–PTI lawmakers say Sindh govt ‘mishandling’ lockdown, PPP ministers accuse Centre of creating hurdles
KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmakers on Sunday had a heated exchange of words over the measures taken against coronavirus in Sindh.
Hours after PTI lawmakers accused the Sindh government of “incompetence” for not being able to control coronavirus cases in the province, Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani alleged that instead of lending a helping hand, the federal government was creating obstacles “at the behest of the prime minister”.
Addressing a press conference along with Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, he said, “Instead of being helpful, PTI leaders are becoming obstacles to the work and this is happening at the behest of the prime minister since he has let them loose to become hurdles in Sindh government’s work.”
Earlier, Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda criticised the Sindh government after more cases were reported in the province on Sunday.
“Because of the Sindh government’s incompetence, the number of cases is rising. The Sindh government needs to see what is happening in Hyderabad, Larkana and Jacobabad,” Vawda said while addressing a press conference in Karachi.
Criticising the provincial government over its move to seal 12 union councils in the metropolis, the federal minister said, “How can the government seal 12 UCs? People will come out on the streets.”
He added the government had failed to implement the lockdown. “I do not want to engage in politicking at such a time, but I had no choice. I assure the residents of Karachi that the PTI stands with them.”
“Where is the Rs2 billion that was given to help the people? The people are dying of hunger,” he added.
The federal minister’s remarks come as the number of cases in the province rose to 1,411 with two new deaths.
Separately, Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi also slammed the PPP over its lax attitude towards the province’s health sector.
Talking to the media alongside Leader of Opposition in Sindh Assembly Firdous Shamim Naqvi, the minister said that after the 18th Amendment health is the responsibility of provincial governments.
“No ventilator is available in hospitals in upper Sindh and only two isolation centres are established,” he said.
Zaidi said that Sindh lags far behind in health facilities if compared to other provinces. “PPP could have established a state-of-the-art hospital for the people of the upper region,” he said.
He said that factories which could implement guidelines should be allowed to work. The government is taking decisions without homework and then takes them back, he added.
“Industries are open in US and Europe,” the PTI leader further said.
