Zaireen protest against inadequate facilities at Taftan tent city

Crisis cannot be averted until everyone acts responsibly, Sindh CM chastises federal govt

KARACHI: The pilgrims placed in Taftan border ‘quarantine facility’ staged a protest outside their tents, demanding authorities to take them to their home province after almost 50 per cent pilgrims were tested positive for novel coronavirus on returning to Sukkur, Sindh.

Pakistan’s tally of COVID-19 case more than tripled on Monday after Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa reported 115 and 15 more case respectively with all of them arriving from Taftan. This the single largest increase in novel coronavirus cases in the country as of today.

Dozens of the youth came out of their tents and blocked the main road to Quetta as the news of COVID-19 positive cases emerged from Sukkur camp.

"But we are not placed here [Taftan] in quarantine," protested Afzal Hussain. "It's more risky now." He said that the people who left for Sukkur on Friday had no clear symptoms of the novel coronavirus. "If 50 per cent of them are positive then it's an alarming situation for us all who are living and eating together," he said.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Hussain who belonged to Sindh's Bhitt Shah said that he has been living with 74 other people from the same area since March 6. "We are not tested as yet," he disclosed. "What kind of quarantine it is?" he questioned.

Sindh reports 47 new coronavirus cases, ballooning Pakistan tally to 183

Zafar Khasheli, another pilgrim from the same area, told that there was fear after Sukkur's results. "It is better we should be shifted back to our province for tests and quarantine period," he demanded.

The protesters alleged that the law enforcement agencies misbehaved with them and snatched their mobile phones. Later, some officials held talks with the protesters and assured them their cooperation during the stay.

“One infected person can be harmful for all of us,” Naveed Hussain commented. "It is better to keep us in quarantine separately and for once," he demanded, saying there was fear among pilgrims living in open space. He said that there were over 400 people living near the Taftan border gate. "We all are at risk."

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Naveed said that unhygienic condition, lack of food and weather have already made their lives miserable. "This worst condition is for all of us," he said. "Do the government treat sick people [in case we have virus] like this," he questioned.

"We should immediately be shifted to our province [Sindh]," he demanded, saying the authorities at the border have not treated them as citizen of Pakistan.

Sindh asks Centre to fly Taftan pilgrims to Karachi, escort to isolation wards

The protesting pilgrims said that there was also a fear of more isolation when they will reach Sukkur. "We are told that everyone is being separated in Sukkur," Afzal said. He said an additional two-week isolation period will be very difficult for the people who had already spend over 10 days in Taftan. "The government works in haste and that's why people don't trust in it," he commented.

Afzal informed that two of the pilgrims from Bhitt Shah were on wheelchairs. "The physically disabled persons are in trouble," he said. "Those who are already on medicines are facing shortage of it." He said that women, children and elderly persons need immediate support of the authorities. He appealed the Sindh government to bring them back immediately.

"We are not guided properly," Naveed complained. He said that no official from health department or provincial government have visited them for last two weeks.

"We are in a jail for not committing any crime."

Quarantined pilgrims highlight ‘inhumane’ experience at Taftan border

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has strongly criticised the federal government for inhuman treatment of pilgrims.

“Quarantine at borders is the constitutional responsibility of the federal government. It is most unfortunate that the government of Balochistan was expected to carry out quarantine, with literally zero help from Islamabad. Crisis cannot be averted until everyone acts responsibly,” he wrote on official Twitter handle on Monday.

Quarantine at borders is the Constitutional responsibility of the Federal Government. It is most unfortunate that the Government of Balochistan was expected to carry out a quarantine, with literally zero help from GoP. Crisis cannot be averted until everyone acts responsibly.

— Murad Ali Shah (@MuradAliShahPPP) March 16, 2020

The tweet came minutes after Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan shared a video and photos of a new tent city being built along the Afghanistan border.

“People think it’s easy to establish things from scratch... putting some kharpahees (local beds) in an already built building of labour is much easy then putting 3,000 tents, with portable 100 washrooms, remote testing, medical facility, 12 ambulances and security... and that too in a barren areas,” he said in a tweet.

People think its easy to eastablish things from scratch...putting some kharpahees in a already build up buidling of labor is much easy then putting 3000 tents, with portable 100 washroons, remote testing,medical facilty, 12 ambulances and security... and thst too in baren areas. pic.twitter.com/GRbiJVq9Cy

— Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister Commerce, Pak (@jam_kamal) March 16, 2020

“Not only we are doing in Taftan... but Rideeq, Quetta, rest districts and now this new facility on Pak Afghan border with Army/FC. I invite all CMs, federal authorities and electronic media to come Quetta, see Taftan, jivani, turbat and chaman border with me,” he added.

Not only we are doing in Taftan...But Rideeq, Quetta, rest districts and now this new facility on Pak Afghan border with Army/FC.

I invite all CMs, federal authorities and electronic media to come Quetta, see Taftan, jivani, turbat and chaman border with me.. pic.twitter.com/w3g5qYX08f

— Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister Commerce, Pak (@jam_kamal) March 16, 2020

(With additional input from News Desk)