ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Senator Shibli Faraz has said that in the prevailing situation of resurgence of coronavirus cases in the country, putting peoples’ lives at stake for meagre political gains is political persecution.
In a tweet on Sunday, criticising the political rallies of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) – an alliance of Opposition parties – the information minister said that playing with the lives of people and political workers exposes the mentality of opportunist political gangs. The minister said the criminals who ruined the economy of the country and targeted national institutions are now bent upon affecting the health and livelihood of people.
Separately, About the opposition’s public meetings in various cities, Shibli Faraz said they are playing with the health and lives of the people by adopting an irresponsible attitude irrespective of the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
Talking to a private television channel, he urged the opposition to review its decision of holding political meetings during the pandemic to protect people. Shibli Faraz said that the government is taking some hard decisions for the bright future of the country and its people.
He said that the government is well aware of inflation and is making all-out efforts to reduce prices of essential commodities. The information minister said the previous governments are responsible for all problems of the country. He said the electricity price is high due to wrong decisions and redundant policies of the previous regimes.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Syed Shibli Faraz has asked the participants of Pakistan Democratic Alliance’s (PDM) Peshawar rally to quarantine themselves for the sake of others’ protection.
In a video message, the information minister said that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have boycotted the opposition’s Peshawar rally, which indicates that they have rejected PDM’s anti-people agenda. “I appreciate people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for boycotting the opposition’s rally and protecting themselves from coronavirus on the appeal of Prime Minister Imran Khan,” he said in a short video message, released soon after the rally concluded on Sunday.
He said that people’s low interest in PDM’s rally shows their political acumen and mistrust in the opposition. The minister said that coronavirus is a reality and not a fictional tale. He said despite court’s orders, opposition’s insistence on organising public rallies reflects its stubbornness and anti-people approach. He said the opposition has always given priority to its personal interest over people’s health and respect of law.
Another PTI leader Senator Faisal Javed Khan reacting to Peshawar rally quipped: “Useless people are holding useless gatherings.” He claimed that PDM’s anti-government movement is aimed at securing relief in the corruption and money laundering cases.
“They are trying their best to get a reconciliation ordinance for which they are endangering the lives of the people and the fast-growing economy,” he wrote on his official twitter handle in Urdu.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan and key federal ministers had also censured PDM for holding political gatherings despite the exponential rise in the number of coronavirus cases during the second wave.
Opposition parties, on the other hand, have claimed that the government is using coronavirus as “tactic” to cripple the movement which, they claim, would send the PTI government packing by early next year. – TLTP