Bilawal warns of street protests, alleges govt 'intentionally' reduced virus tests

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday launched another round of blistering criticism against Prime Minister Imran Khan, calling him a “danger” to both democracy and the nation.

At a press conference in Karachi, he alleged that mega corruption prevailed under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and warned that his party along with other opposition parties would launch street protests against it despite the threat of coronavirus.

“Imran Khan has put the health of the people in danger. For how long we will tolerate this inefficient prime minister?” he asked. “We can never be part of any unconstitutional campaign. Coronavirus or not, we will take to the streets.”

Bilawal said that detailed discussions were held with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and both the parties were trying to develop a working relationship. He added that he was waiting for recovery of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shehbaz Sharif from coronavirus after which an all parties conference (APC) would be called.

Commenting on Covid-19 pandemic, Bilawal insisted that the per-capita testing of coronavirus was the highest in Sindh and challenged the federal government to match Sindh’s record in any other province. “Today we give the third challenge to the PTI. Per capita corona testing is higher in Sindh than in any other province,” he said.

Bilawal pointed out that on June 28, he had challenged the government to build a hospital like the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) in Karachi, or name any hospital where the poor get free treatment.

He said he again challenged the prime minister to a debate, but added that the “cowards run away from every challenge”. The PPP chairman stressed that the ruling party leaders were embarrassing themselves in the eyes of the people.

Taking a jibe at the federal government's claim of reduction of Covid-19 cases in Pakistan, Bilawal alleged that the government was intentionally reducing the number of coronavirus tests, implying the cases were being underreported.

"If tests were reduced then obviously the number of cases would also shrink. Federal ministers were making a mockery of themselves by saying that the graph [of cases] was going down," he added.

The PPP chairman was also critical of the ongoing power crisis in Karachi. “The people want a resolution of their problems,” he said. “The board of K-Electric includes representatives from the federal government, but now the PTI’s own workers are protesting outside K-Electric offices,” he added.

He accused the prime minister of links with Abraaj group. “Abraaj is Imran Khan's ATM. The FIA report has said that corruption of the Abraaj group has been suppressed. Abraaj group is Imran Khan's front man and everyone is silent because of this,” he added.

Criticising government's policies, Bilawal said that the growth rate was expected to be in negative for the first time in the country’s history due to global crisis, coronavirus pandemic and sheer incompetence of PTI government.

"When the federal government was crying about the low tax collection due to coronavirus pandemic, the Sindh government managed to increase it by eight per cent," he added.

Reiterating his party's stance, the PPP chairman said that they were ready to fight against conspiracies being hatched around National Finance Commission (NFC) award, adding that his party would resist any move to slash provinces' share on every front.

Talking about much-debated "minus-one" formula, he said that "minus-one" or "minus-all" can happen but "minus-democracy" could never happen.

Bilawal said that Prime Minister Imran and his government have abandoned the Kashmiris. "He is the first and last prime minister in the history of Pakistan who did not unite the people on the Kashmir issue and also did not take them into confidence," he added.