LAHORE: Criticising PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s decision to participate in the upcoming rally of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in Multan, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan says the opposition leader would be answerable for spreading the coronavirus with the ‘skid (Scud) missiles’ she would be bringing along with her.

Speaking at a news conference, Dr Awan said it was strange that the body of Maryam’s grandmother was lying at her home and she was adamant to attend the political meeting and that in such circumstances Pakistanis usually suspend their worldly engagements.

“The coronavirus’ second wave is becoming lethal and the nation must respond to the challenge by staying home and strictly observing the SOPs while going in the public,” she said. Answering a question, Ms Awan said the PTI had come into power to ensure the rule of law and empower state institutions and anyone violating the law while holding the public meeting in Multan would be dealt with an iron hand.

“Arrests depend on violation of the law. If there is no violation (in Multan), there will be no arrest,” she said.

Terming the PDM’s Peshawar public meeting a failure, Dr Awan said the ANP, PML-N and PPP were blaming one another for the failure of the meeting.

Dr Awan also lambasted Ms Maryam for telling, what she termed, lies about the food given to her in jail. Responding to Ms Maryam’s tweet that she was given the food remains eaten by rodents in jail, the SACM said Ms Maryam had always had food sent from her home.

She said Ms Nawaz had requested in writing that she would not take food from the jail authorities.

Dr Awan said Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz had been released on five-day parole in line with the precedent that Nawaz Sharif was released on parole for the same period on the death of his wife, Kulsoom Nawaz.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2020