LAHORE: As the government defends the setting up of ‘Tiger Force’ to deliver relief goods among the needy during lockdowns in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, the opposition rejects it as a “political gimmick”, besides expressing its reservations at the procedure for distribution of cash relief among the deserving families.

“We condemn the government for using the Tiger Force for petty politics,” observed a meeting of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders held through video link and chaired by its president Shahbaz Sharif here on Saturday.

“The political gimmickry of Tiger Force must be put to an end and local bodies should be restored in Punjab to extend practical help to the people being hit by the ongoing lockdowns in the wake of Covid-19,” says a press release issued afterthe meeting.

It also expressed its reservations at the procedure adopted for the distribution of cash relief under the Benazir Income Support (Ehsas) Programme in a reference to the death of a woman in an alleged stampede in Multan the other day.

“The relief funds are being provided in a very dangerous way as the overcrowding of the [needy] people at the cash distribution points may cause spread of the contagion.”

The chaos and disorder [at the distribution points] reveals lack of a suitable planning for the purpose, it says, calling for adoption of safe procedure to deliver the right of the people at their doorstep.

Mr Sharif, who is also opposition leader in the National Assembly, called for provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the medical staff attending corona patients.

He said the PML-N was also doing its best to provide protection kits to the doctors and paramedics, besides creating awareness among the citizens across the country about how to protect themselves and others against the pandemic.

He urged the participants of the meeting to inform the party leadership of the difficulties masses in their respective constituencies were facing because of the ongoing crisis.

Earlier, the meeting offered Fateha for ex-general secretary of the party Saranjam Khan, who breathed his last a day ago, its former Punjab general secretary Raja Ashfaq Sarwar and ex-MNA Raja Muhammad Afzal, who passed away on Saturday.

It paid homage to the services of the three leaders for the party and democracy and lauded them for remaining committed to the party ideology even during martial law period.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2020