Oppn playing ‘reckless’ politics with people’s safety, says PM

islamabad — Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was playing “reckless” politics with people’s safety after the alliance decided to hold its in Peshawar today despite the threat of Covid-19.

The prime minister’s remarks came amid reports that Covid-19 positivity rate had reached above 13 per cent in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial capital.

“The same PDM (members) who earlier wanted a strict lockdown and used to criticise me, now playing reckless politics with people’s safety,” the prime minister said in a tweet.

He said the PDM parties were also defying court’s orders by holding a public gathering when coronavirus cases were rising dramatically.

The prime minister also referred to a tweet by Planning Minister Asad Umar which said that Peshawar had 202 Covid-19 patients in critical care with 50 on low flow oxygen, 134 on high flow and 18 on ventilators. “PDM response: we will be safe on the stage so who cares what happens to citizens,” the minister tweeted.

Earlier on Friday, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) vowed to defy the government

The same PDM members who had wanted a strict lockdown and criticised me earlier [are] now playing reckless politics with people’s safety Imran Khan

Prime Minister

By holding a political rally, the opposition could do nothing but to endanger the health and employment of the people of Peshawar

Asad umar

Minister for Planning

ban on its public gathering in Peshawar on Sunday and warned the district administration that the use of force to stop the protesting citizens could spark street battles.

Speaking at a joint Press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, representatives of opposition parties declared that rallies across the country would be held as per plan until the government is removed, reported Dawn.

The announcement came after the Peshawar deputy commissioner refused to allow the PDM to hold a rally scheduled for November 22 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The Covid-19 positivity rate [in] District Peshawar has exceeded 13 per cent, which is alarmingly high and any large public gathering is likely to further increase the spread of the life-threatening virus,” Dawn quoted the Peshawar deputy commissioner as saying.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) central information secretary Dr Nafeesa Shah at a separate presser also warned the government against playing with the emotions of the masses, asking the administration to allow the 11-party opposition alliance to hold its Peshawar rally in a ‘peaceful’ manner.

Expressing serious concerns over the increasing prices of lifesaving drugs, food items and other essential commodities, Dr Shah said the existing inflation was the result of bad governance.

She added that the government was trying to hide behind the pandemic but warned that it would not find any route to escape. —