Nisar Memon regrets confusion in handling COVID-19

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

Senator Nisar Memon has regretted that while COVID-19 was rebooting the global systems needing united national front to fight this war, the leadership in charge of the country was sending confused signals at this crucial juncture.

“The federal government did not recognize the Sindh government initiative of lockdown, and gave lukewarm support to Baluchistan on Iranian border, a major entry point of virus in the country. While Islamabad was in denial mode for lockdown, its Punjab and KPK governments followed Sindh in lockdown but late with enfeeble enforcement and now going with partial lockdown,” he wrote in a recent newspaper article 

“Lastly, it engaged in creating its party marketing brand of ‘Tigers Relief Force’ instead of consolidating local governments through provincial administration for food distribution to needy. Suffice to say, the holders of highest state offices appear in disarray, dissipating national energies with impact on security and sovereignty of our motherland,” he remarked. 

“The government’s inability to handle wheat and sugar crises well in time and using it now to divert the nation from COVID-19, belie their claims of national interest to fight this pandemic to save people,” the former federal minister pointed out. 

“The citizens of all shades of opinion are openly expressing their disappointment while comparing responses to earthquake in 2005. Why so? Is it the quality of leadership compared to past; or the leadership has succumbed to be corrupted by prejudices, bias, hatred, narrow mindedness and immaturity in statecraft; or blinded by power and unable to clearly see the dangers of disunity with virus affecting their minds; or they are pursuing personal and not national goals; or worst, has some hidden agenda. As a lot is being talked about it we leave it to history to give its judgement,” he observed. 

“The crisis of leadership is now, with its consequences on our future generation, therefore it is prudent to fight all inimical forces as ONE by rebooting the minds. This should abet fight against COVID-19 as well as corruption, ignorance, illiteracy, poverty, colonial behaviors; all in the interest of our security and sovereignty,” he added. 

“Post COVID19; workers and industrialists should reset their minds with workers producing the best and industrialists providing workers fair compensation, welfare, safety and human rights. The peasants, office workers, house workers, mining workers, technicians, officers, management as well as investors must all reboot their minds to serve the country in best possible way. The political parties with their policies and programmes, government by executing national programs and policies, judiciary in providing inexpensive justice in accordance with law and constitution, and media continuing courageous impartial reporting and analysis to identify deviations,” he elaborated. 

“All who carry ultimate responsibility of governance system will do well to reboot the system as a whole. The military is committed to defend the country against all aggression and support civil authority when called in under the Constitution. On the other hand the political soldiers are duty bond to serve the people, through political system, uphold party principles and support leadership while ensuring reboot takes place for national unity in times of national emergencies like the present one,” the senator opined.