Shehbaz seeks online APC on pandemic

Heads of political parties agree to convening of video conference

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Monday made telephonic contact with the heads of political parties and urged them to convene an all-party video conference to counter the threat of coronavirus in the country.
The PML-N president, who is also the opposition leader in the National Assembly, returned to Pakistan on Sunday after the government announced suspension of international flights for two weeks as part of its measures to prevent spread of COVID-19.
Shehbaz had been staying in London for the past three months to look after his ailing brother Nawaz Sharif.
Talking to the media upon his arrival, the PML-N president claimed that he had come to join hands with the nation to counter the challenge of coronavirus.
On Monday, Shehbaz telephoned Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Asfandyar Wali, Aftab Sherpao and Akhtar Mengal and asked them to call an all-party video conference in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.
All the leaders praised Shahbaz for his move and agreed to the convening of the video conference.
They said that timely and quick decisions should be taken to save the nation from the deadly pandemic.
Shahbaz hailed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah’s step to lock down the province in the wake of increase in the number of coronavirus cases.
Meanwhile, the opposition criticized Prime Minister Imran Khan saying that the premier “lacked vision” to deal with the coronavirus menace.
In his address to the nation on Sunday, PM Imran had appealed to the people to go for self-quarantine, saying this was the best precautionary measure since the government could not lock down the entire country keeping in view multiple problems the move would create.
He also urged the nation not to go for panic buying and avoid storing edible items in large quantities as this may create artificial food shortage in the country.
In response, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) asked the government to take pragmatic steps to prevent the spread of the virus.
Addressing the premier, PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb in a statement claimed that he lacked understanding about the gravity of the situation and that the government had so far failed to present any plan to rid the nation of coronavirus.
She said it was not the time to put the whole nation in “confusion and uncertainty” but to make sagacious decisions.
“Mr prime minister, you have to think beyond yourself,” she said.
“Telling the nation about the difference between curfew and lockdown will not serve the purpose as the government should make necessary arrangements prior to lockdown. Khan Sahib, prepare yourself and the nation for a difficult time ahead,” she added.
“Imran Sahib, you are the prime minister, think about your responsibilities.”
PPP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said PM Imran continued to disappoint the nation even in the current testing times.
He claimed the premier always tried to create a divided opinion among the people.
“In contrast the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari gave a message of unity to the nation while Prime Minister Imran Khan displayed a negative attitude,” he said.
“We should learn lessons from China and other countries. We will have to protect the lives of the people,” he added.
He claimed the prime minister was taking refuge behind the poor whereas in the past 18 months of his government, he had made the lives of poor difficult.
“We cannot push people to death in the garb of saving employment. Why is the premier shying away from spending on the people of Pakistan,” he asked.
Khokhar questioned when would the resources be spent on the poor if not in the current situation.
He observed the opposition had much to say against the government but was abstaining from doing so due to the prevailing circumstances.