PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Friday accused the PTI government of sabotaging the Sindh government's efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
"The federal government has sabotaged our every attempt through their speeches [...] from the outset. Through their incompetence, they have let down each and every province," he said at a press conference in New Sindh Assembly building.
"They opened up the Pakistan-Iran border at Taftan and did not provide the Balochistan government with tools to stop the spread of the virus.
"They also let down the Punjab government by not warning them about the Raiwind Ijtima. They did not take any practical steps to protect those who participated and later did not support the provinces in tracing the participants," he added. "The federal government caused harm to all the provinces by not playing its due role in handling the Raiwind Ijtima.
Addressing the prime minister directly, Bilawal demanded that he "work as a premier or resign and go home. I'm most concerned about my people from Lyari and Landhi," Bilawal said, adding that they have been the most affected from the virus and are the most ignored too.
Responding to a question about the government's assurance that the number of deaths was lower than feared, Bilawal said he agreed that the country's case numbers and death rates were "not as bad as that of Italy, Iran and the United States". He said, however, "a two per cent fatality rate is still big."
Criticising the premier for "taking the death rate lightly," Bilawal said, "Somebody should ask the prime minister what is an acceptable percentage of death rate at which we can take steps to save people."
"Day and night, the Sindh chief minister is attacked. They are attacking the province which has the most limited resources."
He added that the number of tests had decreased throughout the country except Sindh. The reason being the province was conducting 90 per cent of its tests using its own resources. "They [federal government] do not raise questions about other provinces or areas."
"We tell people to stay indoors. These are the protocols given by the World Health Organisation and doctors across the country. But when we say this, the federal government opposes our statement, creating confusion among masses," he said.
Referring to the premier's speech a day earlier in which he said that an "elite" imposed the lockdown after they realised the virus affected the rich as well, Bilawal questioned who those "elites" were.
"The decision to extend the lockdown was taken in a meeting at the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC). It was based on recommendations by Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the announcement was made by a federal minister. Who then are these elites the prime minister refers to?" he questioned.
The PPP chairperson blasted the federal government for "not helping Sindh increase its testing capacity, the bed capacity in hospitals or helping the provincial economy." He alleged that there was no announcement of an agricultural package that the "government had promised" and they did not help with the locust rampage in Sindh either.
Bilawal added that he did not criticise the government earlier because he "wanted to maintain national unity and focus on the coronavirus pandemic" but he had been forced to do so.
"PM Imran Khan has been attacking my ministers, my province and its people in his speeches since day one. His representatives have been attacking my ministers. I want to put the facts straight now."
He also advised the government to listen to suggestions of doctors regarding measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic. "Everywhere around the world, wherever they are easing lockdowns, they are comparing it to the pressure on their hospitals... they are listening to the advice of their doctors.
He called on the premier "to act now."
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