ISLAMABAD: Minister for Infor­mation Shibli Faraz on Monday criticised the main opposition parties for doing politics over the coronavirus pandemic and asked them to be rational and keep the interest of the masses their top priority.

Pakistan being a poor country with limited resources could not bear such prolonged lockdown and the poor could not be deprived of their livelihood, Mr Faraz said at a press conference.

He said the Supreme Court’s latest decision regarding lockdown should be observed in letter and spirit by the opposition parties, too, as the gradual opening of markets and transport was essential for the economic health of society.

However, he regretted that those who looted the country and brought the nation to the brink of bankruptcy were trying to play politics in these conditions. “I request the opposition to be rational and it was not the time for politics,” he said.

He criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, rebuking its leadership for what he called creating confusion and spreading misgivings among the masses.

“They hold press conferences and try to give a wrong picture to the citizens, claiming that there was no coronavirus fighting plan with the government. But this is not correct and we request for joint efforts to address this situation. The government is trying to address the issues faced by all segments of society,” he added.

Regarding the relations between the PTI-led federal government and the PPP-led Sindh government, the minister said the provincial government had done a lot of politics over this issue. He said the Sindh chief minister, who had been part of decision making at NCOC meetings, made “political and controversial” statements in Karachi after attending the meetings.

Earlier, Shibli Faraz held a video conference with the Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) and assured it that transparency would be ensured in the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC).

He said the PTI government believed in the fundamental right to freedom of expression, and resolving issues of journalists and media workers was its first priority. He said the payment of outstanding dues to the media houses was being started from Monday, which would provide relief to the media industry and workers.

The payment of dues would be linked to the payment of salaries to journalists and workers by the media houses, he said, adding that the government was planning to evolve a mechanism so that media workers could not face such problems in future with timely payment of their dues.

The CPNE delegation, led by its president Arif Nizami, briefed the information minister on issues related to the media industry.

It was decided to hold another meeting after Eid.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2020