Opposition has lost credibility, says CM Punjab

Usman Buzdar discusses political situation amid COVID-19 with former senior minister

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that the opposition should understand that public service cannot be done merely by giving statements.

He made these remarks during a meeting with former senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan at Chief Minister’s Office on Sunday.

Both leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, current political scenario and steps being taken by the government to cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

Buzdar said that opposition parties have only issued statements on the important national issue of coronavirus pandemic. He said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership has been standing shoulder to shoulder with the people to effectively deal with then coronavirus pandemic.

“We stood with the masses in the past, support them today and will stand by them in future also,” he said.

He said the designs of opposition parties during the coronavirus crisis have become part of history and the remaining credibility of opposition parties among the people has ended.

Buzdar maintained that opposition parties by indulging in negative politics on an important national issue have proved that they only want to safeguard their vested interests.

He further said that it is high time that all political parties must get united on the national issue irrespective of politics to eradicate coronavirus.

“Everything has changed, including politics across the globe, owing to prevailing coronavirus pandemic but the negative attitude of our opposition parties has not changed at all,” he lamented.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan has given one of the largest programmes in the history of Pakistan for providing financial assistance to the weak and impoverished segment of society and implementation of this financial aid programme has already been initiated expeditiously and transparently.

“I am myself monitoring and overseeing relief activities in Punjab,” concluded Usman Buzdar.

Former minister Abdul Aleem Khan said on the occasion that it is time to render maximum selfless services to the needy and all people have to unite to effectively deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

He said the endeavors being made on the part of opposition parties to create differences in the nation in this hour of trial and difficulty is lamentable.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2020.