Reactions of anger and alarm have been piling up on social media, urging the PTI-led government to revisit its policy on fighting the novel Coronavirus.
Some have pointed out that a lockdown is inevitable and urged the federal government to implement it right away:
Strongly urge @SaniaNishtar and @zfrmrza to try to convince PM @ImranKhanPTI to announce a lockdown.
Without social distancing the numbers of #COVID19outbreak infected patients will continue to escalate geometrically.
— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) March 22, 2020
I know a lot of folks are panicking after the PM's address but let's focus. A lockdown is inevitable & from everything I've heard, it's clear he's the main decisionmaker still in denial. We need to keep up the pressure for #lockdownpakistan & tie it to a call for #basicincomenow.
— Ammar Rashid #LockdownPakistan #BasicIncomeNow (@AmmarRashidT) March 22, 2020
At times like this, leaders must make difficult decisions. Today, Imran Khan said Pakistan can't do a total lockdown due to potential economic impacts. But the health impacts of not doing one may be even worse. The number of cases is rapidly rising there. https://t.co/zW9S78COlv
— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) March 20, 2020
Others have suggested that the PM's inability to reach a lockdown decision will mean culpability for the government in the event of a public health disaster. These social media voices see the decision-making so far as irresponsible and shortsighted.
Still boggles the mind how our PM is so confidently spreading misinformation, putting lives at risk:
-If young people get flu-like symptoms, they should self-quarantine. They’ll get better in a few days
-Only the elderly are at risk so should go to hospitals to seek treatment pic.twitter.com/HSaiGFlapU
— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) March 22, 2020
Been insisting in this space 4 last 10 days that LOCKDOWN is the ONLY ans. Mr PM @ImranKhanPTI it is CRIMINAL to not take ALL STEPS NECESSARY FOR A LOCKDOWN. Are we waiting for full blown disaster ? Delayed lockdown decision will multiply fallout of even Taftan disaster
— Nasim Zehra (@NasimZehra) March 21, 2020
Prime Minister Imran Khan by taking a stand against lockdown has aggravated a grim crisis that swiftly required a whole of nation response. He has addressed the nation twice and has stuck to his unviable position. This throws all national planning out of gear.
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) March 22, 2020
In a nutshell, PM Imran Khan tells the nation that they should lockdown on their own and not rely on the govt either for help or guidance; the govt will not go for the lockdown because it doesnt have a plan and doesnt have the true knowledge of how big the crisis is.
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) March 22, 2020
Still others are comparing the PTI-led government's current reluctance for a lockdown with the party's own attempt to shut the country down during its time of dharna protests when it was in opposition:
Put Imran Khan on a container. He’ll announce a lockdown.
— Mehreen Zahra-Malik (@mehreenzahra) March 22, 2020
How much does a ventilator cost?Raise funds like you do for Shaukat Khanam @ImranKhanPTI
If mass testing is not an option , lockdown #Islamabad like you planned to do on the container when you were abusing&using dirty language4Pakistani politicians&journalists#CoronaInPakistan
— meena gabeena (@gabeeno) March 18, 2020