PTI leader blasts virus policy of Sindh government, urges provincial ministers to step up beyond Karachi

The central deputy secretary-general of PTI, Ashraf Qureshi, said on Friday that the policy of the federal government on the lockdown and cooperation with the Sindh government was very clear, but the provincial government had been falsely giving the impression that the federation was imposing its decisions, The News reported on Saturday.

He was addressing a press conference at the Insaf House, along with the party’s local leaders. Qureshi said the Sindh government was only putting up banners outside the Ehsaas Emergency Cash centers – a federal government package for the needy people affected by the lockdown.

“We had said earlier that if the Sindh government wants to impose a lockdown in the province, then it should do it properly with proper planning,” he said. He added the provincial government had failed to impose an effective lockdown and was only focusing on press conferences and issuing notifications.

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'Ministers not on the same page'

In the current scenario, provincial ministers are not on the same page and there is complete disagreement and clear confusion in their statements, he added. “If the provincial government orders the opening of a business, then it is also the job of the provincial government to implement the SOPs," he noted.

He said the provincial government had failed in tackling the coronavirus crisis, adding that the government must answer where rations were distributed. “This government is blaming its failure on the federation. People do not have food and have been protesting on the roads on a daily basis,” he said.

He said the Sindh government was spreading fear and panic among people. “Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that a smart lockdown should be imposed in the province. We urge the chief minister not to spread fear. This is a natural pandemic and everyone has to face it together,” he said.

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'PTI distributing rations on daily basis'

Scholars had requested the federal government devise SOPs for the mosques during Ramazan, and after consultation with them, Punjab and other provinces would impose a smart lockdown during the holy month, he said.

Sindhs ministers are not seen anywhere in the province except Karachi, he said. “They are just sitting in their bungalows and holding press conferences. We have to go out among the people to solve the problems, nothing happens with the verbal deposit,” he said.

Mentioning the party’s relief work, Qureshi said that his party had been distributing food and rations to the people on a daily basis. He also paid tributes to all the media representatives who were performing their duties in a difficult time.

Originally published in The News