RAWALPINDI: Lashing out at the opposition, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid on Wednesday said it was surprising to see Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari joining hands with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) whose leadership was involved in character assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Nusrat Bhutto in the past.

“I am surprised at the alliance of the PPP and PML-N. Bilawal must not forget the worst smear campaign initiated by the PML-N against his mother and grandmother. If he had any honour, he would not have joined hands with the PML-N,” Dr Rashid said while addressing a press conference.

“We are not alarmed by the no-confidence motion. There are many a slip between the cup and the lip and the real number game will only be known in time,” she said.

The provincial minister also criticised Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari for her tweet and said she (Bakhtawar) should solve issues of expectant mothers in Sindh before criticising Punjab’s health system.

Dr Rashid, who lost the by-election to Kalsoom Nawaz, also criticised PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz.

“Maryam Nawaz should get her eyes checked because on March 27, millions of people attended the rally of Prime Minister Imran Khan,” the minister said, adding the prime minister was a brave man and he would never compromise on national interest and the country’s sovereignty.

On health projects, the provincial minister said the Punjab health department had launched projects in different districts of the province.

She said Punjab had introduced sustainable reforms in the healthcare system. To this day, she said, around one million people had availed free healthcare services from public and private hospitals empanelled with Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Sahulat Card Programme.

The prime minister was a compassionate person, she said, adding that Nawaz Sharif was allowed treatment abroad on grounds of humanity but now that he has recovered, he must come back and face his case.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2022