Thursday, April 30, 2020
#Pakistan - #coronavirusinpakistan - Politics of faith
MOST Muslim countries have stopped congregations at mosques, and even Islam’s holiest places are shut in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Not so in Pakistan. It is not just about the power of the pulpit; it’s more to do with the culpability of an inadequate leadership unable to take charge.
For the leadership, matters of faith appear to take priority over the lives of the believers. Last week, doctors called on the government and clerics to reverse a decision to allow prayers at the mosques during Ramazan out of concern that large gatherings would lead to an explosion of coronavirus cases. But the pleading of the doctors on the front line of the battle against the pandemic has gone unheeded.
Rationalizing the decision, the prime minister said that people could not be stopped from going to mosques in a free country. Many would argue that this argument has little to do with religious freedom. The restrictions on congregations in other countries have been imposed in order to save human lives that are more important than anything else. The government has simply given in to the demands of some vested clerical interests. The so-called 20-point accord with a group of clerics laying out conditions for mosques to observe during prayers is nonsensical. Most of the rules such as maintaining a gap of six feet between worshippers and barring those over 50 years of age from joining in the prayers at the mosque are very difficult to implement.
Even the pleading of those on the front line of the battle against the virus has gone unheard.
A survey conducted by an NGO has shown that more than 80 per cent of mosques in Punjab and the federal capital flouted the rules for the first taraweeh prayers. Mosques continue to be crowded and many worshippers are not even seen to be using the mandatory facemasks. As per the agreement those mosques failing to fulfil the specified conditions would be closed. One knows well that it could never happen.
Unsurprisingly, there has been complete silence from the administration over the report on this defiance. A TV report showed the president visiting Faisal Mosque in Islamabad; he was reportedly happy to see that rules were being observed. But he seems to have ignored reports about other mosques defying the agreement. It is evident that congregations have been one of the biggest sources of the spread of the coronavirus in the country. A large number of initial cases were among the pilgrims returning from Iran and participants of the annual gathering of the Tableeghi Jamaat in March this year. Tens of thousands attended the congregation in Raiwind despite the outbreak.
Instead of showing responsible behaviour, Maulana Tariq Jameel, who is associated with the missionary group, blamed the media and women for the pandemic. His misogynistic comments at a fund-raising event with the prime minister in attendance have provoked a strong backlash. His influence over the political leadership in power and other power centres is well known.
Indeed, most clerics acknowledge the hazards of cramped mosques in Ramazan. That may also be the reason why many clerics who have been at the forefront of the campaign themselves are not going to mosques and prefer to pray at home with their close family members. While keeping themselves away from the crowd, they are least bothered for the safety of others.
They conveniently reject the example of Saudi Arabia and Iran closing mosques for communal prayers when it clashes with their vested interests, and say that this does not apply to Pakistan’s situation. It’s hard to find any logic in this argument. Some reports suggest that besides a show of power, there are possible financial interests that could also have been a reason behind their pressure to keep mosques open during the holy month. This is the month when maximum donations are collected. The flow of funds is critical to keeping their establishments running.
Signs of the approaching catastrophe are palpable with the exponential rise in the numbers of victims in the last one week, following the government’s decision to prematurely relax the restrictions. In fact, there is little semblance of even a partial lockdown at the moment and the breakdown of social distancing is apparent. The government’s mixed messages have compounded the confusion in policy.
The center’s contradictory statements undermine the efforts being made by the provincial governments and the Command & Control Centre established to coordinate efforts. Consequently, the number of coronavirus cases has risen at an alarming rate, and according to WHO, could go up to more than 200,000 in the next few months.
An extremely fragile healthcare system unable to deal with the load could collapse completely. More worrisome is the fact that given inadequate safety measures, an increasing number of doctors are falling victim to the infection thus exacerbating the crisis. At least three doctors have died so far of the virus and a large number have contracted the infection. Despite their vulnerability, the medical community has not turned its back on its responsibilities. Yet some of those who advise the prime minister have dismissed the warning as a false alarm and even accused the doctors of playing politics. That shows their callous attitude towards the threat of the spread of the infection. Notwithstanding the prime minister’s muddled approach, most Pakistanis support the demand of the medical community for the strict enforcement of the lockdown at least till the curve of the disease starts declining.
A recent survey conducted by Gallup Pakistan shows that most people acknowledge that the coronavirus is a serious threat to themselves and their families. For that reason, some 68pc support enforcement of a complete lockdown in the country.
Undoubtedly, a shutdown even for a shorter period has serious economic consequences, pushing more people into poverty. But it is always better to take hard decisions for long-term gains. The next few weeks are going to be extremely critical and one can only hope that the worst is over soon.
#Coronavirus cases in Pakistan rise to 15,759, with 346 deaths
The Pakistan government said 3,560 patients were admitted across the country in 717 hospitals with Covid-19 facilities, while others were isolated at their homes.
Pakistan reported 874 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of infections to 15,759 with 346 deaths so far in the county, an official statement said on Thursday.
The Ministry of National Health Services said the death of 19 more patients have been reported in the provinces of Punjab, Balochistan among others, taking the total death toll to 346.
Punjab reported 6,061 cases, Sindh 5,695, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 2,313, Balochistan 978, Gilgit-Baltistan 333, Islamabad 313 and Pakistan-cccupied Kashmir reported 66 cases, a statement from the ministry said.
So far 4,052 patients have recovered while the total active cases in the country were 11,361.
At least 153 patients were critical in hospitals.
The authorities have so far conducted 174,160 tests, including 8,249 on April 29.
The ministry also said that local transmission was 84 per cent and foreign travel 16 per cent.
The government said that 3,560 patients were admitted across the country in 717 hospitals with COVID-19 facilities, while others were isolated at their homes.
Among the high profile people who got infected by the coronavirus includes Governor of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province Imran Ismail, a very close aide of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا مزدوروں کے عالمی دن پر پیغام
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا ہے کہ محنت کش طبقہ، خاص طور پر روزانہ اجرت پر کام کرنے والے مزدور کرونا وائرس کی وباء کے نتیجے میں ہونے والی معاشی خرابی سے سب سے زیادہ متاثر ہوئے ہیں۔ چونکہ عالمی معیشت سکڑ رہی ہے، حکومتوں پر لازم ہے کہ وہ محنت کشوں کا ساتھ دیں۔ لیکن بدقسمتی سے، پوری دنیا میں دائیں بازو کی حکومتیں عوام کو فائدہ دینے سے گریزاں ہیں۔ مزدوروں کے عالمی دن کے موقع پر جاری کردہ اپنے پیغام میں پی پی پی چیئرمین نے کہا کہ مہلک عالمی وبائی نے نیو لبرل معاشی پالیسیوں کی خامیوں کو بے نقاب کر دیا ہے، اور حکومتوں کی مزدور دشمن پالیسیوں کو ننگا کردیا ہے، جو بہت سارے لوگوں کو نقصان دے کر مٹھی بھر لوگوں کو فائدہ پہنچانے والی ہوتی ہیں. بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا کہ وفاقی حکومتوں کی ذمہ داری ہے کہ وہ مہلک وباء کے دوران غریبوں اور دہاڑی پر کام کرنے والے بت روزگار مزدوروں کو جلد از جلد امداد کی فراہمی کو یقینی بنائے۔ لیکن، افسوس کی بات ہے کہ غریب مزدوروں کو منافع خوروں کے رحم و کرم پر بے یارومددگار چھوڑ دیا گیا ہے۔
ریاست نے مزدوروں اور مزدور طبقوں کے حقوق کے تحفظ کے لئے اپنی ذمہ داریوں سے صرفِ نظر کر رکھا ہے اور مزدوروں و محنت کشوں کے حقوق کو تحفظ دینے کی ذمیداری کا بوجھ اپنے کندھوں سے اتار دیا ہے۔ پی پی پی چیئر مین نے کہا کہ یہ صورتحال ہر باضمیر پاکستانی کے لئے لمحہ فکریہ ہے کہ ایسے وقت میں جب ہمارے شہریوں کی زندگیاں خطرے میں ہیں اور ان کا مستقبل غیر یقینی ہے، اس وقت مخصوص اداروں کی نجکاری اور صوبوں کو ان کے آئینی اختیارات و رقوم سے محروم رکھنے کی سازشیں کی جارہی ہیں۔ بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے نشاندہی کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ سندھ میں عوامی حکومت نے قانون سازی کے ذریعے لاک ڈاؤن کے دوران کسی بھی ملازم کے ملازمت سے نکالنے پر پابندی عائد کردی ہے، جبکہ سیکڑوں ہزاروں بے روزگار مزدوروں اور ان کے اہل خانہ کو ان کے گھروں کی دہلیز پر راشن فراہم کیا گیا ہے۔ انہوں نے مطالبہ کیا کہ وفاقی حکومت بے روزگار مزدوروں کو حکومت کی طرف سے مقرر کردہ کم سے کم اجرت کی بنیاد پر اس وقت تک مالی امداد فراہم کرے جب تک کہ پاکستان کے لیئے لاک ڈاؤن کو ختم کرنا محفوظ اور لوگوں کی جان کو خطرے میں ڈالے بغیر انہیں کام پر واپس بھیجنا ممکن نہیں ہوتا۔
انہوں نے مزید کہا کہ یہ مزدور ہی ہیں جو معیشت اور معاشرے کی ریڑھ کی ہڈی کی حیثیت رکھتے ہیں۔ انہوں نے اس عزم کا اعادہ کیا کہ پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے بنیادی اصولوں پر سختی سے کاربند رہیں گے اور محنت کش طبقے کی حفاظت کرتے ہوئے ایسی معیشت کی تشکیل دیں گے جہاں ان کا استحصال نہ ہو۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ یہ پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی ہی ہے جس نے ملک میں پہلی لیبر پالیسی کا اجراء کیا اور مزدوروں کی محنت کی قدر کو تسلیم کیا۔ اور یہ پیپلز پارٹی ہی ہے جس نے بینظیر اسٹاک آپشن سکیم نافذ کرکے ملازمین کو پیداواری منافعے اور دولت میں شراکت دار بنایا۔ اور یہ بھی پیپلز پارٹی ہی ہوگی جو صنف ، ذات پات اور نسل کے امتیاز سے بالاتر ہوکر پورے پاکستان میں مزدوروں کے استحصال کے خاتمے کے لئے ہمیشہ جدوجہد کرتی رہے گی۔
#Pakistan #PPP - Imran Khan-led government is showing indifference towards the provinces during the coronavirus crisis
In an interview with the BBC, the PPP boss said that the Pakistan Tekreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led federal government, rather than working alongside its provincial counterparts, is attempting to “sabotage the good work done by Sindh”.
He added that the Centre could not remain negligent towards its duty towards the provinces in light of its own interpretation of the constitutional 18th Amendment.
During a crisis, Bhutto Zardari noted, it is the national leadership’s responsibility to take ownership of matters.
He opined that it is the federal government that should formulate the policy to be implemented on a country-wide level, but there is a lapse in leadership this time.
“When the Centre wants to steal hospitals [from] under the government of Sindh, then no one sees the 18th Amendment. But, when there is a global outbreak of a disease and the country is in a ‘state of war’, then they bring up the 18th Amendment, which is extremely unfair,” he underlined.
The PPP chair said that at such a time, the entire country needed to unite and termed Prime Minister Khan’s statements as quite irresponsible.
“The sliver of doubt in the policy of [Prime Minister Imran] Khan gives an impression that the state of Pakistan is not free. Governments across the world are abolishing popular decisions and implementing measures that can benefit their public and secure their health,” Bhutto Zardari said.
While referring to the premier’s telethon for the Corona Relief Fund, Bhutto Zardari said that even though the donations were for a worthy cause, the premier needed to comprehend that donations are not a solution to everything.
He lamented that no matter which global organisation lauded the work of the Sindh government, the federal government always had some kind of criticism in store.
Bhutto Zardari also said that the Senate chairperson and National Assembly speaker should decide whether a virtual or in-person session of the National Assembly could be summoned to discuss pertinent national issues and relevant legislation.
https://www.bing.com/news/search?q=bilawal+bhutto&cf=intr&FORM=NSINTR
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