Wednesday, May 13, 2020
کرونا کی بجائے سندھ حکومت مسلسل نشانے پر کیوں؟
تصادم کی پالیسی کے مخصوص حالات میں کچھ سیاسی فوائد ہوتے ہیں لیکن اس کو حکومت چلانے کے لیے مسلسل ہتھیار کے طور پر استعمال نہیں کیا جاسکتا۔
اس کڑے وقت میں جب ہم صحت کے ایک سنگین بحران کا شکار ہیں اور ہماری تمام تر توانائیاں اس وبا سے نمٹنے پر مرکوز ہونی چاہیے، ہماری وفاقی حکومت اور حکومت سندھ عقل سے بالا بیانات کی ایک جنگ میں مصروف ہیں۔
پاکستان تحریک انصاف کے سندھ میں سینیئر پارٹی عہدیدار حکومت سندھ پر الزام لگا رہے ہیں کہ وہ کرونا (کورونا) وائرس کے مرض میں مبتلا مریضوں اور اموات کو جان بوجھ کر اور جھوٹے اعدادوشمار مہیا کر کے بڑھا چڑھا کر پیش کر رہی ہے۔ ان کے مطابق انہوں نے کراچی میں تمام ہسپتالوں کے دورے کیے ہیں اور انہیں کہیں بےشمار مریض نظر نہیں آئے اور نہ ہی اموات کی تفصیل معلوم ہوسکیں۔ ان الزامات میں مزید تلخی لاتے ہوئے یہ بھی الزام لگایا گیا کہ سندھ حکومت جان بوجھ کر کراچی کا لاک ڈاؤن کر کے معاشی ترقی کا راستہ روک رہی ہے اور اس کا مقصد وفاقی حکومت کی معاشی پالیسیوں کو بھی نقصان پہنچانا ہے۔
اسی گولہ باری میں گورنر سندھ کیسے پیچھے رہتے۔ اس کے باوجود کے وہ خود کرونا وائرس کے مرض میں مبتلا ہیں، انہوں نے حکومت سندھ کا عوام کے لیے مالیاتی سہولتوں کے پیکیج کا آرڈیننس کئی دن اپنے پاس رکھنے کے بعد مسترد کر دیا جس سے سندھ حکومت عام عوام کو مالیاتی رعایتیں نہیں دے سکی۔
گو وفاقی وزیر منصوبہ بندی اسد عمر نے پی ٹی آئی کی صوبائی قیادت کے الزامات کی تردید کی اور انہیں غیرذمہ دارانہ قرار دیا ہے لیکن یقیناً صوبائی قیادت نے اپنی پارٹی کے فیصلہ سازوں کی اجازت سے ہی ایسی منفی مہم کا آغاز کیا ہوگا۔ کیا یہ مناسب وقت تھا کہ دو بڑی سیاسی جماعتیں خصوصی طور پر وفاقی حکومت اپنے اختلافات کو اس طرح قومی بحران کے دوران عام عوام کے سامنے زیر بحث لائیں؟ اسی طرح کے غیرذمہ دارانہ اور غیرجمہوری رویے عام عوام کو جمہوری اداروں اور سیاستدانوں سے مایوس کرتے ہیں اور غیرجمہوری قوتوں کو مداخلت کی دعوت دیتے ہیں۔
یقیناً پی پی پی کی سندھ میں پچھلے 10 سالوں کی کارکردگی کچھ زیادہ قابل فخر نہیں رہی ہے لیکن پی پی پی کی حکومت سے پہلے 10 سال میں جب جنرل مشرف اور ایم کیو ایم سندھ کے بلا شرکت غیر حکمران تھے تو وہاں پر کون سی شہد کی نہریں بہہ رہی تھیں۔ کیا اس دور میں بہت اعلیٰ معیاری ہسپتال قائم کیے گئے اور ہر شخص چاہے وہ کراچی میں تھا یا اندرون سندھ، صحت کی ہر سہولت انہیں حاصل تھی؟ ہرگز نہیں۔
اگر اس ایک دہائی میں صحت کے شعبے یا دیگر سماجی اداروں پر توجہ اور سرمایہ کاری کی گئی ہوتی تو پی پی پی کی حکومت کی اس شعبے میں کارکردگی پر ایک جائز تنقید کی جا سکتی تھی۔ اگر ہم پچھلے دس سالوں کا جائزہ لیں تو پاکستان میں کسی بھی سیاسی حکومت کی طرح پی پی پی کو بھی سندھ میں مسلسل سیاسی مشکلات کا نشانہ بنایا گیا۔ کراچی کو مسلسل بدامنی کا شکار رکھا گیا اور سندھ حکومت اپنی سیاسی بقا کی جنگ لڑتی رہی۔
وسائل کا سماجی شعبوں میں استعمال کی بجائے اربوں روپے سکیورٹی کی مد میں رینجرز اور دیگر ایجنسیوں پر خرچ کیے گئے۔ کراچی میں کئی طاقت کے سرچشمے تھے جو اپنے طریقے سے اپنی جنگ لڑ رہے تھے۔ ان حالات میں کسی بھی صوبائی حکومت کا کامیابی سے کام کرنا یا عام عوام کی ضروریات پر توجہ دینا اگر ناممکن نہیں تو کافی مشکل ضرور تھا۔ ان مشکل حالات کے باوجود پی پی پی سندھ میں تیسری دفعہ انتخابات جیتنے میں کامیاب ہوئی جس سے ظاہر ہوتا ہے کہ مخالفین کی ہرزاسرائی کے باوجود اندرون سندھ کے عوام اس کی کارکردگی سے مطمئن رہے۔
ان حقائق کو مدنظر رکھتے ہوئے وفاقی حکومت کے لیے ضروری ہے کہ سندھ حکومت کو مسلسل تنقید کا نشانہ بنانے کی بجائے اس قومی بحران میں ان کے ساتھ مل کر اس چیلنج کا مقابلہ کرے۔ وفاقی حکومت کو یاد رکھنا چاہیے کہ جب خیبر پختونخوا میں وہ پہلی دفعہ انتخابات جیتے تھے تو اس وقت کی وفاقی حکومت نے انہیں بغیر کسی رکاوٹ کے کام کرنے دیا جسے وہ 2018 کے انتخابات میں اپنی کامیابی کی بڑی وجہ قرار دیتے ہیں۔
پی ٹی آئی کی اس بحران کے دوران پی پی پی کے بارے میں جارحانہ اور تصادم پر مبنی پالیسی کی مختلف وجوہات ہو سکتی ہیں۔ چونکہ کرونا سے نمٹنے کے لیے سندھ حکومت نے سب سے پہلے فیصلہ کن اقدامات اٹھائے تو پی ٹی آئی کو خدشہ ہے کہ ان کے اقدامات کی کامیابی سے پی پی پی اور حکومت مخالف جماعتوں کی سیاسی قوت میں اضافہ ہوگا جو پی ٹی آئی کی وفاقی سطح پر کمزور اور پنجاب کی حد تک نااہل حکومت، جو اب تک تقریباً ایک درجن چیف سیکریٹریز اور آئی جی پولیس تبدیل کر چکی ہے، کے لیے ایک سنگین سیاسی خطرہ بن سکتا ہے۔
تصادم کی پالیسی کے مخصوص حالات میں کچھ سیاسی فوائد ہوتے ہیں لیکن اس کو حکومت چلانے کے لیے مسلسل ہتھیار کے طور پر استعمال نہیں کیا جاسکتا۔ اگر معاشی حالات بہتر ہوں تو کچھ عرصہ اس پالیسی کو کامیابی سے چلایا جا سکتا ہے مگر خراب معیشت میں عوام اس قسم کی پالیسیوں سے جلد اکتا جاتے ہیں اور طاقتور اسٹیبلشمنٹ کی بھی تھکاوٹ یا برداشت کرنے کی ایک حد ہوتی ہے۔
اس لیے پی ٹی آئی کو تصادم کو ایک نئے درجہ پر لے جانے سے پہلے ان سیاسی تبدیلیوں کو مدنظر رکھنے کی ضرورت ہے۔ یہی تصادم کی پالیسی ان کی وفاقی اور پنجاب حکومت کو بھی سنجیدہ خطرات سے دوچار کر سکتی ہے۔ پی ٹی آئی کے سیاسی اتحادی چوہدریوں کا نیب کے خلاف عدالت میں رجوع کرنا اس کم ہوتی ہوئی برداشت کی طرف اشارہ ہے۔
پی ٹی آئی اب 2018-2013 کی اپوزیشن جماعت نہیں رہی اور اپنی غلطیوں اور ناکامیوں کا بوجھ کسی اور حکومت پر نہیں ڈال سکتی۔ اس لیے اسے سنجیدگی سے کرونا سے مقابلہ کرنے کے لیے اپنی 2013 سے جاری تصادم کی پالیسی پر نظرثانی کی ضرورت ہے۔ اگر کرونا سے جنگ میں کامیابی ہوتی ہے اور اس جنگ میں ساری صوبائی حکومتیں وفاقی حکومت کی قیادت میں ایک ساتھ حصہ لیتی ہیں تو یہ ایک بڑی قومی فتح ہوگی اور وفاقی حکومت بجا طور پر اس فتح کا سہرا اپنے سر باندھ سکتی ہے۔
پی ٹی آئی کے ماضی اور حالیہ اقدامات کو دیکھتے ہوئے یہ افسوس سے مگر آسانی سے کہا جاسکتا ہے کہ وہ اپنی تباہ کن تصادم کی پالیسی جاری رکھے گی اور ہم اس سے کرونا یا کسی بھی سیاسی یا معاشی بحران سے نمٹنے کے لیے قومی یکجہتی پر مبنی پالیسی بنانے کی امید نہ رکھیں۔
Turn the budget into corona budget, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Chairman Pakistan peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that he had in his first press conference about Covid-19 pandemic had said that we will have to fight on two fronts. One we have to fight this Covid-19 and other is to stabilise the economy which was already sagging at that time.Chairman PPP was talking to a media outlet at the parliament house on Wednesday. He said tat these are not normal times. The responsibility of the government is to fight this pandemic as well as assure economic stability. Chairman PPP said that the package announced by the government is nothing but gimmickry. Government announced12 billion package but when you go into details shows that all that amount was already budgeted. They used BISP budget in the name of Ehsas programme. Tax refund to the business community is also made a part of this package which was already due. Wheat procurement has also been made a part of this package. Thus poor and daily wages have received any relief.Chairman PPP said that the government did not announce any relief for the medical workers who are fighting on the front line. Pakistan should also use some percent of GDP for relief like all other countries in the world. We should use maximum for our front line soldiers. We should protect our medical workers. Instead Pakistan became the first state that decided that people’s health and life is not its priority.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari suggested the government to turn its budget into Covid-19 budget. We have to focus on agriculture sector because food security is an issue now for the entire world. This government had said after Covid-19 that it will announce an agriculture package but still no sign of it. After 25 years locust is threatening us and plant protection is federal subject but the government is not ready to deal with it. Sindh chief minister is in contact with federal government for nearly a year but nothing is done yet. Balochistan government and its people are waiting for help against locust. President Zardari talked about it in the parliament last year. We held several press conference on the issue and just yesterday I addressed a press conference on locust threat and today Raja Pervaiz Ashraf spoke about it in the national assembly but government has not responded yet. Even United Nations has issued a warning about locust. The government has to provide relief to the agriculture sector to assure food security.
Chairman PPP said that the government cannot absolve itself from its responsibilities just by giving money through BISP. It has to provide relief to our daily wage workers, small traders, white collar employees, small shopkeepers etc. IMF, ADB, World Bank, G-20 countries gave relief to the government and the fall in petroleum prices has given the government fiscal space to give relief to the people of Pakistan. It is unfortunate that Sindh government corona ordinance is not signed yet through which we want to provide relief to the people. This ordinance should be implemented in other provinces as well.
https://www.ppp.org.pk/2020/05/13/turn-the-budget-into-corona-budget-chairman-ppp-bilawal-bhutto-zardari/
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۔
Monday, May 11, 2020
وزیراعظم نے اپنی ذمے داری ادا نہیں کی، بلاول بھٹو
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا ہے کہ عمران خان نے بطور وزیراعظم اور وزیر صحت اپنی ذمے داری ادا نہیں کی۔
بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا کہ ہم آپ کے ساتھ بیک ڈور بیٹھنے کو بھی تیار ہیں، آپ اپنی بیٹنگ لائن کوتبدیل کریں، ان لوگوں کو فرنٹ پرلائیں جو سمجھدار اور تجربہ کار ہوں جنہیں تمیز ہو۔
ڈپٹی اسپکر قاسم سوری کی زیر صدرت قومی اسمبلی کے اجلاس میں کورونا پر بحث کے دوران اظہار خیال کرتے ہوئے بلاول بھٹو نے کہا کہ کورونا وائرس سے قیادت کی اصلیت سامنے آئی ہے، وزیراعظم جو وزیر صحت بھی ہیں، ایوان کو مہلک وائرس پر بریفنگ دینے نہیں آئے۔
انہوں نے کہا کہ وزیراعظم کے معاون خصوصی برائے صحت ایوان میں بات نہیں کرسکتے، عمران خان کو ایوان میں آکر پوری قوم کو اصل صورتحال سے آگاہی دینا چاہیے تھی۔
پی پی چیئرمین نے مزید کہا کہ وزیراعظم ایک طرف تو یہ چاہتے ہیں کہ غریب، مزدور سمیت ہر شعبے کا فرد کام کرے تاکہ معیشت کا پہیہ چلے، جب آپ دوسروں سے توقع رکھتے ہیں تو وہ آپ کو خود بھی کرنا پڑتا ہے۔
ان کا کہنا تھا کہ وفاق کی طرف سے سندھ کی کوششوں کو نظرانداز کیا گیا تو نقصان عوام کا ہوگا، اپنی پہلی پریس کانفرنس میں ہم نے اتحاد کا پیغام دیا۔
بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا کہ میرے وزیراعلیٰ اور ان کے وزراء کی کردار کشی کی گئی، ایک اعلیٰ عہدیدار نے کہا کہ سندھ میں جہالت کی وجہ سےکورونا پھیلا، یہ وقت اس طرح کی سیاست کا نہیں۔
انہوں نے کہا کہ کورونا کے خلاف جنگ میں فرنٹ لائن سولجرز ڈاکٹرز اور طبی عملہ ہے، جسے خراج تحسین پیش کرتے ہیں، اب تک 700 سے زائد میڈیکل اسٹاف مہلک وائرس سے متاثر اور 11 شہید ہوچکے ہیں۔
پی پی چیئرمین نے یہ بھی کہا کہ اسپیکر اسد قیصر کو مس کررہے ہیں، اسپیکر اور ان کی فیملی کی صحتیابی کے لیے دعا گو ہیں۔
#BilawalBhuttoTheLeader - Federal Government's promises to Sindh still unfulfilled: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has complained that the promises made by the Federal Government to Sindh have not been fulfilled while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also not received the required support.
Bilawal Bhutto, in his address to the National Assembly, said that we only do constructive criticism but Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) representatives in Sindh are causing confusion with irresponsible statements. He said that if the federal government undermines all our efforts, then they will surely fail.
He demanded the support of the federation instead of political point scoring during the global crisis. He admitted that the provinces receive more resources after the 18th amendment but said that one year’s health budget is not enough for this countering this pandemic. He asked the federal government to help provinces during the crisis rather than abusing and mischaracterizing them.
Bilawal Bhutto said that uninterrupted supply of testing kits and safety equipment must be ensured. The federation was supposed to stand side by side in the national emergency but regrettably, that did not happen. He again requested for help from the federal government as it was the only option.
He said that the situation would have been different if all parties had focused on coronavirus instead of passing statements against each other. He added that a majority of the statements are against Murad Ali Shah. He said that the Prime Minister is not fulfilling his responsibility towards the country and even in this state of war, the Prime Minister is absent and confused.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tells National Assembly that Center is creating confusion continuously amid coronavirus crisis instead of fulfilling responsibilities while PM appears to have gone missing
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that the provinces were fighting against the coronavirus with their available capacities but lamented that Federal government didn’t play its due role in a situation when entire country was at war against the pandemic.
Addressing the National Assembly session especially convened after the COVID-19 attack, the PPP Chairman said that though it was a war but the Prime Imran Khan appears to have gone missing and it was regrettable that he was not fulfilling his responsibilities as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari pointed out that more than 700 frontline workers have been infected with the contagious virus so far while 11 health workers have embraced martyrdom fighting the disease. “World was saluting the doctors, nurses and the paramedics but Pakistan our heroes faced imprisonments and d torture for demanding Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to fight against coronavirus,” he added.PPP Chairman pointed out that Federal government was making promises from the day one for relief to daily-wagers and labourers but it did nothing so far instead its representative Governor Sindh refused to sign an ordinance issued by Sindh government to provide relief in the backdrop of lockdown in a bid to sabotage the province’s efforts.He further said that whenever the nation needed unity in the face of economic crisis, Kashmir issue or now coronavirus, Imran Khan refused to play the role of a Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Federal government should contribute two rupees where provinces spend one rupee against coronavirus but it failed to take adequate steps. There were no kits available in Nishtar Hospital, Multan and PPP had to provide, he added.He said that unfortunately PTI leaders issued irresponsible statements and asked that Federal government should decide whether it was for a complete lockdown, a smart lockdown or for easing restrictions as you have to get ready for isolation and quarantine wards in the hospitals. But the government kept creating confusion, he regretted.Bilawal Bhutto Zardari further said that crisis befall as tests for the leadership adding that our Prime Minister, who is also Minister for Health Services should have been present in the session and it was his responsibility to apprise the masses and the House about threats by coronavirus and measures taken for its prevention and cure.
Though Foreign Minister tried to generate a debate on the Sindh province and 18th Amendment during the session, but PPP Chairman chose to limit his speech to the virus and steps required against it as from the first day he has has been emphasising for working together. However, he pointed out that our cooperation offer was responded with abusive language against our Party leaders and Chief Minister, Sindh and a campaign was carried out against their hardwork and efforts, One of their leader who is inducting as Governor even went on to allege that he was infected with coronavirus due to ignorant and illiterate people of Sindh. He again stressed that this was not the time for politics because country is faced with a very dangerous crisis. He appreciated the provinces for increasing their testing capacities but lamented that Federal government has not fulfilled its promise regarding provision of testing labs to the provinces so far.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari further pointed out that Chairman NDMA himself had fixed the target of 50,000 COVID-19 tests per day but the target was not met.
PPP Chairman said that a Prime Minister cannot ask the provinces to fight on their own especially when we are at war or we cannot send our soldiers to a war without giving them protective and fighting equipment.He said that our economic conditions were weak before the coronaviris and our poor and working classes were already faced with difficulties while coronavirus have broken their back in entire Pakistan not only in any particular province.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari offered to work with the Federal government during their international crisis affecting the Pakistan nation as well and asked Prime Minister to amend the batting order of his team and bring sober and graceful people to the fore by sidelining those spitting venom and resorting to abusive language when this country deserves unity.
https://www.ppp.org.pk/2020/05/11/offering-cooperation-bilawal-bhutto-zardari-tells-national-assembly-that-center-is-creating-confusion-continuously-amid-coronavirus-crisis-instead-of-fulfilling-responsibilities-while-pm-appears-to-h/
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Opinion: Has Trump Decided We Will Follow Sweden and Just Not Told Us?
The president brings instability and confusion to a crisis.
Having a pandemic is really bad. Having a pandemic and a civil war together is really, really bad. Welcome to Donald Trump’s America 2020.
If you feel dizzy from watching Trump signal left — issuing guidelines for how states should properly emerge from pandemic lockdowns — while turning right — urging people to liberate their states from lockdowns, ignore his own guidelines and even dispute the value of testing — you’re not alone.
Since Trump’s pronouncements are simultaneously convoluted, contradictory and dishonest, here’s my guess at what he is saying:
“The Greatest Generation preserved American liberty and capitalism by taking Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day — in the face of a barrage of Nazi shelling that could and did kill many of them. I am calling on our generation to preserve American liberty and capitalism today by going shopping in the malls of Omaha, Nebraska, in the face of a coronavirus pandemic that will likely only kill 1 percent of you, if you do get infected. So be brave — get back to work and take back your old life.”
Yes, if you total up all of Trump’s recent words and deeds, he is saying to the American people: between the two basic models for dealing with the pandemic in the world — China’s rigorous top-down, test, track, trace and quarantine model — while waiting for a vaccine to provide herd immunity — and Sweden’s more bottom up, protect-the-most-vulnerable-and-let-the-rest-get-back-to-work-and-get-the-infection-and-develop-natural-herd-immunity model, your president has decided for Sweden’s approach.
He just hasn’t told the country or his coronavirus task force or maybe even himself.
But this is the only conclusion you can draw from all the ways Trump has backed off from his own government guidelines and backed up his end-the-lockdown followers, who, like most of the country, have grown both weary of the guidelines and desperate to get back to work and paychecks.
But, in keeping with my D-Day analogy, Trump has basically decided to dispatch Americans into this battle against this coronavirus without the equivalent of maps, armor, helmets, guns or any coordinated strategy to minimize their casualty count. He’s also dispatching them without national leadership — so it’s every platoon, or state, for themselves, maximizing the chances of virus spread between people who want to go shopping and those who still want to shelter in place.
He’s also dispatching them without a national plan to protect the most vulnerable, particularly the elderly, and without setting the example that everyone should wear face masks and practice social distancing whenever they are at work or in a public setting. Finally, he’s dispatching them without a plan of retreat if way too many vulnerable people are infected and harmed as we take to the malls of Omaha and beyond.
Other than all that, Trump is just like F.D.R.
I fear that when these shortcomings become apparent, it could trigger a low-grade civil war between those who will ask their neighbors: “Who gave you the right to ignore the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and heedlessly go to a bar, work or restaurant and then spread coronavirus to someone’s grandparents or your own?” And those who will ask their neighbors: “Who gave you the right to keep the economy closed in a pandemic and trigger mass unemployment, which could cost many more lives than are saved, especially when alternative strategies, like Sweden’s, might work?” A new Mason-Dixon line could emerge between those states led by governors who want to equip their people with the maximum protective gear and safety guidelines and those governors who are keen to reopen their states for business as usual — gear and guidelines be damned. According to a new poll from Pew Research Center, more than two-thirds of Americans worry that their respective states are reopening too quickly, while pro-Trump protesters have taken to the streets to demand that businesses get people back to work now.
So, I can imagine the possibility of the governor of Maryland, who has been very careful about lifting lockdowns, banning cars coming north on Interstate 95 with Georgia license plates. And this is not just my imagination. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem “sent letters Friday to the leaders of both the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe demanding that checkpoints designed to prevent the spread of coronavirus on tribal land be removed” — or risk legal action, CNN.com reported Saturday. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has rejected the ultimatum. Stay tuned.
The tragedy of all of this is that a better president would never have allowed us to get to this edge of pandemic civil strife.
A real president would be simultaneously framing the issues for the nation and then arguing for and guiding us on the least painful course. He’d start by explaining that we are up against a challenge no one in our generation has ever faced — the challenge of a global pandemic in which Mother Nature is silently, invisibly, exponentially and mercilessly spreading a coronavirus among us. And, unlike a human foe, you can’t defeat Mother Nature, negotiate with her or spin her. All you can do is adapt in the least harmful way possible to whatever she throws at you. And when it’s a pandemic, it means there are only hellish moral and economic trade-offs — no matter which path you choose. Too closed, she’ll kill your jobs. Too open, she’ll kill your vulnerable.
The job of leadership is to choose the path that offers the most sustainable way to balance lives and livelihoods and then create and stick to the conditions that make it workable. So, as I said, China has chosen the pathway of locking down and then opening its economy, but with strict social distancing, masks everywhere and highly intrusive testing, tracking, tracing and quarantining anyone with coronavirus to prevent further spread — while it waits for a vaccine to create herd immunity.
Sweden has chosen moderate social distancing, keeping a lot of its economy open, while trying to protect the most vulnerable and letting those least vulnerable — those most likely to experience coronavirus either asymptomatically or as a mild or tough flu — continue to work, get the virus and develop immunity to it. Then, when enough of them are immune, they can sound the all-clear for the vulnerable. That’s Sweden’s strategy, but it is too early to say it’s the right answer.
If you listened to Trump last week you heard a president who was all over the place. One day he talked as though he wanted to follow Sweden in getting a lot of people back to work, even if many more will get infected by coronavirus. Another day, he boasted that we’re testing just like China — only more so. Another day he disputed the need for testing at all.
In brief: Trump talks like China, envies Sweden, prepares for neither and insists that his strategy is superior to both.
But the fact is he is not prepared to impose the kind of strict surveillance tracing and quarantining system that makes China’s reopening work. And he is not ready to consider strategies — like moving vulnerable people living in crowded homes to empty hotels or surrounding every nursing home with a public health testing units — that might make a Swedish-style opening less dangerous.
So, I fear that we are heading for a roiling mess. Our coronavirus infections will be exacerbated by Trump’s incompetence, while our hyper-political partisanship will be fed by his malevolence. After all, his whole political strategy is to divide us into red and blue, Republicans and Democrats, open-now advocates and go-slow advocates. That’s the only politics he practices.
In sum, Covid-19 is sapping our economic and physical health, while Trump is undermining our institutions and national unity. We desperately need a vaccine — and a 2020 election outcome — that can give us herd immunity to this virus and this president.
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