Balochistan CM rejects criticism over handling of pilgrims

Jam Kamal Khan says facilitating 5,000 Iran-returned devotees was a huge task

QUETTA: Irked by critics’ remarks over handling of Iran-returned pilgrims, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal has said that only time will tell whether the provincial government was successful in handling the issue or not.

“I am disappointed with politicians, anchorpersons, and analysts remarks [over our government’s performance in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak]. They made fun of the people, doctors, and administration that Balochistan could not handle 500 guests,” the chief minister said in a video statement late on Wednesday.

“Only time will tell whether Balochistan government was successful in handling the issue [caused by the coronavirus pandemic],” Kamal said.
According to government statistics, the total number of coronavirus cases in Balochistan reached 131 after 12 more people tested positive. The provincial government has been making efforts to help people and facilitate the medical staff in their fight against the deadly infection.

Facilitating as many as 5,000 pilgrims in Taftan was a huge task, the CM said, adding that nobody is aware of the government’s efforts in attending to so many people.
Kamal, who is also the Balochistan Awami Party president, said: “Iranian government could not keep our pilgrims in their country after the outbreak of COVID-19. But we took the responsibility of every pilgrim coming from Iran without discrimination.”

He added that only the provincial government knows how it managed to keep 5,000 people in Taftan, Chagai district.

“The administration and doctors worked extremely hard to facilitate the people.”
Despite several critics, there were people who praised the provincial government and the medical staff for their hard work at such a crucial time, he added. “We have to make a lot of changes in our character and our thinking,” Kamal said while referring to the panic sparked by the virus scare in the country.

It is pertinent to mention that the whole country is almost in partial or total lockdown as part of efforts to contain the virus.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2020.