ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday promptly reacted on Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s remarks against Prime Minister Imran Khan with Information Minister Shibli Faraz calling the opposition party’s chairman a “representative of elite”, having no connection with labourers and workers.

In a statement, the minister said coronavirus was a national problem and the nation will not forgive those who will do politics on the issue.

He said Mr Bilawal attempted to hold the centre responsible for the failure of Sindh government in tackling the issue. “Bilawal should do something practically to help people and stop doing politics these days. I feel pity on ignorance of Mr Bilawal,” he added.

Mr Faraz said Ehsaas cash programme and Langar Khanas were a few steps which reflected Prime Minister Imran Khan’s worker-friendly policies. “The government has given Rs200 billion relief package to the poor and workers,” he added.

Meanwhile, PM aide Shahbaz Gill said Bilawal’s press conference was a “pack of lies” and a bid to mislead the people.

“Propaganda against the centre by those who have been ruling Sindh for the last 30 years will not work,” he added.

He said the centre had so far provided 0.54 million masks to the Sindh government. He said the federal government had also provided a package worth billions of rupees for the poor and announced Shuhada package for those health practitioners who lost their lives while performing their duties.

Mansoor Malik adds from Lahore: Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan has said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s criticism against the federal government and Prime Minister Imran Khan was like a bad workman blaming his tools.

In a video message released on Friday, Mr Chohan said Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari comes out of his hibernation every week and criticises the government.

He said it was an open secret that maximum funds under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme were distributed in Sindh. He said the Ehsaas package launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan was the country’s biggest and apolitical relief package.

He said Bhutto-Zardari was jealous of the federal government’s performance and hurling uncalled for criticism. In Sindh, he said, corruption stories in coronavirus relief activities had started surfacing. He stressed that the PPP chairman should focus on the lack of governance in his party’s government in Sindh. He said poor masses in Sindh were being provided expired ration.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2020