PML-N criticises PTI govt's 'ineffective' response

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government's "ineffective" response to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, and also stated that the party would soon announce "National Action Plan" for fighting the virus.
Speaking at a news conference, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi along with senior PML-N leaders including Musadiq Malik, party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, maintained that it was a leadership failure on the part of the government to take immediate and effective measures to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.
Abbasi said that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif would soon announce a 'National Action Plan" aimed at preventing the disease from further spread in the country, adding that the plan would cover certain new aspects and reflect upon the importance of the lockdown, which was the sole method for the prevention of the coronavirus spread.
He said that the next most important measure was to promote awareness regarding precautionary measures for people to take against the virus.
He said that the PML-N's action plan would also comprise a robust medical response as the virus was spreading by about two and a half times daily.
"It is the need of the hour to display national unity but the government's behaviour is not on the right track in response to the pandemic," he maintained, adding that the government did not pay much heed to locking down the country.
"It's the biggest failure of the leadership. Practically, the entire Pakistan is under lockdown, some places more than the others, while Prime Minister Imran Khan seems to be unaware of this," he added.
The former premier insisted that economic activities should continue even during the lockdown, adding that "a lockdown does not mean that the economy grinds to a halt".
Marriyum Aurangzeb demanded legal proceeding against Prime Minister Imran Khan in contempt of court for not completely operationalising Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) "despite clear and strict orders from the court".
"The court issued unambiguous and strict orders but the prime minister who is also holding the portfolio of [the] federal health minister is not implementing the order of [the] PMDC's revival."
Responding to the accusation regarding the upgradation of Cantonment Hospital by the PML-N, she criticized the prime minister, saying: "Imran Khan shamelessly inaugurated the PML-N made project with his own name, and now has the audacity to criticise it."