LAHORE: The PML-N has held Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid responsible for surge in dengue cases and demanded their resignations.

Talking to reporters after a visit to Mayo Hospital to inquire after dengue patients, PML-N Punjab information secretary Azma Bokhari said the government had completely exposed for its total failure to control dengue in the province.

She said rise in dengue patients in Punjab was a charge on the CM and the health minister. “Dr Yasmin Rashid does not know how to control dengue. Dr Rashid was on a tour to Nathiagali at the time when steps were required to be taken to control the disease,” Ms Bokhari said, adding the minister even had deprived patients of free medicines at hospitals.

PML-N vice president Attaullah Tarar said Dr Yasmin Rashid should resign forthwith for her failure to control dengue. “Dr Rashid used to criticise the government when she was in opposition. The PTI leaders would call Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif ‘dengue brothers’ and now dengue patients number has crossed 10,000 mark in the country and no body seems to take responsibility for this crime,” he said.

PML-N central information secretary Marriyum Auranzeb said in a statement that precious lives were lost to dengue because of this inefficient government. “The PTI government’s criminal negligence has caused increase in dengue cases,” she said. Ms Auranzeb slammed the government for not rendering dengue diagnostic test and medicine free of cost.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2019