Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed dissatisfaction over the central government's measures against the coronavirus crisis, saying that Prime Minister Imran Khan is not fulfilling his responsibility during the pandemic.
Addressing the National Assembly for the first time since the lockdown in Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto paid tribute to the doctors, paramedics and nurses and said that prayers were also offered for the recovery of Speaker Asad Qaiser.
He said that the coronavirus has exposed the realities of world leaders, including Donald Trump of the United States and Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, because crises are a test of leadership. Bilawal said, "It is unfortunate that our Prime Minister who is also the Minister of Health is not present in the Assembly even today, when he should be the one informing the House and the people as a part of his duty".
Bilawal also said that if you are a leader then you have to do what the public is expected of you and that it would be better if the Prime Minister was present in the Assembly today.
"When the case of corona virus came up in Pakistan, I said we would work together," he said. Bilawal Bhutto said that in response to this, our leaders (from Sindh) and our Chief Minister were targeted at the highest levels of the government of Pakistan, their hard work and efforts were undermined.
A government official has even said that the people of Sindh are suffering due to ignorance. This time however, was not for such politics because Pakistan is facing many difficulties.
Foreign Minister says that there are safety kits. "If there were plenty of kits in Nishtar Hospital Multan, then why the PPP had to give kits." He said, PPE are being given to medical staff all over the world and tributes are being paid but what happens in Pakistan is quite the opposite, doctors are arrested in Balochistan and doctors have to go on hunger strike in Punjab.
The statements of the MQM leaders are responsible because they have a sense and if they say anything it guides us but unfortunately the statements of the elected leaders of the federal government from Sindh are irresponsible, says Bhutto.
Bilawal Bhutto said that as soon as it is time for war, our Prime Minister is not present, he is confused and unable to fulfill his responsibilities. Referring to the financial difficulties, he said that economic problems are not in other countries, Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Africa, Ethiopia and Afghanistan are not economic problems, only Pakistan has economic problems, even if those countries lock down.
If they can manage the economy and give relief to their people then why can't Pakistan, Bilawal asked. He said that according to the World Bank, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Maldives are the three countries that could be in recession due to the coronavirus epidemic.
"The reason is that before coronavirus, our economic situation was very bad, our poor workers were still worried but the virus has broken their backs," he said. Today, the federal government has not given anything to the working class and is now easing the restrictions so that it does not have to worry about feeding the lot, added Bilawal.
He said that the PTI government is not approving the Coronavirus Relief Ordinance which is for the people affected by the same epidemic but PTI is sabotaging the relief in Sindh and I demand that the Governors of Sindh approve this ordinance today. "Where we try to make progress, the PTI government does not allow us to work. I am not just talking about Sindh but the whole of Pakistan," he told PTI.
"We are ready to work with you and go from place to place, we are ready to say that this is our Prime Minister Imran Khan because we can become a force," Bilawal said.
Addressing the National Assembly for the first time since the lockdown in Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto paid tribute to the doctors, paramedics and nurses and said that prayers were also offered for the recovery of Speaker Asad Qaiser.
He said that the coronavirus has exposed the realities of world leaders, including Donald Trump of the United States and Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, because crises are a test of leadership. Bilawal said, "It is unfortunate that our Prime Minister who is also the Minister of Health is not present in the Assembly even today, when he should be the one informing the House and the people as a part of his duty".
Bilawal also said that if you are a leader then you have to do what the public is expected of you and that it would be better if the Prime Minister was present in the Assembly today.
"When the case of corona virus came up in Pakistan, I said we would work together," he said. Bilawal Bhutto said that in response to this, our leaders (from Sindh) and our Chief Minister were targeted at the highest levels of the government of Pakistan, their hard work and efforts were undermined.
A government official has even said that the people of Sindh are suffering due to ignorance. This time however, was not for such politics because Pakistan is facing many difficulties.
Foreign Minister says that there are safety kits. "If there were plenty of kits in Nishtar Hospital Multan, then why the PPP had to give kits." He said, PPE are being given to medical staff all over the world and tributes are being paid but what happens in Pakistan is quite the opposite, doctors are arrested in Balochistan and doctors have to go on hunger strike in Punjab.
The statements of the MQM leaders are responsible because they have a sense and if they say anything it guides us but unfortunately the statements of the elected leaders of the federal government from Sindh are irresponsible, says Bhutto.
Bilawal Bhutto said that as soon as it is time for war, our Prime Minister is not present, he is confused and unable to fulfill his responsibilities. Referring to the financial difficulties, he said that economic problems are not in other countries, Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Africa, Ethiopia and Afghanistan are not economic problems, only Pakistan has economic problems, even if those countries lock down.
If they can manage the economy and give relief to their people then why can't Pakistan, Bilawal asked. He said that according to the World Bank, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Maldives are the three countries that could be in recession due to the coronavirus epidemic.
"The reason is that before coronavirus, our economic situation was very bad, our poor workers were still worried but the virus has broken their backs," he said. Today, the federal government has not given anything to the working class and is now easing the restrictions so that it does not have to worry about feeding the lot, added Bilawal.
He said that the PTI government is not approving the Coronavirus Relief Ordinance which is for the people affected by the same epidemic but PTI is sabotaging the relief in Sindh and I demand that the Governors of Sindh approve this ordinance today. "Where we try to make progress, the PTI government does not allow us to work. I am not just talking about Sindh but the whole of Pakistan," he told PTI.
"We are ready to work with you and go from place to place, we are ready to say that this is our Prime Minister Imran Khan because we can become a force," Bilawal said.