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے یہ بھی کہا کہ وفاقی وزیر سندھ میں لوہا منوانے کی بات واپس لیں یا مستعفی ہوجائیں۔
انہوں نے کہاکہ گزشتہ روز وفاقی وزیر اپنی تقریر میں کہا تھا کہ پیپلز پارٹی سے صوبائی تعصب کی بو آتی ہے، یہ سندھ کارڈ کھیلتے ہیں، میں پوچھنا چاہتا ہوں کہ جب میں جنوبی پنجاب اور بلوچستان کی پسماندگی کی بات کرتا ہوں تو مجھ پر بلوچستان اور جنوبی کارڈ کھیلنے کا الزام کیوں نہیں لگاتے؟
پی پی چیئرمین نے کہا کہ جب میں خیبرپختونخوا، فاٹا اور گلگت بلتستان کے حقوق کی بات کرتا ہوں تو کیوں نہیں کہتے کہ میں نے کارڈ کھیلا ہے۔
کورونا سے جنگ میں شہید ڈاکٹر نوشاد کو بلاول بھٹو کا خراج عقیدت
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کورونا وائرس کے خلاف جنگ میں شہید ہونے والے ڈاکٹر نوشاد کو خراج عقیدت پیش کیا ہے۔
پارٹی ترجمان کے مطابق بلاول بھٹو نے ڈاکٹر نوشاد کے اہلخانہ سے تعزیت کرتے ہوئے کہا ہے کہ ڈاکٹر نوشاد نے خطرناک حالات میں بھی پیشہ ورانہ ذمے داریاں نبھائیں۔
بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا کہنا تھا کہ ڈاکٹر نوشاد کی خدمات اور قربانی کو آئندہ نسلیں یاد رکھیں گی اور ان پر فخر کریں گی۔
واضح رہے کہ حیدرآباد میں کورونا وائرس کے مشتبہ مریض اور ہلال احمر اسپتال کےڈاکٹر نوشاد حسین انتقال کرگئے، ڈاکٹر نوشاد گزشتہ کئی روز سے بیمار تھے۔
ڈپٹی کمشنر فواد سومرو کے مطابق ڈاکٹر نوشاد میں کورونا وائرس کی علامتیں تھیں تاہم اُن کا ٹیسٹ نہیں کرایا گیا تھا، ڈاکٹر نوشاد گزشتہ چھ روز سے چھٹیوں پر تھے۔
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