Blame game

Talking to media at his residence, former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi vehemently criticised PTI government for what he called mishandling the situation of coronavirus outbreak. He said that government did not allow discussion on this threat of global dimension in the parliament. He vaguely blamed state institutions of interference in executive domain and contended that it must be stopped now but he did not elaborate his contention. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi hinted at not giving parliamentary support to government if it tables constitutional amendment bill in the parliament for the creation of South Punjab Province.

The present government adopted an appropriate strategy to contain coronavirus when it was first reported in China in December. The decision of not repatriating Pakistanis from China and suspension of air flights to that country helped stem the spell over effect. It was the delay in decision for cogent reasons to close border with Iran for the returning Pakistanis that resulted in the increase in number of coronavirus positive cases to over 90. However, credit must be given to the government for establishing screening facilities at airports, Pak-Iran border, quarantine and treatment facilities of corona virus positive cases. It is a matter of record that leadership of other two mainstream political parties used to be found missing during natural calamities in the country. They while in power did not give priority to establish a satisfactory preventive healthcare system in the country. In the aftermath of coronavirus outbreak, present government has set up 13 diagnostic clinical laborites for testing of virus in suspects. The preventive and curative arrangement that have been put in place have appreciably acknowledged by the World Health Organisation.

As for the allegation of interference in the executive domain, transparency and rule of law are the basic fundamentals of true democracy. The LNG import deal with Qatar should have been ratified from parliament by the last PML-N government but it did not do so. Hence, NAB probe in the Nitti Gritty of this shady agreement, containing ‘take or pay clause’ is justified.

The Lahore centric PML-N leadership was not in favour of creating the administrative unit of South Punjab when last PPP government started work on it. That is why former Punjab Law Minister, Rana Sanaullah tabled a resolution for the creation of South Punjab Province and restoration of Bahawalpur Province in provincial legislature which was passed in My 2012. . In his media talk, Shahid Khaqan Abbassi, has referred to that resolution which is nothing but to torpedo a possibility of carving out a single administrative unit for South Punjab.