QUETTA: Ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) founder Saeed Ahmed Hashmi has regretted that even in dire circumstances caused by the novel coronavirus, the federal and provincial governments do not appear to be on the same page.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, he said that the pandemic would end one day, but its devastating effect would continue for decades to come. He said that even in such a tragic situation, Pakistan’s political parties, the federation and the provinces were not on the same page. Political and administrative disunity would lead to tragedy, he said.

Mr Hashmi, who is also an ex-Senator, said that coronavirus had shaken the political, social and economic structure of the entire world and most of the countries were working tirelessly to control this pandemic in an extraordinary situation. Pakistan was currently facing a pandemic, he said, which had adversely affected economies of developed countries with millions having lost their jobs. Regardless of the current conditions of the world, Pakistan continued to score political numbers, he regretted.

Hashmi sees lack of political seriousness in efforts aimed at fighting Covid-19

“There is a lack of political seriousness and consensus,” he added.

He said it was the duty of the federation to adopt a policy of resolving issues through understanding instead of debate and confrontation.

He said that at present there was a need to establish national harmony and solidarity. The PTI government, he said, had adopted a tough attitude towards people who raise questions.

Mr Hashmi said that all political parties had to unite to defeat coronavirus, otherwise the nation would never forget the role of political parties in the current and subsequent implications of the pandemic.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2020